November 16, 2007 10:30am

Lisa went into surgery at 7:30am this morning and is now in recovery. The surgeon said everything went well and she will be in recovery for the next couple of hours. Her family and Trish are there with her. The surgeon was impressed with her positive attitude and said that can make such a difference on the final outcome. She will be kept at Grant for a couple days. Your continued prayers are appreciated, she is so anxious to return to work and a normal life. We will keep you all updated on the blog, and when she's feeling up to visitors.

D

november 15, 2007 - and whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and believing, you will receive (Matthew 21:22)

top of the morning, friends...

wow, what a difference a day makes! yesterday, i walked the dogs (with crutches & 1 leg up, of course!) in just my shirtsleeves because it was so warm. today, it's windy and very chilly!

last night, i went out and had wings with my good friends, trish, dirty di, christy, and don & ty. we had a great time. it was trish's actual birthday, so her other friends wanted to treat her to a night out. don even picked up the bill! i just love those OTCS guys! lol while we all had a great time talking, i especially enjoyed my talk with don, as we discussed where God wants us both to be. i've known don all my career, as we graduated from the same academy class. i've seen a wonderful transformation take place in my friend....and what a great friend he's been!

captain kevin teaford and s/lt. brian landis from our HRM section visited a couple of nights ago to explain some benefit issues to me. i had a fire built in my driveway in my outdoor fireplace, so we all sat around the fire and talked. it was very nice. i really appreciate them taking time to visit me. kevin and i even commented that it kinda felt like our old D-9 Jackson days!

my sister, terry and my dad are coming up tonight to visit. they've been here alot to help since my crash - bless their hearts! they try to give trish a break. she's been such a great friend through this ordeal.

my surgery is right around the corner and i can't wait! i know i'll be a bit sore, but i'm so excited to walk again. my goal is to come back to work after the first of the year. please pray that that occurs.

also, please pray for connie willbarger too. she's the executive secretary in our operations section and she just lost her mom. she needs all the support she can get right now.

i'll update you after surgery and let you know how it goes. maybe i'll even post some more photos to demonstrate my progress.

in the meantime, take a look at this link....it has inspired me to believe that i can do ANYTHING i set my mind to - regardless of my circumstances. you won't be disappointed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qTiYA1WiY8


until later, continue to be blessed....

lisa - 1095

november 10, 2007 - love keeps no record of wrong... (I corinthians 13:5)

top of the afternoon, friends!

wow! what a firestorm of comments we've received regarding the punishment of the gentleman who hit us!

please don't misunderstand mary and me....we're angry that this happened, as our lives and the lives of those around us have been greatly changed and we've been terribly inconvenienced. however...we've both forgiven him. that's not to say that he doesn't deserve jail time. if nothing else, maybe it will assist him in getting clean. we simply hope that justice will be served.

thank you all for your very supportive and candid comments about this topic. we appreciate your insight. we've spent our careers removing impaired drivers from the highways. we never expected to be hit by one. but, we both feel that things are the way they are supposed to be and we'll deal with it in the best ways we can.

my sister, terry and i went shopping at the new target store in grove city today. what a nice place! of course i spent way too much money!

tonight, we're going to eat out with some friends. i think that even dirty dianna is planning to come. trish's birthday is next week, so we thought we'd surprise her with dinner. she's been so great to me since my wreck. it will be nice to do something nice for her.

dad came up today and brought me some firewood for my outdoor fireplace. he also brought me an ax....lol....i think he has brought me every tool i own. i sure love that man!

to everyone who helped with and/or contributed to the benefit - mary and i are slowly getting cards sent out. with dr's appt's and therapy, we whittle away at it the best we can. please forgive us if we've missed anyone - it certainly isn't intentional. dianna and don tried to keep very accurate records, but we fear we might fail to thank someone.

mary and her parents came up thursday night. we had a great visit! while she was there, retired sergeant steve belyus came over and brought 2 copies of his in-depth crash reconstruction of our wreck. he retired from the patrol and now works for the governor's highway safety office. he also has a crash reconstruction business. thank you steve for your hard work and unbiased investigation. we really appreciate your professionalism! i'm sure it will assist with our case.

major mark atkeson and captain bob markowski stopped by to see me this week as well. of course i hadn't had a shower and my house was a total wreck! i probably frightened them...lol i do, however really appreciate their visits.

well, i'm gearing up for my surgery! thankfully, it will be very soon. this will be a real step in the right direction in allowing me to walk again. hopefully, after the first of the year, there will be some semblance of normalcy in my life. thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers, visits, and cards. the power of prayer has never been demonstrated more powerfully in my life.

