Finished the 1/2 marathon in 3 hours 37 minutes, a tribute to family, friends and faith. Thanks everyone!
Next steps?...
I've hired therapist to get me golfing in the Spring... at our initial evaluation, he wanted to know what my handicap was... I replied after the accicent I was left with a "central cord syndrome".. he said he wantede to know my "golf handicap?"... I said "I never played before the accident"... he said "_ _ _ _" ;-)
yee ha... another journey begins... (I alsways told ya'll golf was for sissys and criples... :-)
rws
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Good bye my friend- Dean Morris
Dean Morris found me paralyzed and unable to connect with the wider world. He gave me connectivity through this blog, which he created, helping inspire my journey of recovery. In order to write these messages, I first used a prothesis strapped to my right hand, then the right index finger and now all ten fingers (sort of;-)
Dean - If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane,
We would walk all the way to Heaven, to bring you home again
No farewell words were spoken, no time to say good-bye
You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why...
Farewell my friend... you brought light into my darkest corner... you are Prince among men... till we meet again...peace
rws
Dean - If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane,
We would walk all the way to Heaven, to bring you home again
No farewell words were spoken, no time to say good-bye
You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why...
Farewell my friend... you brought light into my darkest corner... you are Prince among men... till we meet again...peace
rws
Monday, September 7, 2009
Video: Doctor's long recovery from broken neck
Dr. Ron Stout shares the experience of his recovery after he broke his neck when his bike slipped on a bridge on the Little Miami Scenic Trail last year
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1418565565?bctid=37636990001
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1418565565?bctid=37636990001
Recovering from broken neck a life-changing experience for doctor
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/recovering-from-broken-neck-a-life-changing-experience-for-doctor-285346.html
By Ken McCall, Staff Writer
Life changed in an instant for Dr. Ron Stout.
One minute on that Labor Day morning one year ago, he was approaching the old railroad bridge on the Little Miami Scenic Trail that he’d crossed hundreds of times. The next minute, he couldn’t move.
“I was still entangled with the bike, laying here face up,” Stout said Thursday, Sept. 3, on his second pilgrimage to the formerly dangerous bridge. “The sky was just like it is today. It was a little bluer, just a cloud or two. It was kind of weird. It was peaceful.”
Except for the fact that he couldn’t breathe.
“Apparently I’d just knocked the wind out of me,” he said, standing on the spot where it happened about two miles southwest of Xenia. “So I’m lying there trying to say, ‘OK, at exactly what level did I break my neck at. If it’s too high, you’re toast.”
Once the doctor in him figured out he was probably going to live, all Stout could do was look at the sky and wait. Eventually, another rider came along, fished the cell phone out of his pocket and called 911.
Then she helped him call his wife.
“I said, ‘Honey, I screwed up.’ ”
Stout said he wasn’t feeling teary or emotional — except for one thing.
“I felt guilty that I’d let the family down,” he said. “Because there are all these things that you need to do and you want to do. You’re supposed to send the kids to school, pay the bills, et cetera. And I’m lying here, unable to move, and it was like, ‘OK, now what are we going to do.’ ”
The road back
For the next year, what he had to do was relearn how to do things we all take for granted. Things like move an arm or a leg, pick up a pencil, make a phone call, take a step. In fact, Stout said, his life became all about taking the next step.
And now, although doctors initially told his wife, Pam, that he was unlikely to walk again, he’s training to walk a half marathon next month. He’s back at work as the medical director for Procter & Gamble, and he’s driving.
But it hasn’t been easy.
He praises the Miami Valley Hospital staff for their patience, kindness and occasional tough insistence that he work to do what seemed impossible.
“One of the reasons we’re talking here today is they gave the right therapy at the right time,” he said.
On the first day in the hospital, they had him up in a suspension system moving his limbs and telling him: This is your left arm. This is your right arm.
“I was like, ‘What the heck are you doing?’ They told me, ‘We’re trying to remind your brain that your arms and legs are there.”
Soon after, the staff wheeled him up to the parallel bars in occupational therapy. The idea of somehow getting out of his wheelchair and taking steps seemed impossible, and the good doctor, admittedly never the most patient man, was about to give the staff a piece of his mind. Then he saw a young man coming toward him on the bars.
“He had tubes coming in and out of him just like I did,” Stout said. “And he was coming toward me, just pouring with sweat, all over his body. Except he was coming toward me one hop at a time” (on his one remaining leg.)
So Stout kept his mouth shut and walked four steps — with four therapists helping on each foot and shoulder.
Later, when they’d get him up to “walk” without the bars, he said, it was scary.
“The ground was a very long way away,” Stout said. “It took me weeks just to feel comfortable walking without someone holding me. And then months before I was walking without a walker.”
The lessons learned
People ask him what the experience has meant to him, what it means in the big picture of life.
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug, walking back toward Spring Valley with a slight limp. “For me, it means we’re designed to take one step at a time. Wherever you’re at, take the next step. I haven’t had some great metaphysical experience. It just seemed natural to every day try to do just a little bit more.”
But he’s learned other things as well: for instance, what is really important.
He is occasionally asked to speak to groups, and one thing he likes to do is bring up on stage the most important person in the room and ask them to tell the audience who they are in three sentences or less. It’s usually about where they work and what position they hold and what they’ve achieved.
