Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Therapy is Beginning!

Andrew has been exhausted all day working with the therapists..... Speech, Occupational, and Physical therapists to help him with his eating (he's moving to level two foods, gritty grainy stuff), help him with hand functions, and working on the toe wiggling. He also was helped to sit up twice, which is good to keep the blood flowing properly. We haven't seen him too much today- as he, between therapists, has been trying to get to sleep. Not a whole lot to update, but Andrew is staying true to his promise - he's going to fight fight fight.

45 comments:

  1. hey hip i just got done posting on the rehab blog post and up popped this one! you better keep up the fight fight fight. level 2 foods now huh? sounds deliscous. keep going bud, you can do it!!!!

    ENDOW

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  2. Hippert,

    Everyday so far team Earthscape in Madison (Kelli my gf, Zack my bro and Joe Johanek) have been saying a prayer for you.

    I know you will beat every obstacle brought in front of you with this. Just to let you know we are thinking of you every second and watching blog updates on the computer constantly.

    Hang in there buddy and I will come see you as soon as you are settled into a center..chicago denver where ever.

    Good luck buddy I love you man and I will be commenting on this a lot.


    Nick Hahn

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  3. also steal me a handi cap sticker for parking
    hahn

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  4. Greetings from San Diego!! Don't worry; you aren't missing much out here! Today is the first day that we've even seen a glimmer of the sun... been in the 60s....don't we live here for good weather?!?!

    You are all in my prayers...hope to see you back here soon.

    If there is anything I can do to help in SD please let me know!!!

    Keep wiggling (anything you got to wiggle :) )

    Laura Arnoldussen

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  5. Can I start calling you Rocky? Cuz you're acting like him, you big fighter, you. :) Good luck with Therapy! I love checking the updates and seeing all the positives - you really are a strong one.

    Keep it up!!

    Angie P

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  6. if you're gettin hahn a sticker you might as well make it two :-) you know how parking in cali can be

    ENDOW

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  7. Hey Hippert!
    I know all that therapy can be frustrating and exhausting, but keep it up! You're already doing so great! You've been in my thoughts almost constantly since Sunday morning; I'm really pulling for you, pal. And if you end up in rehab in Chicago, you better believe you'll be seeing me on a weekly basis! Stay strong.
    - Maeghan

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  8. Hi! I don't think we've ever met, but my best friend, Jacky (Strenger) Kruse, is family friends of the Wilhelms' and was at the wedding on Saturday. She told me what happened, and I just wanted to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. It looks like you have an awesome support system and the most amazing attitude I've ever heard of. I wish only the best for you!

    Take Care, (and I'll be waiting to read about the wiggling toes,)

    Andrea

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  9. Hello Andrew--

    My name is Barb and I am Andy Shefka's mother. Although I have never met you, both Andy and Lindsay have always spoken fondly of you. I just wanted you to know that our entire family is constantly praying for your speedy recovery. Wiggle those toes buddy. : )

    Barb Shefka (and family)

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  10. I just wanted you to know that if you come to Denver, I will try to help make you guys as comfortable as possible. Craig is just 15 minutes away from my house so Kalli will be able to be there whenever you need her. I have been asking around and everyone has good things to say about Craig and the people who work there. Plus, you can recover with a beautiful view of the mountains to inspire you. :)

    Always thinking of you guys, keep it up Andrew! You have made me believe in miracles.

    Christina

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  11. Therapy is such hard work...but so well worth the effort. Keep up the intense motivation! Your determination is such a inspiration...
    -Gina

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  12. I hope your level 2 foods taste better than the level 2 Jameson gets. I tried the peas and sweet potatoes and it's so gross!

    Keep up the good work so you can get to level 3!!

    Kara

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  13. Keep working hard...even when you think you can't give any more...you can! We're praying for you always.

    Holly and Dave

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  14. Hey buddy,

    Glad to hear that you have been rockin out with the therapy!! It sounds like you might set a record for recovery time. I expect you to keep doing those sit ups so you have rock hard abs when you hit the beach in SD. Keep fighting.

    Mike

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  15. Hi Andrew!

    We have never met...however we are good friends and also neighbors to Lori, Tim, Rose & Sam! Our thoughts and prayers are constantly with you Andrew! Don't stop believing...stay positive & keep the faith...you will win!

    Michele & Larry Decker

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  16. Hippert,

    Haven't seen you for a long time but this is rather unsettling news. You're in my thoughts. Keep your chin up and don't quit. You can do it man.

