Russ Canick’s Recovery Blog

Happy Friday! I just love the week ends this time of year! GO HUSKERS!!

Lou has been able to spend the past couple of days with Russ. He has been able to get involved with his therapy! Yesterday they tell me that the OT had Russ on the mat and had him rolling back and forth from side to side, and then had him sitting up and leaning back and forth using his arms! This was a first for some of these exercises. Russ was beat by the end of the day!

I am posting this picture today of Russ using the stander with no help from the PT’s. The stander has the support up under his behind and then he uses his arms to support and hold him self up.

Don’t forget the benefit tomorrow at the HideOut. I understand that they are going to be showing the Husker vs VT game on the big screen! You can get there early and then stay for the continued tail gating!

I will also have the TShirts with me! I think that you all will be very pleased with them. We have already been selling them at Madonna. The support of the staff is just amazing there!

Have a great day!

Sandie

Hope you all had a very nice Labor Day Weekend! Lou and I were both able to be home and just hang out together.

Today Russ was able to learn a new computer software program. I do not know what it is called, but they put a triangle sensor on his forehead between his eye brows, and he can control the mouse. A key board shows up on the screen, and there ya go. Russ was able to bring up his Face Book and get caught up on his Mafia Wars! We are going to bring up his laptop and see if they can install this program on his laptop, and then he may be able to use it at his work. A new independence! I am just so impressed with Russ and his determination to succeed.

The T Shirts should be ready this week. I am just waiting for the phone call. I am still taking orders!

Have a great night for you and yours

Sandie

It is Saturday and the first day of the Husker Football Season! It is also son Jon’s birthday! Tailgate party at Madonna tonight during the game. Madonna is showing the Pay Per View game. Come on down and support the family and the Big Red!

This has been a very good week for Russ. He is just getting stronger with each passing day. His ability to use the joy stick is just amazing. He is getting stronger all the time.

Russ has been approved to stay longer at Madonna. They are going to go week to week with his stay and therapies. He is pretty excited about this. He wants to gain so much more before he leaves.

This is Elijah and his Daddy on their birthday last year! Thought this might bring a smile to all who are reading this blog.

Life is good and the sun is shinning!

Sandie

P.S. Thank you to those of you who have given me T Shirt sizes. I am going to see the final design this morning and let the printing begin! Thank you to all of those who are making this wonderful project possible!

Russ has had a good day with his Dad today. Yesterday when I left he had had a really great day with the joy stick!! He can really get around real good. Janelle his PT took him outside and had him drive around. He did great. She is very impressed with him.

Reminder for tomorrow! Holy Ghost Church,Noon – 6:00, Spaghetti Dinner is $6.00 a plate and I think less for the kids. There is also going to be raffle tickets and a silent auction. Russ will be the guest of honor for this benefit. He is really excited to get out and see all of you, his family and friends.

Tonights blog I have to add some Husker Flavor!! It is that time of year!!

Sandie

Russ called me about an hour ago and told me that he now has his joy stick on his chair, and HE CAN MAKE IT WORK!!! OMGosh! We are all pretty darn stoked about this that is for sure….For now Janelle is just going to have him use it during therapy until his RIGHT arm gets stronger. Yes, it is the right arm that has come along and is beating out the left arm in usability…

One of his newer OT’s told Russ yesterday that he may just be the one to beat all the odds with his level of injury! I can not even begin to tell you how very happy I am to be able to be a part of all these miracles. Thank you all again for your prayers.

Sandie

We want to thank Dave Koenig for this wonderful design. You can see the original at Liquid Courage.

We are planning on having this design on White and Grey T’s. We have ordered 200 shirts. If you want to reserve one or more please let me know on the blog. I can get your names and the number you want. So far they will be sized S-XL. If you need larger sizes let me know that too. They will be sold for $12.00 a shirt.

Tomorrow or Wednesday they are going to put a joy stick on Russ’s chair. We are hoping that the movement that he now has will be able to let him use this device. We are all pretty happy about this new addition to the chair.

Russ has made a lot of improvements the past few days. The miracles are just rolling in along with your continued prayers. We want to thank you all for your continued support.

Don’t forget the Spaghetti Dinner that is coming up this Sunday at Holy Ghost Church. 53rd and Q area. There are going to be some really great raffle prizes. (Noon to 6:00 pm)

Thank you all again

Sandie

Today Russ went to the Harley Store in Lincoln. It was an outing with a few other guys at Madonna. Russ was able to purchase a $27.00 Harley T-Shirt. It is really pretty cool looking.