Then he asks them to lie down, pretend they’re paralyzed from the neck down and say who they are.
“Then you’re all about family, friends and faith,” Stout said. “You’re Ron Stout, the husband of Pam, the father of Johnny, a second-year architecture student at Miami University and Elle, a senior in Spring Valley Academy.
“That’s been really beneficial for me. I’m not my job. I’m not how fast I can ride my bike. I’m part of a family, a group of friends and a faith. It took me 50 years to learn it, but it was worth it.”
Along this road of many small steps, Stout said, the high points have been amazingly mundane.
His first was sending a text message to his son, who had just gone to school a week before the accident.
“It took me 15 minutes to say, ‘Hi Johnny. I did this myself.’ ”
Another milestone was picking up a cherry tomato and putting it in his mouth. And then, months later, there was the day he snuck out of the house and drove a truck around the pasture of his farm.
Through it all, he said, his wife, Pam, has been a “rock.” She suddenly had to do everything, both for him and their family. To make matters worse, a week after the accident, she was rear-ended by a drunk driver. Then Hurricane Ike came through and took down a number of their trees, including one on their barn. Then their daughter’s school, Spring Valley Academy, burned.
“We were looking at Job in the Bible to see what was going to happen next,” he said.
Overall, incredibly, Stout says he has a sense of gratitude for his experience.
“The one thing it’s really done for me is really given me a sense of value, of what to value, what to worry about,” Stout said. “It’s different for everyone. But I kind of like that landing on my head and busting up my neck kind of quieted a lot of those things that I used to worry about.”
Contact Ken McCall at (937) 225-2393 or kmccall@DaytonDailyNews.com.
By Ken McCall, Staff Writer
Life changed in an instant for Dr. Ron Stout.
One minute on that Labor Day morning one year ago, he was approaching the old railroad bridge on the Little Miami Scenic Trail that he’d crossed hundreds of times. The next minute, he couldn’t move.
“I was still entangled with the bike, laying here face up,” Stout said Thursday, Sept. 3, on his second pilgrimage to the formerly dangerous bridge. “The sky was just like it is today. It was a little bluer, just a cloud or two. It was kind of weird. It was peaceful.”
Except for the fact that he couldn’t breathe.
“Apparently I’d just knocked the wind out of me,” he said, standing on the spot where it happened about two miles southwest of Xenia. “So I’m lying there trying to say, ‘OK, at exactly what level did I break my neck at. If it’s too high, you’re toast.”
Once the doctor in him figured out he was probably going to live, all Stout could do was look at the sky and wait. Eventually, another rider came along, fished the cell phone out of his pocket and called 911.
Then she helped him call his wife.
“I said, ‘Honey, I screwed up.’ ”
Stout said he wasn’t feeling teary or emotional — except for one thing.
“I felt guilty that I’d let the family down,” he said. “Because there are all these things that you need to do and you want to do. You’re supposed to send the kids to school, pay the bills, et cetera. And I’m lying here, unable to move, and it was like, ‘OK, now what are we going to do.’ ”
The road back
For the next year, what he had to do was relearn how to do things we all take for granted. Things like move an arm or a leg, pick up a pencil, make a phone call, take a step. In fact, Stout said, his life became all about taking the next step.
And now, although doctors initially told his wife, Pam, that he was unlikely to walk again, he’s training to walk a half marathon next month. He’s back at work as the medical director for Procter & Gamble, and he’s driving.
But it hasn’t been easy.
He praises the Miami Valley Hospital staff for their patience, kindness and occasional tough insistence that he work to do what seemed impossible.
“One of the reasons we’re talking here today is they gave the right therapy at the right time,” he said.
On the first day in the hospital, they had him up in a suspension system moving his limbs and telling him: This is your left arm. This is your right arm.
“I was like, ‘What the heck are you doing?’ They told me, ‘We’re trying to remind your brain that your arms and legs are there.”
Soon after, the staff wheeled him up to the parallel bars in occupational therapy. The idea of somehow getting out of his wheelchair and taking steps seemed impossible, and the good doctor, admittedly never the most patient man, was about to give the staff a piece of his mind. Then he saw a young man coming toward him on the bars.
“He had tubes coming in and out of him just like I did,” Stout said. “And he was coming toward me, just pouring with sweat, all over his body. Except he was coming toward me one hop at a time” (on his one remaining leg.)
So Stout kept his mouth shut and walked four steps — with four therapists helping on each foot and shoulder.
Later, when they’d get him up to “walk” without the bars, he said, it was scary.
“The ground was a very long way away,” Stout said. “It took me weeks just to feel comfortable walking without someone holding me. And then months before I was walking without a walker.”
The lessons learned
People ask him what the experience has meant to him, what it means in the big picture of life.
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug, walking back toward Spring Valley with a slight limp. “For me, it means we’re designed to take one step at a time. Wherever you’re at, take the next step. I haven’t had some great metaphysical experience. It just seemed natural to every day try to do just a little bit more.”
But he’s learned other things as well: for instance, what is really important.
He is occasionally asked to speak to groups, and one thing he likes to do is bring up on stage the most important person in the room and ask them to tell the audience who they are in three sentences or less. It’s usually about where they work and what position they hold and what they’ve achieved.
Then he asks them to lie down, pretend they’re paralyzed from the neck down and say who they are.
