Ski Trip 12/11/2009
 
Sorry that I have not updated for so long. I have been really busy. The week after Thanksgiving I had a really busy week. I got a chance to go see where I might work after I rehab. I am in Colorado right now. I learned to mono ski on Monday. I had to cook a healthy meal for the people that came with us in our group. Starting on Wednesday I really started to get the hang of mono skiing. Thursday I went down a harder slope that was a blue. I made it down it without falling. I have the best instructor in the world. I would like to get a mono ski they are very fun and exciting.  Mono Skiing has been the best thing ever; it has made me feel more free than anything else since the accident.
 
 
Hey,

 Well… The past week and a half has really turned really bad for Jessica and I. The CDI (Command Directed Investigation) we were able to get some of our closest family and friends come down for it. I had very low expectations of the CDI but it was WORSE than expected. I did not learn anything new. I felt like I went in and they basically told me I had lost my legs, well I already knew that. The people that briefed us were very kind and very respectful. My wife and I thought the CDI was overrated and pointless because not only did they not tell us anything that we did not already know but they told us thing we did not remember to be correct.

Also yesterday we went to find out the results of me getting the TSGI (Traumatic Special Group Life Insurance).  This is an insurance that is suppose to give financial help to people that lose a limb. Someone can get up to fifty thousand for each limb and a maximum of one hundred thousand dollars.  I was really hoping for the one hundred thousand so Jessica and I can work on building our house. Well sad to say that I was told that I did not qualify for it. Their guidelines exclude injuries that happen from medical reasons. They took their guidelines from the civilian insurance where someone can sue the doctor that makes the mistake. I am in the military where I cannot sue a doctor. Also it excludes because of cases of diabetes and loses of leg, but I am a totally different story. I lost my legs for a totally different reason for which I went in to surgery for and because of a mistake that some doctors made. I was told the only way it could change is if congress was to review  vote for a change.

I was really happy because I had three friends come down from Beale and my mom from Ohio for the CDI.  Last Friday was the first time since I turned 21 that I got to go out and have a guys night, that was a blast. I also got spend some quality time with my sister and mother during last weekend also. Then this week my squadron, group, and wing commanders came down. I got a chance to go out to dinner with them; once again that was a blast too. This week, Sunday, I am flying up to Ohio to go spend Thanksgiving week with my mom.  I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving week!

V/r
Colton Read

 
 
 
Hey everyone,

 Things are going pretty good for me. To start off with, my legs got raised another four inches. It’s really neat to grow that much in just one day. I can’t wait until they put feet on them, it will be easier to balance so I could get rid of the walker.  I am really excited because my mom is coming in to town on Thursday and a lot of people I know from Beale AFB are too.  I am having the Command Directed Investigation (CDI) this Friday.  The CDI will hopefully give me a lot of answers about what happened during my surgery. Once I find out what happened I will let yall know, because yall have supported me so much and I appreciate it. I got my new wheelchair that the VA paid for. It is red with black accent, it looks cool. Since I have developed carpal tunnel in my hands and I have bad shoulders, I am going to get power assisted wheels. They make it easier to wheel.  There are settings that for every pound I push it multiplies it by 3 so it is a lot easier . I got my second dog back. His name is Moose he is a 100 pound yellow lab mix. Now between the two dogs I have yellow hair and black hair, it’s a lose-lose situation when it comes to getting hair on clothes.   

 V/r

Colton

 
 
I can walk! 10/29/2009
 

Hey everyone,

I have had some really great things going on this week. First, last Friday was the first time I walked. I had a socket on my left and on my right a little stilt since my legs are not even. I stood up with a short walker. Then I walked on my own two legs with a walker. I have to use the walker because I do not have enough balance yet. My balance will be better when I have feet on my leg. Then the day before that I went to my first wheelchair basketball practice and I loved it. I really want to start playing on the team and we have practice once a week. The day before that was I got a chance to meet with the Spurs. They are some really nice people. I got to play wheelchair basketball aganist them it was so cool. I had some scares this week. The doctors are afraid I have an infection in my bones.  I had bone scans Tuesday and Wednesday. Today I grew instantly. I went in to put my prosthesis on and they both had been raised. My left had a little stomper on it and about a 4 inch raise on both legs. One of my legs has gotten smaller so I have to get a smaller socket made. I am excited because I get to go to a college football game this weekend. It is one of my favorite teams. My in laws are in town and they have been so much help. I moved into my new house this past Monday it is really nice.

