Day 182 - 6 Months - Half a Year

182 days ago...

I received a phone call,

6 months ago...

I found out that my husband might not ever wake up,

Half a year ago...

I stood over my husband's bed in the ICU and pondered what his future would be, pondered what our lives would look like. Would Scott still be alive, would Scott ever be "Scott" again.


Today, 182 days later...

Our lives look different.

Today, 6 months after the accident...

My husband is alive, awake and he remembers who he is and who I am.

Half a year after the accident...

Scott is getting back to being "Scott" again.


This journey we have been on over the past 6 months has been truly life changing for both of us. We have laughed and cried and learned. We have often been brought to our knees with the understanding of how blessed we are, and at the same time humbled to see how far we have to go.

So often people will look at Scott and think, wow he is doing so well. You would hardly even know what he has been through. It is estimated that Scott will be able to return to medical school around May or June of next year. He is working diligently in his therapy program to pick up where he left off from school. That includes taking step 2 of his board tests. In preparation for this test Scott has been working with his therapists to retest himself, and set a benchmark to work from. Over the past month and a half he set up a study schedule to go over step 1 of the boards (although he has already taken that test). He set up flash cards on the internet that include review information for that test. He set a goal of scoring at least 50% on the entire review test. This would equate to an acceptable grade on the actual step 1 test.  He took the test multiple times working toward this goal... eventually he surpassed this goal and scored a 70%!! This score also tied his previous pre-injury high score. This allowed him the freedom to move on to studying for step 2 of the boards.

Some very exciting news regarding Scott's return to school... Scott finally has come to a decision on what he wants to specialize in. Keep in mind that this topic has been one that has been explored and studied diligently over the past few years. Scott told me that he wanted to test out all the different "seats on the bus" to see which one was the best. In light of the recent events in our lives, Scott had to reassess his future career choice. Upon pondering over options of "plans B, C, and D," Scott was reminded of undergraduate school, where he spent part of his time studying CLS (Clinical Laboratory Sciences). This sparked the topic of becoming a Pathologist. Scott went home that night determined to make his pro's and con's list. He soon found himself looking at an ever growing list of pro's. He now tells me that everything seams to lead him down that "path"...olgy that is.

It is estimated that Scott will also be returning to driving in the next few months. In the past few weeks he has been working with a wonderful company here in the valley that work with individuals that have been in accidents like Scott's. Upon evaluation we were informed that Scott will need a few extra driving hours with their instructor to ensure safety while driving on the freeway. The loss of sight in Scott's right eye is one of the main focuses they will be working on overcoming. This means added mirrors as well as practice scanning across his new visual field. If you have seen Scott in the last few months you may have noticed that he has some new spiffy glasses. These glasses are actually his new best friend. They contour around his face and are slightly larger so that he can have as much peripheral vision as possible. This helps largely in his ability to drive. Scott is very encouraged with this news and hopes that having this bit of driving freedom back will allow us both a little more flexibility with our schedules.

Physically Scott is doing outstanding. His therapists agreed that he was doing so well that they discharged him from PT!! Two days ago, Scott ran 3 miles on a treadmill at a constant speed of 10 minutes per mile. This was a big first since the injury. The numbness in his hand and foot are getting better but it is still bothersome.

Since we haven't updated the blog since June I will include some of the recent event's that we have been doing since then.

Visiting Family in Utah!!

4th of July (Dancing in the Rain) - Family Photos - Going to the Temple

Fishing, Camping, and Hiking

Visiting family in Utah!

I also wanted to post a few photos to show the progression of Scott's wounds. I think you might be interested to see some of these. Thanks to nightly lotion massages, as well as using scar strips, we have really noticed a difference. 

Scott today... 6 months later.

A final message from Scott himself... 

Hi everyone. I am excited to celebrate my 6 month anniversary of the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I have been extremely blessed through this whole process. Every day that I go to therapy, I am constantly reminded of what my life could have been like. There are so many patients that have a hard time doing fairly simple things, not that I don't have my own difficulties. I am so glad that I still have the function of my arms and legs. Almost all of the patients struggle with some form of peripheral disability, it makes my residual numbness seem insignificant. 

I, personally have a lot of thank you's to express. Ashley has been the biggest help to me, driving me to my therapy appointments, and sleeping wherever she could find space while I was quasi-coherent. I also want to thank her for continually posting on this blog. Imagine not remembering the last month and a half of your life, but having it chronicled online for you to examine at a later date. I also want to thank my parents and family. Their support has been astronomical. I am grateful that I have been able to see them more often after this accident. I truly do appreciate all of our friends as well, not enough can be said about the uplifting feelings that come from knowing that the people you care about really do care about you too. I also want to thank all of those that I don't even know who offered prayers in our behalf, donated money for the medical bills, and all the people in our area who have offered of their time and service to us. 

Thank you everyone!!

Scott Moore

1. Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom;

Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene—one step enough for me.

2. I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that thou

Shouldst lead me on.

I loved to choose and see my path; but now,

Lead thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,

Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

3. So long thy pow’r hath blest me, sure it still

Will lead me on

O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till

The night is gone.

And with the morn those angel faces smile,

Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Text: John Henry Newman, 1801–1890

Music: John B. Dykes, 1823–1876

Today We Celebrate Life!!