“Then you’re all about family, friends and faith,” Stout said. “You’re Ron Stout, the husband of Pam, the father of Johnny, a second-year architecture student at Miami University and Elle, a senior in Spring Valley Academy.
“That’s been really beneficial for me. I’m not my job. I’m not how fast I can ride my bike. I’m part of a family, a group of friends and a faith. It took me 50 years to learn it, but it was worth it.”
Along this road of many small steps, Stout said, the high points have been amazingly mundane.
His first was sending a text message to his son, who had just gone to school a week before the accident.
“It took me 15 minutes to say, ‘Hi Johnny. I did this myself.’ ”
Another milestone was picking up a cherry tomato and putting it in his mouth. And then, months later, there was the day he snuck out of the house and drove a truck around the pasture of his farm.
Through it all, he said, his wife, Pam, has been a “rock.” She suddenly had to do everything, both for him and their family. To make matters worse, a week after the accident, she was rear-ended by a drunk driver. Then Hurricane Ike came through and took down a number of their trees, including one on their barn. Then their daughter’s school, Spring Valley Academy, burned.
“We were looking at Job in the Bible to see what was going to happen next,” he said.
Overall, incredibly, Stout says he has a sense of gratitude for his experience.
“The one thing it’s really done for me is really given me a sense of value, of what to value, what to worry about,” Stout said. “It’s different for everyone. But I kind of like that landing on my head and busting up my neck kind of quieted a lot of those things that I used to worry about.”
Contact Ken McCall at (937) 225-2393 or kmccall@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Doctor who broke neck on bike path bridge trains for half-marathon
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/doctor-who-broke-neck-on-bike-path-bridge-trains-for-half-marathon-285357.html
By Ken McCall, Staff Writer
One year ago on Labor Day, Dr. Ron Stout went out for a 20-mile bike ride on the Little Miami Trail and didn’t come home for a month.
Stout, the now 50-year-old medical director of Procter & Gamble, wiped out on one of the dangerously slick bridges on the trail — which, thanks to the advocacy and fund-raising of the Friends of the Little Miami State Park, have since been fixed. He flipped his Trek racing bike, landed on his back and blacked out. When he came to, he couldn’t move from his neck down.
Stout’s planned one-hour ride became a yearlong painful, frustrating and enlightening journey that has transformed his outlook on life, he said during a walk up the trail last week.
A former Air Force flight surgeon, Stout was used to living a physically active, fast-paced life.
Then, suddenly, everything came screeching to a stop.
“I’ve never been patient,” Stout said. “I’ve always hated lines and waiting.
“Then, the first six months, I had to wait for everything. There was nothing I could do for myself.”
The experience, he said, taught him what was truly important.
Long ago, he said, he told his wife, Pam, that if he ever got badly injured, he didn’t want to live.
“But when I was laying here on the trail,” he said, looking down at the spot on the now-paved bridge, “never for a moment did I want to die. I know it sounds Polyannish, but for everything I’ve lost physically, I’ve gained something else.”
By Ken McCall, Staff Writer
One year ago on Labor Day, Dr. Ron Stout went out for a 20-mile bike ride on the Little Miami Trail and didn’t come home for a month.
Stout, the now 50-year-old medical director of Procter & Gamble, wiped out on one of the dangerously slick bridges on the trail — which, thanks to the advocacy and fund-raising of the Friends of the Little Miami State Park, have since been fixed. He flipped his Trek racing bike, landed on his back and blacked out. When he came to, he couldn’t move from his neck down.
Stout’s planned one-hour ride became a yearlong painful, frustrating and enlightening journey that has transformed his outlook on life, he said during a walk up the trail last week.
A former Air Force flight surgeon, Stout was used to living a physically active, fast-paced life.
Then, suddenly, everything came screeching to a stop.
“I’ve never been patient,” Stout said. “I’ve always hated lines and waiting.
“Then, the first six months, I had to wait for everything. There was nothing I could do for myself.”
The experience, he said, taught him what was truly important.
Long ago, he said, he told his wife, Pam, that if he ever got badly injured, he didn’t want to live.
“But when I was laying here on the trail,” he said, looking down at the spot on the now-paved bridge, “never for a moment did I want to die. I know it sounds Polyannish, but for everything I’ve lost physically, I’ve gained something else.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
You Raise Me Up!
Before leaving home this morning, I asked Pam & Elle to exercise a little today, celebrating 365 days since "the" accident.
I'm writing from a room with a view (Orlando, Grand Cypress Resort). I've been invited here to pontificate and learn more about health and wellbeing...
But first let's celebrate a years journey relearning the fundamentals we first expored as kids. Family, friends and faith, it's all we need to successfully navigate this thing we call "life".
THANKYOU!
rws
I'm writing from a room with a view (Orlando, Grand Cypress Resort). I've been invited here to pontificate and learn more about health and wellbeing...
But first let's celebrate a years journey relearning the fundamentals we first expored as kids. Family, friends and faith, it's all we need to successfully navigate this thing we call "life".
THANKYOU!
rws
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Combat fishing... and Pam!
Combat fishing today… Caught shark, this, that and the other "little" thing… blackberry google found on shore fish market… ordered redfish fillets and sushi side dishes.. bounty of the seas...
rws
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Nothings working ... July 4... celebrate!!