 

 

V/r

Colton Read

 
 
    Hey everyone! I’m sorry about not updating for so long. I have been really busy. I want to start off with a correction. Thursday before last, October 08, 3 days before I was suppose to leave for San Diego but didnt. I was kind of bummed because I thought I was going to go for so long then at the last minute they changed their mind. Fortunately, there are several of these paralympic camps throughout the year and I will be more ready for that one! 

    Now onto some great news! We went and looked at a new house Friday, October 9. It was better than the house we are in now but still had room for improvement. There are 14 fully ADA houses on this base for the Senior Enlisted, E-7 through E-9 but they only have four houses partially ADA for E-1 through E-6. To me, it seems a little off balance considering that the majority of the patients are not Senior Enlisted. When we went to view this second house, the housing office made it clear to us that there were none of the four “ADA” houses available for E-1 through E-6,and none would be coming available soon. We also would need special permission to move into this house because it is a four bedroom house and we have no children. We would also not be available for the FULLY compliant ADA homes, because they are for Senior Enlisted and the Army does not mix junior enlisted with senior enlisted no matter what the need is.  Some people made phone calls for us and a miracle happened! On the following Monday one of those four houses came available! It’s strange because you have to give the housing office a 6 week notice that you are moving out. Oh well, all that matters is that they are giving us a more suitable house and they are making more renovations to make it more equipped for me. 
 

    The next great thing is I was able to stand on my leg on Tuesday for 10 minutes then I took a break then I stood back up for 15 minutes! On Wednesday it was even better, I stood up for 20 minutes! The best day last week was Thursday, I finally got my right leg casted for my socket. The greatest news is I should be walking this week. So I am happy I did not go to San Diego last week because this would not have happened.

    Another great thing that happened last week was a special visit from General Otto and Chief Parkhill came down from Beale AFB. They brought the Intel Guard unit from Beale and 40 other awesome people with them. After that I got a chance to meet some great people from Randolph AFB. Friday was just a wonderful day all together.

    One more thing that happened for me was that I was signed up to go on a ski trip. I LOVE to ski, my family use to take me every winter. I have not skied since my injury. When I go skiing this winter they will teach me how to ski in a ski seat. It will be great. 

    I want everyone to remember one thing. It’s something I kind of live by now “Every day is a new day” so try your best every day and you never know what greatness might come to you.

 

  V/r 
  Colton
 
New Week 10/05/2009
 
Today is the beginning of a new week. This week will be great. I want to start off by thanking everyone that gave donations; I was able to purchase a truck for myself. I will get it out fitted with a crane, hand controls, and a knob on my steering wheel.

So the reason this week is great is today I put a socket on my left leg. A socket is hard plastic shell that suctions to your leg. I stood up in it for about two and a half minutes. I am excited! I was told that once I am able to stand on that leg for 10 min they will cast my right leg. After that I will have both legs in sockets and I will start walking. Tomorrow, I have a neuro psych test. We think that during my initial surgery my blood pressure dropped so low that it caused brain damage. Then on Wednesday, I go to my driving test. They are the ones that actually decide what adaptive equipment I need on my vehicle. Finally, Friday I get to walk around in this new house that will hopefully be more adapted for me so I can get around easily.

I am also getting ready because I’m going to San Diego next week. If you remember me talking about how much I loved the Paralympics, this is a chance to do more. I am going to a camp that runs Tuesday through Sunday out in San Diego. I am really excited to have the chance to may be show the actual coaches how good I could be. That would be a dream come true if I make it to the Paralympics. I would have never thought about the Olympics when I had my legs. 

 That brings me to my next topic I want to discuss. I was realizing this week how much I took for granted before my surgery. I wake up every morning and it’s hard to even get dressed. I have to be lying down. The thing that frustrates me the most is if I need to get up for anything in the middle of the night I have to get back in my wheel chair and do what I need to then transfer back into my bed. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful to be alive; I just have a new found appreciation for all the things I use to do before this.     

