How is Jo Ann? How are the children?

To the friend who logs checks for updates here every once in awhile:

Our "Novel or Movie" is coming to a conclusion it seems. Music should be playing in the background and there should be a scene where there are lots of hugs and smiles.

Yes, that is happening.....each day our family does cherish the fact that Daddy is alive.

However, things are not "the same."

The children have done well. They are back doing many of the activities that they did before the accident and they are back skating everyday. They are slightly behind on their homeschool goals, but will catch up.






Jo Ann's small private lesson skating clientele is gone though. To build it up again is quite difficult and Jo Ann is seeking other ways to bring some income into our home. She does hope to give a few lessons again too. Yes, we do have financial worries at this time, but hope that somehow something will turn up so Jo Ann can bring some much needed extra income into our household.

The problem is that Jo Ann can't take on much more. The children and Dan take up so much of her energy, and she has put all her efforts into the care and well-being of Dan and the children. She has trouble sleeping at night because so much is on her mind these days. Yes, Jo Ann is overwhelmed.

Jo Ann has taken on more and more responsibilities, but the children have begun to help out around the house much more than before. We have all realized that Dan's main goal is to continue to get well, so we all try to help him do that daily.



We've gone swimming, roller skating, skiing, and out to eat as a family again. Although Dan can't roller skate or ski, he can accompany us to these activities. How neat is that?



Dan takes Joel to hockey games and practice again and drives Joel to Boy Scouts. Dan is working full-time from a wheelchair and is driving! Wow! We do rejoice that Daddy is with us and "so well" and wonder now what the rest of 2006 will bring.

Will we ever find out what really happened? Probably not -- Dan doesn't remember....but....does that matter....no...our life together now, for 2006 and beyond is what needs to be focused on.

If you pray, please continue to keep the Farris Family in your prayers. Pray that Jo Ann can continue to be strong. Pray for our financial needs. Pray that our children live their lives without remembering much of the negative things that happened to their family in 2005. Pray that our children continue to grow and learn as we continue to homeschool. Pray that Dan completely recovers and walks really well again.

Things will never be the same again; we know that.

Hugs to all who read this.

President's Day 2006 -- Dan goes swimming

We went swimming as a family on President's Day and Dan joined us in the pool. In the pool, he doesn't have to put weight on his feet, so he was able to "mix-in" and play with the children and swim too. He did do a lap or two!

The last time we all went swimming together, was on Labor Day, 2005. This was really nice for the entire family and we can't wait to do it again.

Months in Review -- a poem

Months

September
Daddy almost died in September

October
Daddy woke up from a coma in October and miraculously lived

November
Daddy was home from the hospital but still very sick

December
Daddy celebrated the holidays with his children and began to get better

January
Daddy "sort of walked" again

February
Daddy went back to work in a wheelchair

Months

Working full-time worked out fine

Dan is tired, but adjusted to working full-time with no problems

Things do feel like they are returning to "normal."

Dan will return to work full-time on February 13!

Dan will return to work full-time on February 13.

Pretty amazing!

Dan climbs up and down 20 steps!

Dan took Joel to Boy Scouts last night.

Boy Scouts meets on the top floor of a two story building and the only way up is up stairs.

Dan climbed up 20 stairs before the meeting and went down 20 stairs when the meeting ended.

Wow!

Dan attends Cub Scout event with his new walker

On Saturday, February 4, Joel became a Boy Scout.

Dan and the rest of the family accompanied Joel to a special banquet and ceremony at a hotel in Colorado Springs.

Dan left his wheelchair home for the event, drove the car, and used his walker to enter and leave the banquet room.

Hopefully, more ventures with Dan walking more and more will occur.

February 1, 2006 -- Dan returns to work part-time

Dan returned to work on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 (in a wheelchair).

All went smoothly. Dan returned to the same office and the same job.

He will work part-time (3 days a week, M-W-F, 8 am to 2:30 PM) for about 2 weeks and then return to full-time status.

Having Dan back at work is such a time of triumph and excitement for our family and shows us things will soon feel normal.

We do have a time of adjustment ahead. We have only one car at this time and physically getting Dan to work and getting the children to where they need to be, is a challenge and we anticipate some exhausting days until a 2nd vehicle can be obtained. Before Dan's accicdent, we were able to function with one car since Dan took the bus to work, but that is no longer an option.

Dan continues to have physical therapy and doctor visits that need to now be squeezed into a busy schedule.

When will Dan walk?

Although Dan is now able to put weight on both legs and balance a bit, it is going to take a long time to walk without assistance or more than a few feet again.

Dan will continue in physical therapy and also be able to return to work, but will have to work from his wheelchair.

A new walker, that includes a seat, is expected to arrive at our home sometime this week. We are hoping that using the walker will help Dan walk or be more mobile.

He has come a long way and we are grateful.

Saturday 1-28-06 -- Dan takes Jo Ann out to dinner

Dan was able to get his wheelchair in and out of the car on his own and was able to take Jo Ann out to dinner the night of 1-28-06. Wow, what an accomplishment when once we wondered if such a moment would ever happen again.

Dan talks about his trip (1/18--1/24/06) to see his family

To listen to Dan talk about his trip to California, click below.

Dan will return to work part-time after February 1st!

Dan is excited about returning to work (at the same office he worked at prior to the accident) part-time after February 1st. He will begin by working six hours and day, M-W-F, then eventually return to full-time status as his energy returns.

Dan can drive again! 1-22-06

Dan reports that he did 1/2 of the driving to Long Beach and also did all the driving across the Los Angeles freeways when he visited his brother Pat and his sister-in-law Monica!

He is still in Long Beach at his parents house, but will return to Colorado by mid-week.

Jo Ann and the kids had a nice week enjoying playing in the snow, shopping, eating out, and being together, but the children do miss Daddy and have called him every day.

Dan goes to visit his parents in California

Dan (and his brother Mike) rented a car and left for Long Beach, California today. Last time Dan's parents saw Dan he was in traction and in a coma and in critical condition. This visit should be quite different.

A few small steps

On Monday, October 16, Dan's physician gave him the okay to put weight on his left foot.

So, that evening (like in the story HEIDI) , Dan got up out of his wheelchair and walked about 3 feet to Jo Ann's arms.

You guessed it...Jo Ann cried tears of joy.

Look Ma, No hands! 1-10-06

Look Ma, No hands! (Well, it was about 60 seconds of standing without holding on to something.)

1-10-06 -- Dan "walked" with his walker down our driveway and back!

Dan "walked" with his walker down the length of our driveway and down the street for a few feet and back into the house today! We are looking forward to borrowing a pair of crutches and seeing how he does using crutches. He is still not able to put weight on his left foot yet (doctor's orders).

Surgery went smoothly!

Today's surgery went smoothly! Now we wait and see if Dan can walk again.

It is just marvelous to know that Dan is not paralyzed or brain damaged or...or...or dead.

Wow.....our family will never forget the miracle of Dan being alive!

What will 2006 bring? We wonder; we wait.

Surgery scheduled for Friday, January 6, 2006

Dan will have the pins removed from his left foot during an outpatient surgery on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 4:30 PM.

We now will wonder how long before Dan will walk again? It may not be long.

Will he walk perfectly? That may take time, but we are so grateful Dan is alive and with us.

Wheelchair at Chanukah on Ice - Decenber 28, 2005

Take a look at Dan on the ice with his brother Mike and "Dan's girls."