The 6 week check up...

  Today Dave had his 6 week check up. He was very nervous leading up to his appointment since he had no idea what to expect. We arrived at the hospital around 10:30 to check in to schedule his x-rays. When Dave went into the room to have his x-rays they asked him to remove his neck brace and to move his head up and down and side to side. He was very nervous doing this since he has had no movement with his neck for the past 6 weeks. He also felt a little light headed and was pretty white while doing this because of his nerves. After that we had to go to his surgeon's office to have his appointment. The doctor came in and said Dave is healing well. He still has a broken neck but is very happy the progress that he has made. With that GREAT news he handed Dave a protocol to start weening him off of his neck brace. The 1st week he has to go 4 hours in the morning without a brace. The 2nd week he will go 4 hours in the afternoon without a brace. The 3rd week he will go 4 hours in the morning, 4 hours in the afternoon and 4 hours in the evening without the brace and the 4th week is no brace! He has been ok'd to go to Antigua! The doctor said no crazy rides or doing any rough activities and to take it easy for the time being. We asked the doctor about his chest spasms and he wasn't able to give us a definite answer. He reviewed the x-rays and said it could be possible he has a small hairline fracture and a bruised inside but would have a radiologist look at it to make sure he wasn't missing anything major. Overall, the visit went great and he has to go back in 6 week for more x-rays and another check up.

  After this appointment we came home and Dave decided to take his brace off for a few hours. You could tell that he was very nervous and apprehensive about doing this. When he first took his brace off I couldn't help but laugh that he looked like a bobble head. I took a picture but he won't let me post it (I will try and get a picture up soon). He kept the brace off for only an hour and he put it back on because it hurt to move his head. The doctor said the pain he will experience within the next few weeks will be more extreme.

  Thank you for all the prayers we couldn't be happier or more grateful with his outcome as of now.