 
 
I want to start off by saying that I got the liner for my left leg this week. A liner is what goes inside the prosthetic and holds it on to my leg. My right leg was too short for a regular liner, so we had to special order it. Hopefully, the liner will come in sometime next week and then they will fit me for my prosthetics. =)
 
 Now the explanation of the title of this update, it really means the world to me all the support I receive from everyone. I appreciate all of the comments that I receive and now that I am able, I read EVERY SINGLE COMMENT. I have to tell you guys I really feel the love. I appreciate being in many of your prayers. Along with the kindness you guys show on here, there are others I would like to mention. First, people that buy our meals when we go out to dinner. I want to tell you all, it really means a lot to me when people do that. I spoke with one of them and he said “aww it’s nothing” but, I want everyone to know when you buy a meal for a military person it means a lot to them. I also want to give out another thanks. I just received a large donation from the men and women of Langley AFB and I wanted to say thank you very much. The donations I receive go to things to help me. Example, dining room table, we had a really tall table that I could not use any more, so we bought a table that I could wheel up to. Another thing that donations help out with is renting furniture until my stuff is shipped to me by the Air Force. That is a bed for me to sleep on and a washer and dryer. These are the things I need and were provided
because of peoples generosity. So in a nutshell, thank you if you have left me a comment or a donation because the comments help me on the inside and the donations help me with necessities. THANK YOU ALL.

V/r
Colton
 
 
Hey,

  I want to tell everyone that I really appreciate the comments left on this website. Well I will get in to the interesting stuff. Jessica and I moved into our house yesterday. We had to rent some furniture untill ours gets here. The past two days have been wonderful for myself. Here on Ft. Sam Houston this week we had a U.S. Paralympics camp. Yesterday I learned and played vollyball while sitting, it was real neat. I was really sore the night after!!!! lol  Today was the day I have been really really looking foward to. I learned how to use a hand cycle. I LOVED IT!!! I met this really nice guy that is on the Paralympics team, and I think I would one day like to try out for the Paralympics team. In the afternoon we went to archery and that was OK. But I then went and threw javelin and oh my goodness that became my second favorite thing after cycling. If I dont make the cycling to the Paralympics I would definatly like to do that. I am hopefully going to get my liners next week =). But thanks for all of the support you guys have gave Jessica and I. I love the comments that you guys leave.

Bye,
Colton
 
Update 09/09/2009
 
Colton and I are doing well. We are hoping to be moving by the end of the month. Colton found out this week that he is going into the next "phase" of healing. He will be given new shrinker socks to help form his legs. These particular socks are the last step before being fitted for prosthetics. Hopefully by the end of November Colton will be walking on what they call stubbies. It will be sort of as if he is walking on his knees, although he does not have a knee joint. Then after successfully completing that phase is when he will start walking on a form of prosthetics that does not have a knee joint. Again, after that he will graduate to knee joints and be almost completed with the entire therapy process. He has started swimming and is very much enjoying that.

We have enjoyed staying at the Fisher House on Fort Sam and are thankful for all the help and support we get here. We have been continusouly blessed with donations from wonderful people. We are so appreciative of all the support.
 
The Acadia has been outfitted with hand controls and will be ready for Colton when he is able to drive, which we hope will be before the end of the month. Also, by the end of September we are hoping to hear about the investigation at Travis Air Force Base.

Thank you for all the continued support and prayers that go out for Colton and our family. God bless.

Colton now has a personal email connected directly to this website! Feel free to email him with your positive comments! We will be posting a mailing address soon!  Colton.Read@yahoo.com
 
New Wheels 08/29/2009
 
Today, Colton and I got a new vehicle. Thanks to everyone who has donated to Colton, we were able to trade in our Ford Focus and get a new GMC Acadia, which will hold his wheel chair and other equipment. The new vehicle is being fitted Tuesday for hand controls, so that when Colton is able, he will be able to drive! We can't say thank you enough to everyone who has donated money to Colton and I. We are so appreciative. Colton is doing physical therapy at the CFI everyday and goes on their weekly outings into the community. Coltons mother, Shelly, stepfather, Joseph, and siblings Keegan and Faith were able to come visit this weekend from Ohio. We are so thankful to be around such great family.