We Got This!

"I tell him I tried. I tried to keep memory alive; I tried to fight those who would forget. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. There is so much injustice & suffering crying out for our attention. We must take sides. We must interfere. -E.W.

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Listing it Out

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It’s one of those times where it is probably best to list some of the things going on. Otherwise I’ll just get myself confused (even more). Sue’s job has her traveling extensively, but this slow down soon. One reason for creating this list is I know I might be in for the dreaded “Honey Do” list and I need to keep things straight. Oh, by the way, my counter to her honey do list is a “melon list”. The larger the list, the better! I love coining new words and phrases that have multiple meanings!

So, without further delay (and veiled references to boobs), here you go:

  1. Urinary Tract Infection/Antibiotic. Yesterday Ryan ended his ten-day course of antibiotics to treat a particularly resistant UTI. Initially, it looks like it is eradicated. We did a urinalysis (UA) and all indicators were normal, most importantly his leukocytes (white blood cells). Further evidence this is under control is the return to normal of his pulse and blood pressure.
  2. New Condom. It’s been a week now that we switched Ryan over to a new urinary management system. At first I felt this “urinary management system” was just a fancy name for an external condom catheter, but I have since change my mind. It really is a system. It uses a product that acts as a second skin (bioderm) for adherence, has a small air intake to allow the urine to flow away from the penis, and uses a double collection bag.
  3. Vantrease Supreme Court Appeal. The West Virginia Supreme Court is now back in session. At some point (who knows when), Vantrease’s appeal for a new trial will come before them. My understanding is the court can do one of three actions: 1) Grant a new trial, 2) Deny a new trial, or 3) Do nothing (which is the same as not granting a trial).
  4. Court Ordered Restitution. Neither Jonathan May nor Austin Vantrease have paid a penny yet. Not only are they thugs, but they are also deadbeats.
  5. Civil Suit. This has not been scheduled yet. First, the attorneys for the Defendants have removed the case to federal court, and this is something we anticipated would happen. This doesn’t really mean much, except the location of proceedings will be 30 minutes away at the federal district court in Clarksburg, WV. Because none of the defendants are from West Virginia, and the matter in controversy is greater than $75,000, they are able to do this under a federal statute related to diversity jurisdiction. Federal Court follows basically the same evindentiary and procedural rules as in Circuit Court, so there is no legal advantage.
  6. Ryan’s Diet. I tried several new foods since I last updated on this. Some of these include: Ginger root, moringa, green tea leaves, pineapple, and local honey.
  7. Arm. Ryan’s sling came off this morning. The orthopedic wanted it on for four weeks, but I did it for six. I will lightly test it during therapy today. I plan to take him in for an x-ray next week.
  8. Van. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do much on this. We did put it into Ryan’s Special Needs Trust and have a family friend doing all the nasty paperwork at the DMV soon. We want to get a WVU vanity handicap license plate. We are limited to 5 characters, so if you have an idea that might work please let us know and we can see if it’s available.
  9. Basement. We have made a lot of progress, thanks to many people. I’m waiting for a couple more items en route from Ryan’s Wish List and then I’ll post picture. I’ll make sure to get all areas. The kitchenette is now on hold to a higher priority. Namely, emergency access to/from our basement this winter. I tried pushing Ryan up the hill from the exterior basement door to the driveway and barely made it. It scares me to know this is an impossibility when snow/ice arrives. After we find a temporary solution for this winter I’d be interested to know if you think a “buy a brick” fundraiser might work. I think having these engraved would be wonderful. Who knows, perhaps there would be enough interest to build a small patio to take Ryan out on.
  10. IBRF Report. The report’s been in for some time, but IBRF has yet to cover it with us (very frustrating). I’m fairly adept at reading an EEG now and can conclude that Ryan is no worse, but I’m not ready to make any other claims.
  11. Ryan’s Eyes. We are being challenged keeping them free of abrasions (especially the right one). I know it might seem like I’m in an echo chamber, but Dr. Hinkle is simply amazing! He stops by every week to check on Ryan and change treatment. Yesterday he spent well over an hour with us. Ryan now is getting lubricant every hour. Dr. Hinkle also switched him to a more viscous (thicker) ointment.

Ryan's Eyes.

