Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Look Ma, No Hands!!

.... says Daniel.


We have an announcement! After 2 1/2 years of walking with some sort of assistance (via crutches or a cane) ... Dan is now walking like a big boy again!

I realize most blog postings about walking center around 9-12 month old babies, but for us this is a big feat. Here's proof:


Furthermore, I no longer have to carry, drinks, trays, grocery bags, his cell phone, etc. It is a big day! Watch closely in the video and you can see Dan has forgotten some of the things that come along with walking. Such as, swinging BOTH arms. I guess when you are used to using a cane it must feel weird to swing your arm again, but I had to inform Dan that it LOOKS even weirder than it FEELS.

We are also happy to announce the end of Dan's treatment. After lots of prayerful consideration, we feel very confident that this is the time to stop treatment and start getting on with life. I already posted about the great news of the last lung surgery. His doctors feel very confident that the chemo did it's job... while we feel very confident that we have seen a miracle from above. So we are pretty well covered on both ends of the spectrum :)

So, from here on out, they will follow Dan's lungs with scans to monitor any growth. He is also "testing" out his leg to see if the added stress of walking can cause it to fully grow into the grafted femur. We are anxious to see if it will grow in before the plate breaks from the added weight without the cane. Please keep your fingers crossed, as Dan wishes to put surgeries behind him.

We are so grateful for this new lease on life. We have really seen a difference in the past few days. We have a new focus. A normal life focus. And the strange part is... normal life feels abnormal. But we'll take it. We have our Heavenly Father to thank for this miracle, and not a day goes by that we don't recognize that. He really does guide the direction of our lives in more ways than we know.

9 comments:

Katie said...

I saw you guys filming this today as I was walking home, but you went inside before I had time to say hi. I wondered what was going on, because it seemed to be too short of paces to just be exercise. We are so happy for you and your good news!

Jacob & Clarissa said...

Hooray! Congrats to both of you, that is awesome. Both the walking and the end of treatment. We hope that all goes well with the bone growth!

- Jacob and Clarissa

PS - I love that you made a video of Dan walking.

Seth and Leia said...

Great news! We think about you guys all the time. Happy to see things are getting back to "normal." Oh, and my typing speed: 55wpm. BUT I feel like if they gave me sentences and not just words it'd be like 98,938 wpm... at least.

P+B said...

Thats so exciting guys! It was fun running into you guys at the gym... and Mel... we need to have a girls night/reunion for sure one of these days. Congrats again!

Katie said...

WooHoo! I am so excited for you guys! I remember the months after Josh finished his last surgeries. We just passed our one year mark for no more treatments/surgeries/etc, and it has been really cool. Sometimes it feels more like we are dating than anything because Josh is just doing so well, and it reminds me of before. I forgot how funny he is! Now he has me laughing all the time. I can't wait for you guys to get that time to remember what being well is like. It is Wonderful!

Rachel said...

YEA!!!! I'm so glad things are going well. We miss y'all so much- we wish we could see the walker in person. Now that Dan has 2 free hands he can cross the street more often to participate in Battleguard :)

Brenton and Adree Jensen said...

hooray! congrats to BOTH Of you! We are so excited for you!!!!!!! And by the way, it's ok if you look weird while you walk, lots of people look worse than not swinging both arms ;)

BJ and Amber said...

Despite all the great news we will not stop praying. It has added a-lot of thought with the kids prayers. Connor has prayed for you since your surgery every night. P.S. Don't worry about the walking. My physical therapist had to show me how to walk with a crutch. And then I looked like you after I did not need them anymore. And your video Reminded me of the big foot sightings. He didn't know how to walk either. Great News!

Anonymous said...

I love this post!! I can't wait to take a video of Jared walking for the first time. I got a good laugh from your comments about moving both hands. :) This post makes me21 giddy with the possibility of Jared having these same blessing in our future!