    Ian

    P.S. Still need to cash in that sailing for beer thing sometime. Get well soon.

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  17. Andrew it must be great to get going with the rehab, to feel like you are on the road to recovery. It also sounds exhausting. Leah, Deborah, Ivan, Jim and I are all pulling for you. You are in my thoughts all day long.
    Aunt Mary

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  18. whats up buddy, its Schroeder. the progress you've made is unreal and you are truly blessed by God. when i initially heard about the accident i was tying my shoe and it surprised me so much that i broke the shoelace, it reminded me of that week in door county you made us all bracelets. i tied the shoelace around my wrist and it's staying there till youre walking again. you and your family are in all of our hearts and prayers. keep up the hard work bro.

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  19. Andrew,
    We enjoy reading all the comments and how well you are doing with your progress. We continue to pray for you to become stronger each day.
    Mauthe's in CT

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  20. Hey!
    My family loves guacamole:) I made some today,... got the recipe from your mom years ago. I bet you have eaten the same stuff!
    Glad to hear you are making prgress on the food:) and on therapies (I was an O.T. before I quit to stay home with my kids).
    Joyce Gershman

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  21. Hello Hippert!

    I just wanted to let you know that me and Marley have been praying for you everyday. Sunday morning I showed her a picture of you and she smiled. And just so you know that was her first smile while being awake! The only other time she smiles is when shes asleep dreaming of boobies. I know you will pull through this; you are such a strong person and you have the power of prayer behind you 100%!

    And if you're getting Hahn and Endow a sticker...hey what's one more?

    Love you,
    Sarah

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  22. Hi Hippert.
    It had been a while since we had seen each other before the wedding. Ashley called me on Sunday and let me know about the accident. I want to know that through our family and friends you have prayers coming from Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado and California. We are all praying for you and hoping for a speedy recovery. One of our very good friends, Beth, works out at Craig in Denver and actually does Occupational Therapy with spinal cord injury patients. We called her to discuss the hospital and she highly recomends it as well as the facility in Chicago that has been mentioned. If you head out to Denver, you will be working with Beth and she has assured us that they have a great team out there. No matter where you end up, we know you have the attitude and faith to beat this. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family constantly and our fingers are crossed for wiggly toes :)
    Love,
    Allie Long and Justin Pease

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  23. hey buddy, the lafave fam are fighting for you in the az....you best keep up that fight so i can get you back out here man....hey if i know anyone who can beat this you can buddy...you are in my prayers so keep up the fight buddy...
    -LaFave-

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  24. Hey Andrew!
    Sounds like everything is progressing really well, keep up the good work! You're in our thoughts and prayers everyday. We love you bud!

    Love,
    Andy and Lindsay Shefka

    P.S. Little Sheffy can't wait to meet you and Kalli!

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  25. Hey Hip hop-

    It's so nice to hear the updates on how your doing! Wanted to let you know that we're praying for you along with my parents.
    About a year ago my aunt was sitting on the counter and slipped off and and broke her neck we were told she'd be lucky if she walked again and through lots of fighting and determination and support she is walking right now with a cane. I know you are a fighter and soon you will be able to wiggle your toes and walk too! Keep up the hard work and determination!
    Plus we need to hit up the Sturgen Bay bars and bayside or C & C! Soon!

    Love,
    Frawley and Greg

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  26. Keep up the good work Hip-Hip-hop-ery! We are so proud of you Hippert! We have an FHM's 100 hottest ladies waiting for you as soon as we can see you! That will make anyones day:)

    Love,

    Jenny and Wilz

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  27. Hippert,

    Keep fighting buddy! I keep checking the blog every hour or so at work and i love reading about the progress you have already made and the on-going progress you are making. I know very soon I'm gonna check this blog and those toes are going to be wiggling! I cant wait for that day!!!

    Thoughts and Prayers,
    Keith Bettin

    Those sailboats are waitin' for ya!

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  28. Alex Wright here, please relay this message VERBATIM to my best friend:

    Hippert-- this is Al. Shutup and listen. Your blog said that you would like to hear some funny anecdotes, so here they come:

    One night, at 3369, Ashley, Anthony, and Carrie and I all shared a love sack. You know how funny that is, and I will spare the details.

    Another time, we took all the dogs to the baseball field to see what one could hunt the best pet store bunny rabbit. You are to blame for that decision, but it really was funny.

    I was really thirsty one night upstairs in my loft (which I could not stand up in by the way) and you decided to engineer a cold-water-drinking tube which facilitated the most efficient hydration system I have ever utilized.

