Thank You - It Was A Great Effort

Thank you everyone who voted and sent their thoughts and well wishes to Angie in the Wheelchair Van contest.  We appreciate all your efforts and every single vote meant a great deal to us.

Unfortunately, we came up a little short.  Angie ended the contest with 9,458…which was around the top 6.5% of voting results.  She needed to be in the top 5% to make it to the semi-final round.

It is a little sad, but I am sure that the vans will be awarded to some great and deserving people.  We are lucky that we have a van to be able to chauffer Angie around in for the time.  We will continue to work saving for the hand-controls that she needs to be able to drive and hope that we can find a decent van to have them installed in once that time comes (the hand control equipment is very expensive and can’t be moved from one vehicle to another, so you don’t want to have it installed on a vehicle that will not last).  We are trying to work out some future fundraisers to help with the cost.

I wanted to let everyone know how the contest turned out, but mostly I want to sincerely thank all of you who had voted and shown your support.  Thank you so much!  Even though we didn’t make it we feel very blessed by you all.

With sincere and heartfelt gratitude – THANK YOU!

Michael & Angie

Slowly Healing

Right Leg, from the top

A couple weeks ago, Angie went back to the surgeon for a check up and x-rays.  The good news is that her incisions are healing really well...although we had to deal with a slight infection in one the past week.  The bad news is that Angie's bones are very soft - "mushy" in doctor speak.  This is due to her poor circulation, depressed nervous system, and bone density loss due to being non-weight bearing...all side effects of her paralysis.  Unfortunately, that means that the bones healing is going to be a very slow process and while she is healing there is always the possibility accidentally pulling one of the screws out of the bone.  Her right leg also has a couple bone fragments jutting out, but since her legs will not be weight-bearing the doctors have decided not to worry about them at this time and let them heal however they will.

Here are some scans of the x-ray printouts so you can admire her new hardware in each leg.  We asked to have the x-rays emailed, but instead they handed up printouts, which we then scanned...so the quality is not the best.  Sorry.  You can click to see them larger and in more detail.

These are the right leg, which was the worse of the two (it was a compound fracture).  The left leg has a similar plate and screws.  In the picture to the right, I have zoomed and highlighted the actual fracture and pointed to one of the bone fragments on the right.

A side view of the steel plate holding Angie's bone together

On a little bit of a happier note - Angie has found and purchased a new van...well new to her.  It is a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan that has already been converted with a ramp and chair restraints.  At this time, this vehicle will only be for transporting Angie, but we hope to have it converted for her to drive once all the insurance gets figured out.  We do hope to have an EZ Lock docking system installed soon so that Angie doesn't always have to have to go through having the ratchet strap Q'Straints attached and removed each time.  The Q'Straints are great, but if the person hooking it up isn't paying attention or doesn't attach to the right location on the chair, they will not work to their fullest (yes, this is user error and avoidable...but would be nice to eliminate the possibility and a dock is faster).   Unfortunately, installation of a dock is not cheap (around $2000 which isn't outrageous but also not pocket change).  Is anything related to wheelchairs cheap?  I've come to determine that no, no it is not.

Angie's new van

Thanks to everyone who donated to Angie's fund...this was extremely helpful in allowing Angie to have a good sized down payment on the van, so that arranging financing was much easier.  Really, thank you everyone...otherwise we would probably have to wait until insurance is figured out (which sounds like it is heading to arbitration and could be 6 months to 2 years before finalized).  Donations are still welcome...we still have a long way to go before life is normal and Angie is living as independently as she can.

Angie Plager Recovery Fund

32541 585^th Ave

Cambridge, IA 50046-8568

Thank You Everyone!

Angie Is Finally Back Home

After 16 days in the hospital, Angie is finally back home.  It's is still a long road for recovery but this is an important step.  I can only imagine how much nicer it is for Angie to be able to recover in a familiar atmosphere and not be awoken every hour by nurses taking blood, vital readings, etc...  I know they were just trying to take care of Angie...but there were a couple nights when I wanted to shout "Really? I just spent 45 minutes trying to get her to relax and sleep!"

Angie in hospital...Day 9, the first day
she got to wear clothes (well, scrubs)
instead of the hospital gown.

Angie has the bandages off her legs, the staples removed from the incisions, and is healing slowing but steadily.  Still lots of bruising and swelling in her legs and hips.  Still must be very careful, but can at least have her legs bent to sit (almost) normally in a wheelchair.  Her pain is mostly controlled with Extra-Strength Tylenol, and only has bouts here and there and during transfers when there seems to be a lot of pain, although there often seems to be a lot of discomfort and some dysreflexia throughout the day.  All and all, I think she is doing wonderfully.

