Return to the Mayo Clinic

Luke and his girlfriend Missy made the trek to Rochester, MN on Sunday, September 19, 2010, for appointments at the Mayo Clinic. The bad news he received is that the nerve transplant to restore motion to the bicep muscles has not taken. However, the good news is that the transplant of the intercostal nerves that they moved from between his ribs and attached to the nerves to his tricep muscles was successful. In a visit to the physical therapy department he found that he was able to move his arm outward from his body. They gave him exercises to do to develop that movement. He basically has to work with his rib cage to generate muscle action in his arm. The problem is that with no functional bicep muscle the motion is one way. Down the road there is the possibility of surgery to bring part of the triceps around to the front for motion both ways. He will be returning to the Mayo Clinic in about six months for followup.

After several visits to doctors and talking to them he came to a decision on an issue he had been pondering for quite a while. He is heading into surgery early tomorrow morning, Friday the 24th, for an amputation on his left arm. The amputation will be 3 to 4 inches below the elbow. Join us in prayer for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Bill

Moving back East!!

Luke has received a transfer to the Buffalo, NY Border Patrol station. He will be starting work there in early May. He will be leaving San Diego on April 17 to make the long trek east and then spend a couple of weeks with Mom & Dad while he finds a place to live in Buffalo.

People are making comments like, "He's living in San Diego and he wants to move to Buffalo?!?! What's wrong with that boy?!?!" I guess he just misses thunderstorms and snow too much! I'm sure the fact that all his family is here weighed little in his decision ;-), but we are all elated that he will be within a couple of hours driving distance.

Paula and I along with his friend Josh will be flying out to help him pack up and Josh will drive back with Luke. We are looking forward to seeing our San Diego friends again.

Bill