    On the same line of thought, no one, I mean no one, has ever built a bed that can be transformed into a ceiling ornament the way you can.

    Oh, this message would not be complete without mentioning the time that this island I know of got pillaged for all sorts of booze, boats, and frozen pizzas... what a story that was.

    I also heard that you gave a pretty solid tag-team speech at our best friend's wedding. Nice work.

    You ought not to forget about our 4' potty-trained iguana named Ziggy. Crazy little creature found out how to escape from our house some how.

    Do you remember sending your projector to some swindler in Nigeria? don't worry, I'm still pissed too!

    On a more serious note, you and Anth have shown me what real friends can do for each other when you gave me not only a place to stay but a home to be a part of at 3369. I know we don't necessarily see things the same way all the time (recycling, government conspiracy, etc.) but you are incredibly important to me as well as countless others. I am with you through this mishap, and will be here for you long afterward.

    I will keep thinking of stories for you bro, but for the time being, I imagine you got a chuckle out of the ones that I have provided. I love you bro, as does Carrie and I am sitting with Jodi Webber too- our minds and hearts are with you and we will be sending more love via the internet until we can come and see you in person. Take care my friend, and keep puttin' up your dukes.

    -Al

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  29. from Aunt Mary
    Top 10 Reasons You Know That You're In A Cheap HMO
    10. Annual breast exam conducted at Hooters.
    9. Directions to your doctor's office include, "take a left when you enter the trailer park."

    8. Tongue depressors taste faintly of fudgesicle.

    7. Only proctologist in the plan is "Gus" from Roto-Rooter.

    6. Only item listed under Preventive Care feature of coverage is "an apple a day".

    5. Your "primary care physician" is wearing the pants you gave to Goodwill last month.

    4. "Patient responsible for 200% of out-of-network charges" is not a typo.

    3. The only expense covered 100% is embalming.

    2. With your last HMO, your Viagra pills didn't come in different colors with little "M"'s on them.

    1. You ask for Viagra. You get a popsicle stick and duct tape.

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  30. a few thoughts for hip from endow regarding al's post,

    i like to think ziggy made it way down south, maybe brazil or something, and is living it up on some rainforest beach with a bunch of fine lady iguanas. or maybe he made it across the pond and found those nigerian swindlers for you and gave em hell.

    also i'd like to thank you for one of the better super bowl parties in a decade. if the pack doesn't make it the next best thing is watchin the bears lose it at 3369. i'm sure wilson still cries himself to sleep over that one.

    keep floatin like a butterly and stinging like a bee on viagra hip. ali in his prime ain't got shit on you.

    ENDOW

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  31. Hippert--
    I don't know if you remember the time a house appeared in the middle of the road or maybe the road turned into someone's driveway... but I definitely do.

    Michelle

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  32. Hippert,
    So I read on the updates that you are seeing a bunch of different therapists, so maybe you could ask the speech therapist to clear something up for me. I was at the liquor store yesterday and a woman came in while I was shopping. She looked normal, maybe a bit out of sorts, but normal enough. I kept shopping and eventually I ended up in the same isle as her. It was then I noticed she was waving her hands frantically around and around. I asked her if she was OK but she totally ignored me. So I kept looking at her and upon closer inspection I realized that the hand movements were sign language and that she was deaf and subsequently signing to herself about what to get! I am dying to know if most deaf people "talk" to themselves or if she was just a wierdo. So ask your speach therapist when you get a chance. I'll be looking forward to an answer once you get further along with rehabilitation. Talk to you soon and stay strong!
    Luke

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  33. Andrew I am so happy to hear the progress you are making it broke my heart when I got on FB SUnday I called Bill and asked did something happen to Andy? he was so sad. But look at you now soon you will be boarding the Jillybean asking for food:) what a weird day....You kids pulling up and getting on our boat and knowing two of my kids and then feeding you all chicken:) But the best part was when Mark left and brought back the cooler and you gave us the ski show with beers in hand. Be strong you have so many friends pulling for you. We pray each day and I wiggle my toes in prayer for you. I will stop at St. Joes today and light a candle for you kid.Keep up the good work and don't let the therapist get you down they are doing all they can for your recovery,

    Jill and Gary Long

    PS it's my Bday today I will also have a toast for you:) at the yacht club at 4pm so you try then to wiggle wiggle

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  34. hey hippert!! im coming up to visit as soon as you are allowed visitors.. cant wait to see you and keep up the great work! i love your positive attitude..
    kiara

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  35. Still thinking about you & praying happy thoughts :)

    -Mel Moye

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  36. Andrew,
    I know this much is true.
    Very important!
    John 16, 23-24:
    "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, HE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU....
    ASK, and ye shall receive, that your
    joy may be full..."
    Trust in the Lord and all things are possible.
    All things.
    Ponder these things in your heart.