Laying on the grass, the motorcycle (a tiny Honda XR100) on top of me, Elle and I've been trying to get it started (the Yamaha 125 is already circling the pasture). We succeeded (briefly) and I ride it around the pasture. Celebrate! I can ride (sort of).
Laying in the front of the boat tanning my scars, the gentle breeze ruffles the orange emergency flag Pam waves at passing boats. Our Mastercraft ski boat floats powerlessly (dead battery) on the lake. Celebrate! I launched the boat myself (sort of).
A beautifully flawed life we've been given in this country, celebrate (I am)!
rws
Laying in the front of the boat tanning my scars, the gentle breeze ruffles the orange emergency flag Pam waves at passing boats. Our Mastercraft ski boat floats powerlessly (dead battery) on the lake. Celebrate! I launched the boat myself (sort of).
A beautifully flawed life we've been given in this country, celebrate (I am)!
rws
Friday, June 26, 2009
Physicality...
?place... ?performance... ?person...Interesting week... began in Niagara Falls, then onto Toronto (Oshawa, Kingsway College)... ending in Seattle with AAFP training program... While in Oshawa I (along with Pam & Elle) was blessed to meet Elle's boyfriend's (Seth) extended family.
In Seattle, I was further blessed to visit my favorite spot on earth (Rosario Beach) and delve deeper into my profession (health care) along with 100s of Family Physicians.
Fascinating how losing some "physicality" has given me a fuller appreciation...
Home is indeed where the heart is...Pam and the kids...
Sunday, June 14, 2009
"Your Fully Recovered"
"You look great!" "It's a miracle!" "Can't even tell you were ever hurt."
Ya baby, I've always looked great, it is a miracle... nooooo I'm not fully recovered!
Many nights (around 2 am), what I interpret to be shoulder and/or neck pain awakens me. Laying quietly in bed, if I concentrate and listen closely, I can hear the previous owner of the cadaver bones in my neck, whispering to the previous owner of the cadaver ligaments in my shoulder. Once I settle any disputes, I sometimes ponder peoples perspective of my progress.
Reality... clonus with rapid movement... stiffness when sedentary... chronic discomfort (no I'm not one of my chronic pain patients)... suppository each morning to facilitate defication... bladder capacity limited... overfilling bladder, spasm... spasm, distance too far... accident... upper body weak... arms with limited range of motion... WEIRD disathesias... Fatigue!!
No complaints, just thought the "rest of the story" might be of interest?
rws
Ya baby, I've always looked great, it is a miracle... nooooo I'm not fully recovered!
Many nights (around 2 am), what I interpret to be shoulder and/or neck pain awakens me. Laying quietly in bed, if I concentrate and listen closely, I can hear the previous owner of the cadaver bones in my neck, whispering to the previous owner of the cadaver ligaments in my shoulder. Once I settle any disputes, I sometimes ponder peoples perspective of my progress.
Reality... clonus with rapid movement... stiffness when sedentary... chronic discomfort (no I'm not one of my chronic pain patients)... suppository each morning to facilitate defication... bladder capacity limited... overfilling bladder, spasm... spasm, distance too far... accident... upper body weak... arms with limited range of motion... WEIRD disathesias... Fatigue!!
No complaints, just thought the "rest of the story" might be of interest?
rws
11 miles...
Pam and I walked (forever) along the Greater Miami River yesterday. We started out fast (I've got a new Timex triathlon watch that allows you to record the per mile split times.) After about 3 miles my left knee was aching...so Pam walked behind me for awhile evaluating my bio mechanics... at the speed we where walking (sub 16 minute mile) clonus was altering my stride and causing instability in the knee... we slowed done (17:30 minute mile) the knee pain cleared and we completed a new record distance... 11 miles...
Looks like we'll switch our 1/2 Marathon to the Grand Rapids event the 18th of October. http://www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/ Turns out the September event we'd picked conflicts with Andrews University homecoming... so we'll likely do a 10k during homecoming and enjoy seeing old acquaintances (and pontificating at Presidents Council)...
Stiffly (morning after)
rws
Looks like we'll switch our 1/2 Marathon to the Grand Rapids event the 18th of October. http://www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/ Turns out the September event we'd picked conflicts with Andrews University homecoming... so we'll likely do a 10k during homecoming and enjoy seeing old acquaintances (and pontificating at Presidents Council)...
Stiffly (morning after)
rws
Sunday, May 17, 2009
mirrored...
Who is that guy? Scarred, misshapen, no muscle, abdominal "pooch," minimal remaining hair... very gray. Wonder why he's wearing my swimming trunks (a size or two too big) and mimicking my every move? Can't be me?
Walking the white sand of Jacksonville Beach. Sun, wind, waves, fat people, skinny people (bikinis!!), cripples (there are a lot of us)... sounds of water, sea gulls, kids laughter... Gazing into wave receding from the sand, I see a distorted reflection... could it be me?
Quick telephone call to Pam, text to and from the kids, happy to be me!
rws
Walking the white sand of Jacksonville Beach. Sun, wind, waves, fat people, skinny people (bikinis!!), cripples (there are a lot of us)... sounds of water, sea gulls, kids laughter... Gazing into wave receding from the sand, I see a distorted reflection... could it be me?
Quick telephone call to Pam, text to and from the kids, happy to be me!
rws
Saturday, May 16, 2009
6 miles & change...