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Comments

  2. Thanks for the updates. We all love to hear about Ryan’s improvements. Always in my prayers. Lets Go Mountaineers !!!!!

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  5. Buy a brick is a wonderful idea and would surely be nice to sit out on the patio and have Ryan breath in the fresh air and hear the sounds of the outdoors. Still here and still praying for you guys. Big weekend for WVU – Enjoy watching it with Ryan! Let’s Go Mountaineers!

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  9. Buy a brick is a terrific idea! Happy to hear the UTI seems to have cleared. Hope the new system works better for Ryan! Still praying…
    always praying….
    xo Peggie

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  11. I love RYVAN and PAY UP. Not sure which one I like more….depends on the mood, time of month, time of day you know the routine. Anyway, buy a brick is awesome! We did that for the grade school playground years ago, our town park abut 4 years ago. What is nice about that is it is always a possibility, even after it is built you can get a brick engraved and replaced, get different sizes in there to be engraved, have not only names but sayings also engraved on the 6×10 ones. Not letting my husband see the term you coined, “melon list”, I see where Ryan gets his sense of humor.

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  12. Ken,Thanks for updates on Ryan and glad the UTI is cleared up and the new condoms help. Can’t wait to see rooms and praying all goes well with report from IBRF Waiting to hear about new trials too. Great about new foods and hoping xray of arm shows it healed right.
    I think it’s a GREAT idea about bricks for path and patio ,I’m in 🙂 for anything that’s helps makes things easier for your family..Tell Ryan I said HI Love Gail. PS. Like the one Rd WVU that Patti suggested. 🙂

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  13. Hi Ken, just putting my two cents in from the peanut gallery — I love the brick idea too, but am thinking it might work better for a smaller area. The bricks can crack and then need to be replaced. I do love the idea of seeing all the names and thoughts inscribed on the bricks though. I think, perhaps, pavers might be more durable and longer lasting. Ryan is a tall and muscular young man — methinks he needs a larger patio, one that will accomodate his chair and tall self. Also, it would be nice to have enough space for your whole family to sit together outside. A decent sized patio and a solid pathway to get Ryan safely up from the backyard to the driveway — that’s what I’m praying for!

    Thank you for sharing the list, wow, I felt overhwhelmed just reading it! It seems like you have extraordinary drive and determination to get things done. You come across as calm and mellow but it seems your mind never stops thinking! I think you have a “Type A” mind : )

    Hoping you and your family have a good weekend, Ken, and I’m praying for everything with the court case, patio, etc. to work out smoothly. Love, Paula

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  14. So, I am not the most creative person in the world, but I managed to come up with this (which could have a double meaning: WVRYD…as in “WV ride” (or “WV RYanD”).

    Alrighty then…back to the drawing board I go!

    Buy a brick? You bet!!!!!

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  15. We just finished our work on a brick walkway project for Baltimore Polytechnic that is on-going to raise money for the Poly Foundation. It is a great fund-raiser, but it is a lot of work, including paper work. I’ll bet a brick you can get the volunteers you need pronto right there in Ashburn for this project. If set up correctly, Ryan’s SNT would get about half of the cost of each brick. You know how to reach us for info, and we know how to reach you to buy bricks! Always here.

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  18. Ken,

    I know even though the “honey do” list may be long , you will be thrilled to get to spend more time with your beautiful Sue.

    The buy a brick idea is fabulous! Although I agree with Paula that larger pavers may last longer, a professional can lay the brick with a solid foundation so to minimize the chance of cracking. There are also floating foundations which allow for less stress being placed on one particular part of the walkway.

    For the patio area an idea for the flooring would be to have it be “Brushed Concrete”. Several of my neighbors have it and it is stunning, with the benefit of being a decent amount less expensive than brick. You are able to choose from a variety of colors and finish patterns.

    Wonderful ideas from everyone on the license plate! Having the brick engraved will be a huge selling point. This is one of the main reasons that when NFL teams have a new stadium all the new and existing PSL Owners have a brick engraved with their name on the stadium. This can be an acknowledgement for those purchasing a brick that in some way, either small or large they are a part in helping Ryan:) Count me in on whatever we choose! I am in~~~~Much love, Jen

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Ryan's Rally, ℅ Ken Diviney
21092 Carthagena Ct.
Ashburn, VA 20147
kdiviney@ryansrally.org