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  37. Hey Dude,

    So I guess I have to do this whole job thing for a while, but I hope to see you soon.

    Remember when we were riding our bikes at the Sunset plaza and you went off that ramp and crashed your bike? At the time that was pretty much the most traumatic thing I had ever seen. I mean your face was bleeding, holy crap! But needless to say you had a speedy and mostly complete recovery from that one, (obviously some lasting side effects with that ugly mug you got there) but pretty much back to 100%

    I’m sure you’ll be back, maybe even better looking this time.

    Mark Lee

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  38. Andrew, I continue to be impressed with your strength and motivation!!! I am in awe of you! My husband and I have been praying for you each and every day. I even have students at school asking "How is your friend doing? Should we check his blog?!?!"

    Question of the day: How many times does a person blink in a year? 84 million times.

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  39. Hey Hip,
    i learned that's what friends call you. We are Ashley's aunt julie and uncle john. We met you and Kalli at Lambeau field last fall at the Van Hoof tailgate. You were so memorable because you were naughty back then and found yourself in a jail cell. You should not try to make yourself so well known. We never forgot you then and now you will be carved in our hearts forever. You are in our thoughts many times a day and a part of our family meal prayer. Your miraculous recovery is coming in baby steps showing each one of us that Jesus is working in our lives today. This accident that you must endure is going to bring a lot of good to all those who know you. Your blessings are coming. We will continue to pray for you, your family, and Kalli. ♥john and julie

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  40. Andrew,
    I learned of your story through my friend Anjali. I have been praying for you and will continue to do so. Obviously you are a very very very loved person and have tons of support surrounding you. Stay strong, keep that positive attitude. Thinking of you...

    Jessica Love Avina
    Manitowoc, WI

    ~*Adversity is the diamond dust
    Heaven uses to polish its jewels.*~

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  41. Morning Hippert!
    Random food for thought ...

    It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shake and the 46th word from the last word is spear.

    Kind of weird, huh?

    -Gina

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  42. Andrew and Kalli,

    This one works for me a lot...

    If God brings you to it, God brings you through it.

    Mark Lee

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  43. The first time I really had the chance to spend time with Hippert was at George
    and Heather's wedding reception. I remember him and Kali dancing up a storm all
    night, and I kept thinking, "Now, that's someone who loves life!" No doubt, that
    passion will give him strength every day. Hope to see you dancing soon,
    Hippert!!!"

    Emily Morrison

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  44. morning hip,

    i guess today is round two of therapy for you, be strong brother.

    i know you tried to teach me how to sail each time we went out but i'm not ready to tackle the pacific without my Captain. plus there are water towers on deserted islands that need climbing in the middle of the night and pirating and pillaging in general to be done.

    that means you're gonna have to work your ass off but i know you can do it hip, keep fighting the good fight and keep you spirits up. YAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

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  45. Hi Andrew,
    I too, like so many, now have a blog addiction.

    I am very proud of you. You must be amazed by your huge accomplishments with this battle. Continue to be patient with Gods plan for you. You are one of my favorite people. From all the comments, wow...you are a favorite of many people! You have touched a lot of lives and possibly have no idea the lives you are touching right now. (By the way put Minnisotta, Germany and Scottland down on the prayer map)
    I am so happy Michael brought you into our lives. Have the doctors work you up to greasy fries and burgers. We do those so well at Beach Harbor and we will have one waiting for you. We do not currently have on the menu what you are eating at the hospital although we have a new cook and maybe he can do it? Not sure.
    Michael was preparing the "Mariah" yesterday. It's looking great but has a "smile" not sure what he means by that. You will have to ask him when you see him. He is waiting for the word that you can have visitors.

    Meghan is staying in Minniapolis....with the boyfriend. She is interning as a graphic designer. Matthew will be a sail instructor again this year! He would appreciate any recruting ideas you might think of. Mary will be your waitress at Beach Harbor this summer and then onto Minnisotta for school.

    Enjoy the warmth and love of your friends and family Andrew, this is a wonderful gift you have been given. You truly are blessed. Continue focusing on the blessings and the rest will come.

    Love Patti Hanson

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