Two Years

Well today marks the two year anniversary of my accident. It has been a pretty long journey, but I believe we are coming out on the other side finally. I would appreciate if you would all still put the Andress and Goodson families in your prayers today I know that today is difficult for them.

I know in the beginning that they asked Mom not to put names in the blog for privacy reason while I was in the unit. However, I think it has been long enough so I am going to name names. Of course all of you have heard my never-ending plugs for Dr. Vermillion, I still can't say enough about him. His P.A.'s Kendal and Patrick definitely made things easier when the big man was detained. It's amazing the patience I have now when I go to Dr.'s offices or the hospital. I just sit and wait with minimal aggravation because I know that the Dr. could be in surgery. I would say I am about 90% sure I bumped somebody that Tuesday that had a general surgery with Dr. Daly. Dr. Daly is the one that shored me up until Vermillion could get there as I have been told. Also, Dr. Fletcher, the orthopedist, put all the metal in my leg that first night but wasn't optimistic about my chances. We all later learned that was his true opinion because he doesn't sugar coat much.

While I was in SICU, the unit, I had the absolute best care. I think everybody told my nurses I was a better guy than I really am because when I woke up they all expected big things from me. Karen was my day nurse almost everyday for a month after I woke up. She is probably who to thank for me coming out of this with such a great attitude because it is impossible to sulk when she is around. Later on in my stay "Perky" Becky would join the crew on days and she definitely livened up the party. Also on days there was Matt that was never my nurse but he would come and talk because we are about the same age. John was a day nurse that I probably have to thank the most for helping Dad through the ordeal. He is also the nurse who's wife had the baby while I was in the unit. At night we had a whole other crew. The folks I had the most and grew closest to was Joseph, Michael, and Thomas. They were all around my age and would sit and chat about current events and watch March Madness with me. Thank you all for everything. I wouldn't be here today without you.

Once I got on the floor all the rumors I had heard turned out to be so wrong. I really didn't think I would like my nurses as much but there were some I grew just as close to starting with Ms. Lois. She was so sweet and caring. There were just so many more nurse especially on days. For whatever I was drawn to the techs more than the nurses. Sherika, Devina, Ms. Liz, and who could forget Fallon. Fallon kept DeAnn straight just as much as she did me. All of those ladies kept the mood around 619 so light. "Miss Rosie" was in housekeeping and after she got used to us became my in-house spiritual advisor. At night on the floor there was a whole different cast of characters. There was Gena, sisters Leslie and Christy among others that kept me company while I was am insomniac.

Michael, Kay, and Ramona who comprised the wound care crew probably spent more time in my room than anybody. They start out working on the medium pizza sized hole in my gut, but in the end worked so hard in trying to save me leg. We couldn't spend that much time with each other and not learn about their families. We celebrated when Kay's daughter was close to graduating and Michael daughter was getting married. We also tried to keep Kay on task so Michael could get home on Pizza Fridays.

I know I am forgetting people, but the good thing about it is they probably don't read the blog so maybe they won't be upset. In any case, if I have left anybody out specifically I am truly sorry, I am already over an hour into this thing. I wrote this blog because my friends and family are thank alot while this list of people have gone largely unnoticed.

See one person I know I have forgotten was Bev she was a tech, I think, in the unit. She definitely was there when I needed someone early on in the process.

To everyone that is mentioned above and those I left off, thank you ssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooo much for contributing to my recovery. I certainly wouldn't be here today without your hard work and kindness

Fins Up,
Jr.