6:15, Friday morning. Carrying yesterday's jeans to the wash, the coins I had forgotten to empty from the pockets, fell to the darkened hallway floor. Voicing a silent curse, I reflexively knelt and began picking up the coins with my left hand (right hand still in it's post surgical sling).
At about the second coin (and curse); flash back. November 2008; hour after hour sitting in a wheelchair, at the occupational therapist's table, trying to pick up just one penny.
Knee still on the floor, an exclamation of gratitude escapes my lips (shh everyone but me's still in bed)... perspective!
Saturday afternoon, the right hand sling still making things awkward, Pam & I walk 6 miles. Life's little "one step at a time" miracles.
rws
At about the second coin (and curse); flash back. November 2008; hour after hour sitting in a wheelchair, at the occupational therapist's table, trying to pick up just one penny.
Knee still on the floor, an exclamation of gratitude escapes my lips (shh everyone but me's still in bed)... perspective!
Saturday afternoon, the right hand sling still making things awkward, Pam & I walk 6 miles. Life's little "one step at a time" miracles.
rws
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Blast from the past...
Spent the day in Auburn, Maine at Tambrands P&G site. Great P&G medical group going through transition. Dr Short, site physician, thought I might like a "overview" of the plant. First time since 1997 in copilots seat.
Maine rocks!
rws
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
"The Bridge"
First time back at "The Bridge"... walked a little over 4 miles (first real venture since shoulder surgery) with Pam and our friends the Stiles.They repaired the approach to the bridge, removing the large offset that apparently started the chain of educational events on 1 Sept.
Of note, Pam's by my side, as always... what a treasure!
rws
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Post surgery blahs
A little nausea, sore right shoulder... but surgery (right shoulder reconstruction) is done! Been sleeping all day.
Sycamore Hospital does outpatient surgery right... nice atmosphere, good people.
rws
Sycamore Hospital does outpatient surgery right... nice atmosphere, good people.
rws
Sunday, April 19, 2009
10 mile mulch...
Pam & I walked 10 miles yesterday! Recovered briefly and then went out to Miami University. Pam had made John a birthday cake, so we went to a Wild Asia (restaurant where they poured water and diet coke ALL over us) and celebrated.
Mowed and mulched today ( I've said it before... what's the point of being a cripple, if you can do chores?)
Neurosurgery f/u tomorrow am, arm reconstruction at Sycamore Hospital tomorrow pm.
Best
rws
Mowed and mulched today ( I've said it before... what's the point of being a cripple, if you can do chores?)
Neurosurgery f/u tomorrow am, arm reconstruction at Sycamore Hospital tomorrow pm.
Best
rws
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Phoenix
Nice visit at P&G plant, meeting with new doctor and nurse. Also able to connect with old friends Bob Orford (ACOEM president) and Sean Sullivan and Deb Love (IHPM principals).
Phoenix in April is gorgeous! Cacti and everything else in bloom. Clear views of the mountians etc...
Was able to walk (on paved trail) about 4 miles around base of Squaw Peak. Uphill is tough!!
rws
Sunday, April 12, 2009
9 miles... who's counting...
9 miles along the Greater Miami River with Pammy, dang it all, she's faster than me (and proud of it).
Terrific weekend highlighted by Johnny being home from Miami and Elle importing a gentleman from Canada. (Elle's been dating Seth Bussie, who's a senior at Kingsway. He came down this weekend and I got to meet him for the first time. First impressions: first rate! Hope we see more of him).
Pam filled the house for Saturday lunch (60ish folk). Great to see everyone.
I'm continuing to improve in slow and suttle ways. Still have marked upper body motor defiecits and lower body paresthesias. Left side fatigues "out"... but n0 complaints...
Off to our plant in Phoenix this week... 20 April -> right shoulder reconstruction.
Best- rws
Terrific weekend highlighted by Johnny being home from Miami and Elle importing a gentleman from Canada. (Elle's been dating Seth Bussie, who's a senior at Kingsway. He came down this weekend and I got to meet him for the first time. First impressions: first rate! Hope we see more of him).
Pam filled the house for Saturday lunch (60ish folk). Great to see everyone.
I'm continuing to improve in slow and suttle ways. Still have marked upper body motor defiecits and lower body paresthesias. Left side fatigues "out"... but n0 complaints...
Off to our plant in Phoenix this week... 20 April -> right shoulder reconstruction.
Best- rws
Sunday, April 5, 2009
8 miles into Spring
Pam & I walked 8 miles.... sneaking up on the magic 13.1...
Pushed around the lawnmower some, didn't have the upper body strength to start it (put Pam was happy to help out)... dang that thing is heavier than I remember....
Started up the John Deere... working the clutch triggers a nice rthymic clonic dance of my left ankle...
The onset of "chores" signals Spring... renewal... the evidence of things hoped for through the dark and cold of Winter...
Thankfully the Cycle of Life brings opportunities in all it's Seasons...
rws
Pushed around the lawnmower some, didn't have the upper body strength to start it (put Pam was happy to help out)... dang that thing is heavier than I remember....
Started up the John Deere... working the clutch triggers a nice rthymic clonic dance of my left ankle...
The onset of "chores" signals Spring... renewal... the evidence of things hoped for through the dark and cold of Winter...
