Hello Everyone. Things have been busy so I have not had a chance to get caught up on my blog until now. There have not been any more physical changes that you can tell just by looking at me, but I have been able to be outside with my wife and kids more this year than all of last year put together. The high's have been in the mid 80's here with some humidity. It has been wonderful to be able to stay outside and not worry about overheating because at this time last year with the same type of temp's and conditions if I were to have gone to one of my kids soccer games or anywhere for that matter I would have to stay inside the truck withthe A/C running full blast. This had been getting worse every year since my accident so I just wanted to say thank you to the doctors in China and everyone else from Beike that has made this possible.

Hello everyone. Just a quick update to let everyone know that things are still going great and that improvements are still occuring especially in my abdomin and back. Rehab is going great along with the workout that I get at the gym 3-4 days a week. My bladder and kidney function is better than has been since my accident. Talk to everyone later.

Hello Everyone. Just wanted to put in a quick update. Things have been going great. The toe movement and sweating above my level of injury are still the same. I joined a gym about a week ago and have been working out hard every other day and can feel a huge difference in the stength and sensation levels increasing in my abdomin area. Talk to everyone later.

Hello everyone. Man what a flight, but we made it home. Our family was there to greet us and seeing them there had to be one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced. I will get back to therapy in St. Louis on Thursday, but in the meantime I have been doing some of the exercises that I learned in Shenzhen. There has not been any more changes lately, however, I think it help once I can get back in the full swing of rehab and exercises. Well I have to keep it short because it is time to get the kids ready for school. Talk to everyone soon.

Last Day

Hello everyone. What a crazy week it has been trying to get some last minute errands done! The whole trip has been absolutely worth it and I know that it could not have happened without the support of every person out there hoping and praying for us. We had a final dinner tonight with all of the friends we have made from all over the world from such places as Chile, Brazil, Canada, U.S.A., Turkey, Spain, & Hungary. All of these people hold a special place with us because we have been through this process together. It is sad to go, but man I can't wait to get home.
To all of the doctor's, nurses, and staff here at Nanshan Hospital I thank you for the care and treatment that I received here. To all the staff with Beike, thank you for your effort, hospitality, and your commitment in helping us with whatever we needed.
To anyone who is considering having this done, all I ask of you is to keep an open mind, research it heavily, ask many questions, and finally make sure that it feels right to you. To me has been totally worth it. Now I am not saying that I wasn't a little timid coming over, but deep down I knew it was the right thing because of everything that I had just mentioned along with a lot of prayers. I am not trying to preach at anyone who may not have a faith they believe in, but for me it truly came together when I turned it over to God and prayed. Like I said, it is your business what your faith may or may not be. All I am trying to tell you is what helped me the greatest to feel that this is the right thing to do. To everyone out there who is coming I hope and pray the best for you. To everyone out there who feels it is not right for you, I hope and pray the best for you as well.
I will continue to update the blog with the improvements I receive after I return home. Good night everyone.
Kelly - I love you and I'm coming home.

Hello everyone. Rehab was especially fun today. The therapist was telling one of the ladies from the office that he is very pleased with my progress. I told her to tell him that I was very happy with the treatment that I received here and that I am thankful that he pushed me everyday to the limit (even beyond it somedays) so that I would do my best. I guess that was the wrong thing to say because he smiled and said try harder. I would have probably been in a fight if this was any other situation because there was pushing and shoving going on than ever before. After about 10 minutes of this sitting balance routine with me holding my arms out at shoulder level, I realized he wasn't going to quit until I did. He got his way, but not for about 5 more minutes because my arms felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each. He just smiled real big and said good job. Next time I'll just say thank you and leave it at that. Two of the head doctors are going to give me a final examination tomorrow to compare what I could feel and do when I arrived to what I can feel and do now. So lets pray those little toes are working good for them. I want to leave with a thank you to all of you who have been there to help out with Kelly, Blake, Bailey, & Allison. So many of you have sent letters, called, took them out to eat, brought food over, picked the kids up from school, spent time with them, gone out of your way for them and most importantly prayed for them. I don't think I can put into words all of the thoughts and emotions running through me knowing that you have been there for them. So as I hold back a few tears- from the very depths of my heart-Thank You. May God bless each and everyone of you.
Talk to everyone soon.

Hello everyone. We had a quiet weekend here. We just walked around the streets to get some exercise and took a couple of cab rides for an adrenaline rush. Not much else to report on so we are going for breakfast and rehab. Let the countdown begin. Just four more days. The trip has been absolutely worth it, but we are ready to get home. Talk to everyone soon.