Break a Leg

Lukas, with 'Dan' one of only 7 Lego
Master Builders in the USA!

I know, I know.  Let's just dispense with the obligatory "It's been so long since my last post....blah, blah, blah"  garbage and get right into the meat, or should I say 'meat and bone' of this mini blog-resurrection post.  Nope, this blog is not dead.

Lukas, who is now 8 years old, is smack in the middle of spending his entire summer break in a wheelchair.  Okay, to be perfectly accurate, he is not spending the ENTIRE summer in a wheelchair.  There are times when he sleeps, and we are not lifting the pediatric sized chair onto his bed and covering him up with a blanket.   That would just be odd, right? He is also now using a walker and also crab walking around with one leg propped in the air.

All this is because just three days after school got out back in June, Lukas had a freak accident with his skateboard and ended up with a spiral fracture of his right femur.  Yes, it was traumatic.  Very much so.  He was wearing his protective gear and being safe, but alas it still happened.  (Something, something....bubble wrap.)

He was actually taken by ambulance to Seattle Harborview hospital, our regional trauma center for a not so fun filled evening in the ER (lots of 'colorful' people there on a Saturday night!), before being admitted and scheduled for to have metal plate and 8 screws installed in his leg the next morning.  That was Father's Day.

As fun as all this sounds, I would recommend (and Lukas would surely agree) never having this done on yourself, or any of your children.  Especially not your first born.

We are now 6 weeks into the process, and I have to say I am extremely impressed with my son.  You can imagine how you would feel about spending the summer of your 8th year confined to a wheelchair.  Well, Lukas has been extremely positive throughout the process. continuing to be a happy and loving brother to his 2 year old sister.  Once he even, in all earnestness said "It could have been worse, Dad.  I could have lost my legs for good."

That one blew me away.  I really love this boy.

For our part, Mrs. LIAYF and I have done our best to not only keep him from bearing weight on his leg until he is cleared (we certainly don't want him to re-injure it after all he has been through), but we have also done our very best to give him as normal a Summer as we can. That includes arranging for friends to come visit, keeping him involved in projects and reading (a LOT), visits to local attractions when possible, and once he was cleared a visit to a local water splash park where he was more than thrilled to roll his chair through the spray on a very hot day, and get thoroughly soaked.

Those smiles were incredibly heartwarming after all the trauma.

We also took him to an MLS game last week to see our Seattle Sounders in action.  He was signed up for a Sounders soccer camp - we cancelled that but kept the game tickets.  Just a note: ADA seating provides amazing views in Century Link field, also home to the Seahawks!

All in all, the Summer has been good, considering Lukas' plight.  Mrs. LIAYF and I have spent a lot of time with him, using FMLA, since we have no other options for his care, and we have all enjoyed our extra time with those we love the most.

We are far from done yet though.  Once school does start, and he is cleared to bear weight, it will be incrementally more each week.  That means more time in the chair, at school.  Plus Lukas will not be able to partake in recess activities for at least 3 months, and will have the plate removed in another surgery around Christmas time.

Wish us all luck.  Although luck would be nice, we will most likely be getting by on determination, lots of love, and enjoying life for the wonderful moments it gives us.

Even in adversity.