Thankfully the Cycle of Life brings opportunities in all it's Seasons...
rws
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Iowa
It's winter (still) in Iowa City. First business trip without my personal assistant (Pam). Nice to be in our manufacturing world again! Good, pragmatic, pratical people!
Tired, but happy to be able to "do" the work that I enjoy.
Drama this week was "someone" in Costa Rica deciding I shouldn't be paid. Outsourcing has some "unintended"consiquences. Trust we resolve this before I loose the weight I should.
Winds blowin through the plains...
rws
Tired, but happy to be able to "do" the work that I enjoy.
Drama this week was "someone" in Costa Rica deciding I shouldn't be paid. Outsourcing has some "unintended"consiquences. Trust we resolve this before I loose the weight I should.
Winds blowin through the plains...
rws
Saturday, March 21, 2009
7 miles....
Pam & Elle are in France ("oohh we're sitting at a small cafe across the river from Notre Dame"). Mom & dad came down for the weekend. Lunch at George & Barbs...
Today presented perfect weather, mid 50s, sunny, light breeze! Dad and I walked 7 miles!
I'm sneakin up on that "half marathon"...
Dinner at CheeseCake Factory with John & Jonathan ;-)
Life ain't half bad!
rws
Today presented perfect weather, mid 50s, sunny, light breeze! Dad and I walked 7 miles!
I'm sneakin up on that "half marathon"...
Dinner at CheeseCake Factory with John & Jonathan ;-)
Life ain't half bad!
rws
Sunday, March 15, 2009
"Firsts"
Ya baby... I rode a genuine two wheel bike yesterday (first time since 1 Sept)... OK it was grandma's bike and yes Pam was jogging along side (but no training wheels)... short but sweet...
We also walked 6 miles on the trail... first time up to presurgery distance (are you ready to walk a half marathon with me?) We're looking at entering the Sixth State-to-State Half-Marathon, an RRCA Regional Championship race,is set for Sunday, September 27, 2009 - 7:30 a.m. at Oxford, Ohio (Miami University). http://www.statetostate.org/index.html The race has a running and walking component.
I went back to work full time last week... who knew the days were SO long... fortunately the days seemed to get shorter as the week progressed.
Funny thing... I'm tired this morning...
Best-
rws
We also walked 6 miles on the trail... first time up to presurgery distance (are you ready to walk a half marathon with me?) We're looking at entering the Sixth State-to-State Half-Marathon, an RRCA Regional Championship race,is set for Sunday, September 27, 2009 - 7:30 a.m. at Oxford, Ohio (Miami University). http://www.statetostate.org/index.html The race has a running and walking component.
I went back to work full time last week... who knew the days were SO long... fortunately the days seemed to get shorter as the week progressed.
Funny thing... I'm tired this morning...
Best-
rws
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Update
Yahoo! Slept (in bed) the last couple of nights. I've stopped muscle relaxants and have reduced pain meds significantly.
Had my first post surgery visit Tuesday and can return to work on 9th (Monday). When I shared with the nurse practitioner that I had really bad neck and back spasms, she replied "we hear that all the time" ... silly me I thought I was dying;-)
I snuck into work for a couple of hours yesterday, under the guise of bringing the "return to work" note to the nurse. I've got among other restrictions a two pound lifting restriction (pretty funny).
Sometime remind me to tell ya'll about going to the hospital for surgery... could a sworn I was at a Southwest Airlines check in gate...
Cheers
rws
Had my first post surgery visit Tuesday and can return to work on 9th (Monday). When I shared with the nurse practitioner that I had really bad neck and back spasms, she replied "we hear that all the time" ... silly me I thought I was dying;-)
I snuck into work for a couple of hours yesterday, under the guise of bringing the "return to work" note to the nurse. I've got among other restrictions a two pound lifting restriction (pretty funny).
Sometime remind me to tell ya'll about going to the hospital for surgery... could a sworn I was at a Southwest Airlines check in gate...
Cheers
rws
Sunday, March 1, 2009
6 months...
Pam & I "celebrated" the 6 month anniversary of my accident by going out to the trail and walking with Barb & George (grandma & pa). I completed 4 miles (left leg dragging by the end) in the 39 degree weather. Grandma walks a lot faster than she used too... or??
I think I turned the corner of this spinal surgery thing on Friday. Feeling a little stronger each day. Saturday went to church and a friends house for lunch, then went home exhausted. Last night I slept in bed until about 2 am, back and shoulder pain then sent me via vicoden down to the couch.
None the less, I'm puttering around more, studying for Family Practice Boards and cat napping every 2-3 hours.
Best-
rws
I think I turned the corner of this spinal surgery thing on Friday. Feeling a little stronger each day. Saturday went to church and a friends house for lunch, then went home exhausted. Last night I slept in bed until about 2 am, back and shoulder pain then sent me via vicoden down to the couch.
None the less, I'm puttering around more, studying for Family Practice Boards and cat napping every 2-3 hours.
Best-
rws
Friday, February 27, 2009
Walking again
Pam & I walked 3 miles today! I started off stiff & sore, smoothed out in the middle and got floppy at the end of the walk. Something as simple as a nice walk with someone special, what an amazing boost for the mood. I also walked a solo, slow 2 miles on Wednesday... so things are starting to move again.