Angie, her family, and myself would like to sincerely thank everyone who came to visit, who donated money, sent cards, flowers, well-wishes, thoughts, prayers, and who helped out in any way.  Your kindness and thoughtfulness have been amazing and have really helped everyone keep in high spirits.  The family feels very blessed to have such incredibly kind people in their lives.  We would also like to thank all (ok, only MOST) of the doctors, nurses, therapists, techs, and staff at Methodist hospital for taking care of Angie the past couple weeks.  Most of you were incredible, caring, and gentle people who would help in any way possible (except hooking visitors up with morphine. Come on, I was hurting too...some of those chairs were uncomfortable after being there all day with a bruised buttocks) and also listen to Angie's ideas and thoughts about treatment.

We are still in limbo (and could be for a while) in regards to insurance payments and what they will cover as far as Angie's van and wheelchair.  With 9 cars involved, and almost as many insurance companies it sounds like it is going to be a big screaming match between them.  All of your donations are especially beneficial to the family during this time of waiting and uncertainty.  It has allowed the family to rent a ramp van for the next month for Angie's doctor appointments and just to have in case there is an emergency.  It was a pretty unsettling feeling knowing that if something went wrong, there would be no easy way to get her to help, so although renting a van is pretty expensive, we felt it had to be done while the insurance fight continues.

Donations are still very welcome and appreciated. Every little bit has helped.

or mail to:

Angie Plager Recovery Fund
32541 585^th Ave
Cambridge, IA 50046-8568


We would also appreciate you keeping a look out for a late model, ramp van in good condition and reasonably priced (unless someone wants to cut Angie a really good deal on a MV-1).  It would just be used for transportation at the moment, but the hope would be to eventually have it modified for Angie to be able to drive.  If you happen to run across anything, please let me or Angie know.  We will look into and consider all leads and offers.

Thanks again, everyone...we really appreciate all the support everyone has given.

THANK YOU!

It's Been a Bad Week

On June 1st 2012, my girlfriend Angie and I were in a pretty serious car accident.  I can't get into all the details at this time (due to ongoing investigations), but I can say that it was bad.  9 cars totaled bad, getting hit 4 or 5 different times at interstate speeds bad.  It may sound cliché, but we are lucky to be alive.

I was fortunate to limp away from the accident, with bumps, bruises, small cuts and scrapes.  I was checked out at the emergency room and had x-rays taken of my knee, which was a little banged up.  I have bigger and more hideously purple bruises than I have ever had in my life, but all turned out to be just minor battering from the collisions and I was given ibuprofen and sent on my way.

Angie, did not fair so well.  Angie was thrown from her wheelchair and broke both of her legs.  But not just any broken leg, she broke both of her femurs...her thigh bones, the largest bones in the human body (go big or go home I guess).  One break was a compound fracture with the bone poking through the skin.  She also had a concussion, cuts on her face, and bruises that make mine look like a kid with a scraped knee.

Angie was in the intensive care unit for 3 days and had surgery to insert steel plates and screws into her legs.  Thankfully, surgery went well.  Angie then spent several more days in a standard hospital room, before just being transferred to the in-patient rehabilitation center.  She is doing well but is still having a hard time with the pain, nausea, and just plain uncomfortableness.  She also gets hiccups a lot (possibly due to medication) and it shakes her whole body as she grimaces in pain.  It is horrible to watch.  Angie is far from out of the woods, due to her normal poor circulation and weak immune system, but so far she is doing well.  We are not sure of anything of her treatment future, but it could only be a few weeks or it could be all summer.  It all depends on her healing progress and what the doctors say.  It is going to be a long and expensive recovery.

If the pain and hospital stay wasn't bad enough, we are also pretty sure that her adapted van is totaled, as is her power wheel hair.  We are not sure what insurance is going to cover - supposedly only the van itself is able to be covered under a normal insurance policy, not the ramp, kneel kit, hand controls and computers that she needs to ride and drive...unfortunately all this equipment is very expensive (around $100,000 without the van itself - it may have looked like your typical 2002 maroon caravan, but it had as much equipment as a James Bond car and was in the price range of Bentleys and Porches)...but even before getting her up and driving again, her family will need to get a transport van for every day travel - get her home, to doctor appointments, to church, etc... We are also not sure how much of her powered wheel chair will be covered, and surprising to most people these chairs cost more than many cars (around $35,000-$40,000), but the are a necessity for the people that rely on them for every day functioning.  It is amazing technology that has allowed Angie to live a relatively normal life these past few years.

A small selection of the flowers Angie recieved

But we are doing OK, we are alive and that is the important thing.  We appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes.  Angie has already received many visitors, cards, and flowers and is grateful for all of the friends and family that have been there for her in all shapes and forms.  It has really helped Angie keep her spirits up!  Something that we need to do to help her stay positive and focus on healing and just feeling better.

We hate to ask for money, but if you would like to donate something, it would be much appreciated.  All donations will go to help Angie with medical bills, a new wheel chair, and new transportation.  And more importantly, it will be one less thing she has to worry about so that she can focus on her healing and recovery.  Below is a Paypal link for donating (it processes through my account since Angie really isn't in shape to set up her own at this time), please pass along to everyone that knows her, every little bit helps.

or mail to:

Angie Plager Recovery Fund
32541 585^th Ave
Cambridge, IA 50046-8568

Thanks Delta - It's a Start

Last week, I was in Memphis, TN on business.  I hadn't had a chance to fly for a about a year so I was pretty happy to get to travel a little (I love to fly, and it shows).  However, upon arrive at my gate I was disappointed to see all the HUGE carry-on bags that most travelers were toting.  I try to travel light and only had one small duffel bag and my kindle.