Lou and I went down to see Russ later tonight. Before we left Russ was showing us how he can move his right thumb. (slightly). This is super exciting. He was laughing and said that he just needs his thumbs and index fingers so that he can go back to work! He told us he is a one finger typer!

I am now going to head over to my Face Book and get the pictures from the Benefits last week up loaded.

My laptop is still down. I am going to have one of my friends take a look at it, so in the mean time I get on Lou’s work laptop after he is done for the day.

Have a great night!

Sandie

I think that Russ surprised many a folk at the Pool Tournament on Saturday. He was so very excited to go on a road trip.

First of all I want to thank my cousin Chanda for riding along with Russ and I on our road trip. I was a little nervous about bringing him all the way to Omaha by myself. I don’t know if Russ got a good laugh out of us, but Chanda and I became Dumb and Dumber just trying to get all the the gear fixed up tight enough so as not to loose Russ on a curve!! (the guy at Rent a Van made it look so easy!) We did a lot of laughing and I am sure that Russ was just shaking his head the whole time…

Thank you to the Hide Out for such a great time on Thursday night. We all enjoyed the bands. We even had 4 of Russ’s Therapist there to help in the benefit. These Madonna folks are just wonderful. The kids were able to raise $913.00 and some change. Thank you all so very much!

Side Pockets was also great and they had a wonderful turn out. We all enjoyed meeting a whole new and different group of friends of Russ’. Your raffles were just great and the silent auction had some pretty neat stuff. Lou wouldn’t let me bid on the Coke Bottle Collection of the Husker Championships!! Go Figure…

Side Pockets as of last count raised $2980.00 for the kids! What can I say but Thank you all so very much for your love and support for the kids!

Russ was excited to be able to have his ONE Beer! (That is what the Dr. allowed for him.) We all became very excited when he was able to hold the glass of beer himself. That was a first my friends. They have not tried to have him hold anything yet. I’m sure that will all change as of tomorrow! You were able to witness one of the many small miracles that have been happening for him.

Friday afternoonl we found out that the house of Russ’ sold! Not really something he was planning on that is for sure, but now it is a load off of the shoulders.

The next fund raiser for the kids is going to be the 30th of Aug. (Sunday) at Holy Ghost Church. It will be from Noon to 6pm. It sounds as if they are going to have a great Spaghetti Feed!!! I just love pasta. Be sure to mark the date on your calendars. As the date gets closer I will send out a reminder.

Pictures from the past two benefits will be going to Face Book. I will be getting those out there pretty soon.

Sandie

I came in this afternoon in time for the E-Stem bike. I was trained on how to do the transfer from Russ’s chair to the bike. That is a workout all in its self.

After therapy was over we came back to the room .Russ moved around. We had leaned Russ forward so we could get the sling under him, and then told him to try and sit back up, he did it! OMGosh!!! We were all super excited! Russ was also able to do the hand bike for 10 turns today with out any help…..

I have just become aware of a young man here who we have become friends with. I have mentioned him before in some of my past entries. His name is Zack and he is an ultimate fighter. He too has his C5 broken. They have no insurance……I am asking all of you friends and family if you would mind getting a Benefit up for him. Maybe we could even share one of Russ’s.
I am just throwing these thoughts out to all of you our friends and family. You can just let me know what you think. Maybe even a special bucket with Zack’s name on it this Thursday night……??????

Once again….remind all of your friends of the benefit tomorrow night at the Hide Out. Doors at 8:00 show at 9:00!

See you all tomorrow night!!!

Sandie

Thank you all for you kind words and offers of support. We are truly touched by all of your kindness.

Misti and Clint, thank you so much for the offer. Could you send me your email. My personal one is sandie.canick@gmail.com This way we can contact you a lot easier.

Nikkie your willingness to come out and visit is just great. If you too would contact me we will get back to you and set up a visit time. I know that all of the family have questions and we appreciate all the information we can get.

Madonna is truly a wonderful place to be. The therapist are just wonderful.

News on Russ today…..he is regaining his right arm! It is getting stronger everyday. It is almost stronger than his left arm! Now we just need some fingers!!!

I don’t know if anyone from Channel 6 reads this blog, but we want to thank you for such a wonderful story!

Sandie