Erik Lowell, netree

Hey Erik, dont really know what to say other than the obvious of Im sorry this happened. Makes me kinda rethink using my 92 knuckle boom which I have done very little maintainance on.

As to the PTSD I had a 37' fall about5 years ago and it got to the point where I almost quit climbing. I finally went to a hypnotist for 2 sessions and now I am back to enjoying climbing.

How is your daughter dealing with this ?? Must be tough seeing somebody you love get so F ed up
 
I'd think the one incident ptsd is mostly cured with some form of councelling. It's peanuts compared to long term stress enviroment induced meltdown. So lessening your stress is something you can do. Don't worry be happy.
 
Boreality is on track with this. We'll go to a doc who deals with bones when we break them so we should when dealing with the mind. Better to dig em up and truly get rid of them.
 
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Boreality is on track with this. We'll go to a doc who deals with bones when we break them so we should when dealing with the mind. Better to dig em up and truly get rid of them.

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Agreed. I've just started seeing someone through the VA; figured they'd understand better than most.

Thanks, guys. :)
 
One thing going on concurrently with all of this that I was on the fence about mentioning...

is that my dad had a stroke about my second week in rehab. (He actually ended up in the same facility as me for a time). He lost motor control of his entire left side. That was a pretty big blow to face while I was already down.

When I was in ICU, the docs initially pegged me at 15% chance of survival. I don't remember much of this time, but I do recall my dad coming to see me and demanding I fight for life and not give up.

(I'll admit it, and I don't care if it makes me a pu**y in somebody's eyes or not... There were plenty of times I wanted to die just so the pain would stop. And even further along, I questioned it when I had to have complete strangers doing things very personal. Trust me, it's very demeaning to have to have a stranger wipe your butt because you can't move to do it, or any of the dozens of other tasks we take as routine. You definitely get a whole new respect for the nameless men and women you see at hospitals all the time and don't think twice about.)

He's currently doing much better as well; he's regained about 60% of his left leg, and 25% of his left arm. His speech is nearly back to normal. Mentally, there's definitely stuff missing, though, and it's been tough adjusting to what is for me a whole new person.

I'm frustrated I can't help him like I think a good son should. It snowed hard yesterday, and my sister had to go over my folks and shovel them out. That's supposed to be my job. (I have other brothers, but none live nearby).
 
Erik, don't be your own worst enemy. In order to be the person you can be for everyone you must work with the new limitations be they temporary or permanent. Seek out some positive role models who have risen up from similar injuries.

By getting better yourself you are being the good son you should be. What your father expects of you is summed up by his comment to you in the ICU. It didn't include doing things that your physical condition doesn't allow for.

Please be aware of how your mental state can make this recovery doubly difficult. Instead of frustrating you let things like your sister shoveling out the snow motivate you in the hard work of rehabilitation.
 
That fact that you are willing to admit the things you are admitting tells me, and hopefully everyone else who reads this, that you are an extremely strong and self aware man. Admitting difficulties is one of the greatest strengths a man or woman can posses.
 
Powerful stuff, Erik. Glad you're OK. I watched the Chuck Pagano (Indy coach recovering from cancer) press conference the other day, and he said alot of similar things, both about the difficulty of rehabbing and the respect for the nurses and doctors who 'show up with a smile every day.' Don't feel any guilt about snow shoveling, you can't shovel snow from a walker! Maybe put a plow on the wheelchair?
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-Tom
 
Super psyched... was able to go to the shop this week twice and put in a few hours of tech work, including a decent bit of walking around. The first day hurt like the dickens, but day two wasn't so bad.

It's 1st and ten, and I'm just outside the red zone, I think. Forward progress!
 
Erik,

Glad to hear your doing better. Your posts have been encouraging. The part you wrote about your dad coming to tell you to keep fighting gave me the chills lol. Sounds like you are far from a whimp too. Keep that fighting spirit. Praying for you!
 
That's okay; I've always hated heights, if you can believe that!

Finally starting to believe I'm going to beat this thing. :)
 
Hey Erik. First, start spelling your name right.
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Second, you do what you can do, then push a little more. Over time you'll get to where you want to be.
Third, the people around you do care for you, so if they offer to do something, let them. It is their way of telling you they love you. You'll probably get a chance to return the love sometime.
Forth, share what you've gone through with others. Treebuzz was a good step, but don't be afraid to be ready to help others going through similar issues. It will be healing for you as well.
Fifth, always know there are a bunch of Arbs there to help, and are praying for you.

Eric
 
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