Your bag should fit here...and not
look like an overstuffed
sausage.

Some travelers had bags that were the pretty darn close to the text fixture...but were just over by an inch because of the handle or the wheels or whatever.  These people don't bother me.  The people that annoy me are the ones who's bag may have fit in the check fixture at one time, but with the 3 various expansion zippers unfurled and packed to near bursting levels - this bag is now twice as wide as it is supposed to be and there is no way that it will fit in the regulations.  Come on, your bag looks like a fat lady in spandex...it shouldn't bulge like that and I think any second that zipper could blow.   But at least their bag started at the right size...or nearly.  There were also several people who are packing a near full-size suitcase and trying to insist it is a carry-on.  I am not sure how some of these bags made it through security because it had to be a tight squeeze to  fit through the x-ray scanner.  Many were also toting more than one of these monstrous bags.  Which seemed like a lot more trouble that what it cost to check a bag.

I know that the fee for checking bags sucks, but I am sick of not having storage room for my small bag because your big ass bags are taking up way more space that they are supposed to.  Most airlines have nearly identical rules:

• One carry-on bag that measures 22"x14"x9" or smaller and 
• One smaller personal item like a laptop or a purse.  

Easy right? I am following the rules, so why should I always have to fight for space?  Yes, my bag is probably small enough that I could probably fit it under the seat in front of me, but why should I have to sacrifice my legroom for your bags?  My ticket cost the same as yours.  Pay the $25 and check your suitcase.

I applaud the Delta Airlines employees who were automatically making the customer gate-check the grossly over-sized bags and the double bags that people were carrying.  It was a very good start to help the situation and a change that is much welcomed by me.  I had the easiest time finding overhead storage that I have had in years.  Good job Delta.  I think you should go further (Baby steps, Bob) and make everyone use the check fixture and if it doesn't fit, it gets checked because these people just slow everyone down wasting 10 minutes trying to stuff their bag into a space that wasn't designed to take it.  Just like the OJ trial - if it doesn't fit, you must check it.  Thank you Delta, it was a small change made the flying experience so much better better (which I haven't been able to say in quite a while).

For a Good Cause

Yesterday I participated in an Easter Seals walk with my good friend Angie (you may remember me talking about it here).  Even with a 110 degree heat index and a last minute location change due to flooding,  it ended up being a good walk (thankfully we did not sign up for the 5K run this year!).  A fun time with great people.  Overall, something around $20,000 was raised for Easter Seals to help Iowans who are disabled, autistic, or have special needs.  This was the first year of the Walk With Me event in central Iowa and a lot of money was raised for a good cause, so I am looking forward to this being an annual event.

Thank you so much to everyone that donated, your help is much appreciated by me, Angie, and everyone on our team and with Easter Seals.  Our team's goal this year was to raise $500, we raised closer to $1500!  This placed our small team in the top 5 of all teams.  I hope we can count on your support next year, or even have you join our team and walk with us.

Much like that time I crushed the the family with 8 year old kids at NTN/Buzztime trivia, this event was not all about having fun, doing good, and helping people.  It is about trophies and more importantly...me.  I am arrogant enough to have my own blog after all.

Angie and I basking in the glow of my
newest trophy...if only it was a little
more eagle-ish.

I'll tell you straight, just like Ovaltine - I'm gold, Jerry! Gold!  I knocked this walk out of the freaking park.    Originally, I set out to raise $100, increased to $250, then to $500...and eventually raised around $700.  This placed me as the third highest money raiser in the competition.  The two above me?  One (I believe) was a high ranking employee for Easter Seals of Iowa itself, and the other received a single donation greater than any other team's total amount.  I call shenanigans!  Shenanigans, I say!  

It's OK...well, as okay as cheating ever is (especially since I am cheated and not the cheater); there is no prize for being the top money raiser, I was just saying that I am awesome.  I was a little disappointed when there were no trophies* for the walk because I am an awesome walker.  Right, left, right, left, right, left, left...damn!  They did have 'Spirit Award' plaques which translates to me as awards for losers, but losers with matching t-shirts.  Our team leader went out of her way and got me a trophy for being the top money raiser on our team (Thanks Becky!)...that's right another trophy to put next to the eagle trophy.  

Two completely different events, two trophies.  I can't lose!  In the past 30 days, I have won more trophies (2) than I have in the rest of my life (0), although I have won several medals and awards in my younger days...mostly for Academic Decathlon (yep, I am that type of dork).  Mostly though, I think this means that if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find me...maybe you can hire the Gubby-Team.  I am a golden god right now, you want me on your team...rub my chubby tummy for good luck!

* All events should now have some kind of awesome trophy...eagle or otherwise.  I think this will now be a requirement for almost anything I do.