I've still not wrapped my mind around this surgery. Prior to surgery I was getting used to my deficits. Post surgery "stuff" has changed. Example: left arm/hand has noticeably less swelling and MAYBE improved function. My right arm is more tingly (C-5 distro for you medical types) and movement feels "thicker."
Most troubling is the neck, mid trapezius shoulder muscle spasm that are worse when lying down. (Not sure if it is post surgical due to grafting, plating etc... or due to new neck brace and head position). Non the less, this too seems to be improving with 3 or so hours sleep in bed, followed by 3 hours of "sleeping" in sitting in the arm chair.
I'm sure there's a lesson in here somewhere.
Boring... rws
I've still not wrapped my mind around this surgery. Prior to surgery I was getting used to my deficits. Post surgery "stuff" has changed. Example: left arm/hand has noticeably less swelling and MAYBE improved function. My right arm is more tingly (C-5 distro for you medical types) and movement feels "thicker."
Most troubling is the neck, mid trapezius shoulder muscle spasm that are worse when lying down. (Not sure if it is post surgical due to grafting, plating etc... or due to new neck brace and head position). Non the less, this too seems to be improving with 3 or so hours sleep in bed, followed by 3 hours of "sleeping" in sitting in the arm chair.
I'm sure there's a lesson in here somewhere.
Boring... rws
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Pain Meds...
Alrighty then, so that's what pain meds are for!
Tuesday surgery. Wednesday home pm, slept well... Thursday out and about (how do you spell "overdo")... Thursday night, no sleep but plenty of spasm! Friday night... you CAN sleep sitting up (some). Saturday night...couch is becoming "more" comfortable...
hmmm... "the sun will come out tomorrow"
rws
Tuesday surgery. Wednesday home pm, slept well... Thursday out and about (how do you spell "overdo")... Thursday night, no sleep but plenty of spasm! Friday night... you CAN sleep sitting up (some). Saturday night...couch is becoming "more" comfortable...
hmmm... "the sun will come out tomorrow"
rws
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Post Surgery!!
Spinal fusion complete! I'm back home, a little weaker post surgery, steroids and morphine, but getting around fine. Mom and dad Stout came down and kept us company (thx!). Apparently there was more compression than anticipated, which now that it's repaired translates into a better long term prognosis. Kudos to Dr Bernstein the finest neurosurgeon for miles and miles, and my friend Dr Larry Eldenberg, gas passer extraordinaire)! Larry tells me that he's so tired of my premed drug inspired jokes, that he put me down faster than ever. Which is great because I usually try to tell jokes and end up telling where I hid the treasure ;-)
Shoulder surgery and physical therapy in about 8 weeks.
"Whew!"
Thx for the cards, calls and prayers!
rws
Monday, February 16, 2009
Phase two...
Tomorrow about noon ... steady hands, good luck and a smiling God are on order... Spinal surgery sounds a "little" more serious when it's your own...
Just returned from terrific meetings in LA (Preventive Medicine 2009)! We were able to bring together the Lifestyle Medicine and Preventive Medicine/Public Health folk. Real progress was made and future opportunity for collaboration looks bright! The session "Prevention that Pays" highlighted emerging business models including P&G's MDVIP and "store front clinics." It was well attended and well recieved!
Pam and I made a side trip to LLU. Helping ThermaCare research transition to Wyeth (Pfizer?) is done with mixed emotions (what a great team LLU has put together).
Visiting LLU (family, friends and leadership) was inspiring. They're doing terrific work in Lifetyle Medicine (I'm not sure if they realize how good they really are).
Well, see ya on the other side of those OR doors.
Thanks- rws
Just returned from terrific meetings in LA (Preventive Medicine 2009)! We were able to bring together the Lifestyle Medicine and Preventive Medicine/Public Health folk. Real progress was made and future opportunity for collaboration looks bright! The session "Prevention that Pays" highlighted emerging business models including P&G's MDVIP and "store front clinics." It was well attended and well recieved!
Pam and I made a side trip to LLU. Helping ThermaCare research transition to Wyeth (Pfizer?) is done with mixed emotions (what a great team LLU has put together).
Visiting LLU (family, friends and leadership) was inspiring. They're doing terrific work in Lifetyle Medicine (I'm not sure if they realize how good they really are).
Well, see ya on the other side of those OR doors.
Thanks- rws
Sunday, February 1, 2009
a beautiful night...
Yes, it is me (Pam). Ron has been so faithful in keeping you all informed. It is early Sunday morning and the house is quiet. Last evening was Elle's Winter banquet, kinda like a Prom. The girls started arriving to finish their last beauty touches, then the limo arrived. We took lots of pictures and then all 12 kids piled in. They all looked so beautiful and handsome. It was wonderful to see so many smiles. We are so blessed. I think my favorite picture is of Ron kissing Elle. He was so proud. :) As far as Ron goes, the surgery date is fast approaching and I pray everyday that it will go smoothly. Surgery is such a scary thing. We have come so far. I was reading the blog myself this morning and noticed how much improvement he has really made. Yesterday he walked 4 miles in 63 minutes and not too many days ago I read he walked 3 miles in 66 minutes...Awesome! We have one more trip to Loma Linda CA next week for work, then the big surgery....please keep us in your prayers....thanks for your continual support. The Lord so a wonderful God. Pam
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Presurg...
