Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery -- Surgery Overview

This is what I had done on June 2, 2003. This started a new chapter in my life. No running. No basketball. No carrying or playing physically with the kids. I could hardly take a shower by myself or dress myself. Total dehabilitation.
The Injury occured while playing basketball at the stake center on May 10th. I was simply going up for a 5 foot jump shot, got fouled on the way up, and heard the gut-wrenching 'POP" in my knee. I fell to the ground, looked down, and saw that my knee had dislocated. I grabbed it, and it seemed to slip back into place. I thought that was the extent of my injuries. Was I ever wrong.
Six months and about 100 physical therapy visits later, I still have a hard time walking sometimes. Running is still quite a ways off. There were times when I just broke down and cried because it was so hard. Austin still prays almost everyday that "Dad's knee will get better" and I know that that is helping the process. It has taught me patience and compassion. I will continue to look for other traits that I must learn through this most difficult trial.

During sacrament meeting yesterday, Brother Newell, our high councilor, spoke with us. I would like to relate the funny/nice message that he shared with us.
He told a story of his mission, which he served in Alaska. He said that he and his companion were out tracting, and were down a street were they saw an animal rummaging through the garbage cans. They proceeded up to the animal, which they thought was a dog, and yelled at it to get out of there. Only then did they realize that it was not a dog. It was a BEAR! After realizing their mistake, Brother Newell said that his companion, who was a track star, was already running for his life! Brother Newell, whose legs were quite a bit shorter realized that he did not have quite as good of odds of getting away, but after arousing the bear, he ran off as fast as he could. (Thinking the whole time about how you are never supposed to leave your companion...) As he was running for his life, and could hear and fell the bear bearing down on him, of course he was praying for deliverance. The one prompting that came to him in this time of need was, "Use the word of God!" He thought, "Nice one, Lord" thinking this wasnt the time to be bible bashing. But as he thought about it again, he looked down at his hand and realized he was still carrying his scriptures, case and all. He quickly turned around and threw his scriptures right at the bear, hitting it right in the nose. The bear stopped, stunned. Brother Newell then used this pause to run as fast as he could back to where their car was parked. He found his companion there, who was extremely apologetic for running off without him. After he collected himself, they went back to (hopefully) collect his scriptures. He saw them, and cautiously opened the door to retrieve them, hoping the bear was gone. He grabbed them and they drove off.

He then pulled out his sciptures and showed us the case, which had been bitten and ripped up by the bear. He then unzipped it, and showed us his scriptures. They were untouched. Amazing story about listening to the spirit and how we will be protected from harm (And the word of God will be protected too!)

(I am cross-posting this from a family letter email sent on this date.)

Last night LeAnn and I went to a marvelous fireside given my an older brother in our ward, Brother Hancock. In the 60's he had taken 7 years to build an amazing collection of Book of Mormon related replicas. He had models of the Breastplate and the Urim and Thummim. The Jaredite Barge, the Liahona and the Sword of Laban, the Nephite ship and a full size replicao fthe Golden plates and a First Edition of the Book of Mormon. He passed each of these around as he discussed their significance in relation to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. It was incredible to hold one mans perception of the Liahona in my hands and imagine that an instrument such as that was navigated by the faith of its holder. It was a very cool presentation. He has been giving it yearly for almost 40 years now. What dedication he has given to studying the intricacies of the Book of Mormon. I hope that each of us can exhibit such devotion.

On Saturday afternoon, Jaylin cracked her head open. Now she will have a beauty mark like that of her father and brother. I hope that LeAnn and Autumn dont feel so left out as to try and get a scar of their own! She had been dancing exuberantly and smashed into the wall-- in similar fashion to what Austin did at that age. LeAnn took her to the emergency room and they were made to wait over 3 hours! Not a very pleasant ordeal. The stiching was quite traumatic as I understand, but she has been fine since.

Ill get back to a nicer topic now. Last night, after the fireside, we came home and were visiting with our friend, Angela, who had offered to watch the kids while we were gone. Then we heard the pitter-patter of little feet. LeAnn and I sort of rolled our eyes at each other since this seems to be almost a nightly ritual with Autumn. It was a good thing that we let her explain herself before we strictly sent her back up to bed again. She had with her a new notebook that we had given her earlier in the evening. She opened it up to show LeAnn what she had written. She proceeded to read to us her words. "I have a mother and a sister. I have two brothers and two fathers." LeAnn and I looked at other with brows furrowed for a moment, then realized what she was saying, and how profound it was for a six year old. We asked her what she meant by that. She said she had mom and Jaylin. She also had Austin and Jesus as her brothers, and myself and Heavenly father as her fathers. How this made my heart swell with adoration. It is all worth it to have moments like that which I will cherish forever. I now see who teaches who more often than not.

--Out of the mouth of a child

3 Ne. 26: 16


16 Behold, it came to pass on the morrow that the multitude gathered themselves together, and they both saw and heard these children; yea, even ababes• did open their mouths and utter marvelous things;

Went down to the cannery tonight for a six-o'clock session. I was put in charge of dumping the quartered apples down a chute into a huge steamer. This would in turn, make the apples maleable enough to have the skins and seeds pulverized out of them during the next step. They would churn in the steamer for about three minutes, then pop out down a slide where another lady proceeded to push them down the 'applesaucer'. I might have been a bit overly-ambitious as they kept telling me I needed to slow down. They were coming down the slide faster than the lady could push them down into the applesaucer. That was all good and well until three hours later when I thought we would be going home. But alas, we had to stay and clean the room up. I was given a hose and asked to spray all the muck off of the floor and into the drains. That took over an hour as well. Then when I switched sides and grabbed the other hose, I pulled on the trigger and shot myself right in the face and hair with the steaming hot water! OUCH! I must have been getting really sleepy, but that sure woke me up! It will be nice to have the food storage, but it was a hard days night (and I was workin like a dog.. :) )

Got my haircut in my personal retro-style--circa 1991 when I was in Japan. I had a long version of a flat-top for quite a while over there and thought I would give it a shot again. I had the stylist spike it and gel it. When I arrived home with that, I drove by Austin, who was riding his bike down our street. He looked at me strangely for a moment, not recognizing his own dad. Then he said, "Dad, you look funny!" Upon my arrival home, LeAnn stared at me blankly, and said, "What did you do!?" :) No worries though. I can comb it down without a problem...

Took the kids around the neighborhood trick or treating. There was a new family that has moved in. It is Jeannine and her husband, Tom. LeAnn was good friends with Jeannine since she was twelve. Destiny seems to have brought them to our neighborhood as Jeannines husband will be leaving for Iraq this week to fight in the war. He will be gone for over a year. Good that LeAnn will be there for her.

Today is the 10th anniversary of LeAnn and I meeting. I am thankful for this wonderful day that has brought me such happiness since.