I had the pleasure of representing P&G on AAFP's advisory board in Miami Beach. P&G and AAFP have worked together for 18 years and done some "neat" things to improve the public's health. While it was great to be with AAFP's elected and staff leadership, we spent the better of 2 days in a very nice windowless room...100 yards from white sandy beaches, turquoise water, bathed by a 75 degree cloudless sky. Between meetings and a group dinner Monday night, I did get to walk 4 miles on the beach board walk with Pam.
Pam WASN'T in the boardroom, (if she says otherwise, compliment her tan). She did pay her dues getting us both home, as flight after flight was delayed or canceled. The night ended around 1 am, as we took a cab from Dayton (our car was in Cincinnati) down a single track on the deeply snow covered highway, to our home.
I had my neurosurgical presurg today (the reason we needed to get HOME). The doc reviewed my latest MRI's, noting the significant damage still evident in the C3 area and stated again that people with this type of injury, normally don't walk.
Thank God for miracles. Having written "miracle," I chuckle... What a difference perspective, time, family and friends make! Not so long ago I might not have been thankful to hobble around and been ready to call it a "miracle!"
rws
Pam WASN'T in the boardroom, (if she says otherwise, compliment her tan). She did pay her dues getting us both home, as flight after flight was delayed or canceled. The night ended around 1 am, as we took a cab from Dayton (our car was in Cincinnati) down a single track on the deeply snow covered highway, to our home.
I had my neurosurgical presurg today (the reason we needed to get HOME). The doc reviewed my latest MRI's, noting the significant damage still evident in the C3 area and stated again that people with this type of injury, normally don't walk.
Thank God for miracles. Having written "miracle," I chuckle... What a difference perspective, time, family and friends make! Not so long ago I might not have been thankful to hobble around and been ready to call it a "miracle!"
rws
Monday, January 19, 2009
Colorado...
Attending the American Board of Preventive Medicine meeting in Colorado Springs. Great location and gorgeous weather. Nice that Pam's here with me!
Passed another walking milestone prior to getting on the plane: 6 miles in 99 minutes. Shoulders sore, mild clonus.
rws
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Steps...
Alrighty then... I'll put it in writing... I'm (with Pam at my side) going to complete a half marathon before 2009 limps into history... want to come a long?
I'm now off antispasmotics (in prep for spinal fusion) and completed 5 mile walk today in 83 minutes... (shaved a whole 3 minutes off last attempt)... I'm pleased that I didn't have much clonus at the end!
It's was about 4 months ago that I took that first step in my recovery from paralysis... My goal with the half marathon is to walk and finish... It's a personal thing AND if a "cripple" can walk his way to health, what's stopping you?
There, my New Years resolution is out... Join me in making our "Lifestyle the best Medicine"
Regards-
rws
I'm now off antispasmotics (in prep for spinal fusion) and completed 5 mile walk today in 83 minutes... (shaved a whole 3 minutes off last attempt)... I'm pleased that I didn't have much clonus at the end!
It's was about 4 months ago that I took that first step in my recovery from paralysis... My goal with the half marathon is to walk and finish... It's a personal thing AND if a "cripple" can walk his way to health, what's stopping you?
There, my New Years resolution is out... Join me in making our "Lifestyle the best Medicine"
Regards-
rws
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Updates;-)
MRI didn't detect any significant degeneration and I'm scheduled for c-spine surgery 17 February.
I've graduated from this round of PT/OT and will reengage postop. Truth is the insurance company Humana, dropped my treating hospital and Dayton's only neurotrauma center from their coverage. (Health care "system"??)
Off baclofen, silly me I didn't think it was "helping"... turns out it helps very nicely with clonus and stiffness.
Working 8 hours a day... stiffness and dysethesia... otherwise going pretty well...
rws
I've graduated from this round of PT/OT and will reengage postop. Truth is the insurance company Humana, dropped my treating hospital and Dayton's only neurotrauma center from their coverage. (Health care "system"??)
Off baclofen, silly me I didn't think it was "helping"... turns out it helps very nicely with clonus and stiffness.
Working 8 hours a day... stiffness and dysethesia... otherwise going pretty well...
rws
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Year Update... 4 months...
Awaiting results from an MRI done earlier this week. Increasing "burning" sensations and sensitivity to light touch and temperature stimulated exam. Spine surgery now scheduled for 17 February.
Strength and coordination continue to improve. Pam and I walked 4 miles on the trail this weekend and I was able to complete 5 miles in 88 minutes, on the treadmill yesterday. (I've got a goal in mind).
Change at Procter & Gamble as the two people who were my direct "bosses" took early retirement. I'm continuing to work a reduced schedule and am looking to reduce the number of departments I lead. I'm very interested in increasing my focus on "Lifestyle Medicine."
Intellectually I understand how blessed I am, emotionally I'm a bit fatigued.
New Year... renewed hope... rws
Strength and coordination continue to improve. Pam and I walked 4 miles on the trail this weekend and I was able to complete 5 miles in 88 minutes, on the treadmill yesterday. (I've got a goal in mind).
Change at Procter & Gamble as the two people who were my direct "bosses" took early retirement. I'm continuing to work a reduced schedule and am looking to reduce the number of departments I lead. I'm very interested in increasing my focus on "Lifestyle Medicine."
Intellectually I understand how blessed I am, emotionally I'm a bit fatigued.
New Year... renewed hope... rws
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