please pray for the family of mary lou schehl, the post secretary at marietta. her daughter passed away this week. she leaves a husband and a son. they desperately need all the prayers they can get to get through this tragedy.

also pray for tonya, daughter of former norwalk post dispatcher jane bell. she is having complications during pregnancy and they are trying diligently to keep her from going into labor and delivering too early. the baby needs further development.

nurse paula - i just got your card and very thoughtful gift! thank you so much for everything. you are one of the people i miss greatly at the shipley building. can't wait to see you and "catch up" when i return!

colonel finamore & s/lt. campbell - thanks for your call yesterday. you've both been so faithful about checking on me and updating me on what's going on.

captain dave dicken - thanks again for all your updates as well. you've continued to keep me "connected" through this ordeal. i could never have asked for a better "wing man."

more later...continue to be blessed!

lisa - 1095

november 5, 2007 - if God is for us, then who can be against us? (romans 8:31)

top of the morning, friends....


well, another weekend is behind us and the time change has happened once again. i really have a hard time adjusting to the fact it is totally dark by 6pm. sometimes i'm in bed by 8pm because it has such a huge psychological effect on me. but, come spring, we'll do it all again!

i'm really getting psyched up for my upcoming surgery. i can't wait to get this hospital bed out of my living room and get my house and life back in order! my family and friends have been nothing less than outstanding through all of this. i'd like to give them their life back too. i want to return to work more than you know!

congratulations to my niece, erin, who won "most photogenic" at the "americas role model" pagent in worthington, ohio. her 4-year old daughter, jillian won her category overall last year and she had to turn over her crown to the winner this year. they are both absolutely beautiful! not that i'm biased or anything....lol.

colonel jack walsh called me again to see how i'm getting along. he and his wife, huey are now in their winter retreat in florida. i really appreciate his thoughtfulness. he was the first colonel that i served under. what a gentleman!

i just received a call from a friend who's been kind enough to monitor my case in WV during the multitude of pretrials. a new prosecutor has been assigned our case. she informed me that the individual who hit mary and me is willing to plead guilty, providing he serve no jail time. while this is a joint decision that i need to discuss with mary, i already know my thoughts on the matter. of course, that's not a topic for the blog.

elzie f. - thanks for the call the other day. i'm sorry i missed you, friend.

tina p. - thank you so much for your friendship and your professional assistance. who knew when we met a few years ago what was in store today? i appreciate your help!

brian b. - let me get through my next surgery, then watch out! you're the one going down! may 1 is fine, but you'll be the one wearing an SMV sign. my arms are HUGE! i've been bench pressing toyotas in preparation for our match. the shop vac will be there to suck up what's left of your dignity!

wendy f. - i'm sorry i didn't get to hook up with you guys last night....i ended up having company. can i please take a raincheck? i'd love to meet you guys on another night.

heather d. - thanks for the call....i'm sorry i missed it. i appreciate you thinking of me too. we'll get together soon.

kathy mccarthy - i cracked up when you said that 904 and 1434 dressed up as law enforcement officers for halloween!

karen morefield - thank you so much for YOUR encouragement! God doesn't call the equipped - He equips the called! i sure miss seeing your smiling face.



be blessed....until next time......



lisa - 1095

november 1, 2007 - another prayer answered....

top of the morning, friends....





well, i survived therapy on tuesday, and went to the bone doctor on wednesday. he FINALLY gave me a surgery date in november!!! i won't post the date on the blog for security reasons, of course, but rest assured, it's soon! he told me that the surgery would not be as bad as the one's i've endured thus far and that i'd probably have a 2-day (or longer) hospital stay - depending on how i feel. he says that i will have a follow up visit about 1 week after the surgery and that he then won't see me again for about 7-8 weeks. until then, i'll still not be weight-bearing. i'm so thrilled that i won't have to wear a full cast, nor will i have to have an external fixator (unless things turn badly). unfortunately, the prediction that i won't walk until the beginning of the year may be optimistic. he says it may be well after the first of the year...but i'm going to prove him wrong.





while i was at the dr's office, i met a young black lady (i didn't get her name), but i have to tell you how inspirational she was. she is 21 years old and about 2 years ago, she too was involved in a motorcycle crash. she indicated that an elderly lady turned left in front of her, causing her to crash her suzuki 500 motorcycle. this resulted in both of her legs becoming severely damaged. unfortunately, the doctors were unable to save her right leg, resulting in her becoming an amputee. her amputation was just above her right knee. while she still walks with a cane, she had such an unbelievably positive attitude. she made me feel so optimistic!






another success story is that of sergeant scott rike, of the patrol. he too has been very inspirational to me. he has battled a serious, life altering physical illness for some time now that actually resulted in him having to file for disability retirement. the great news is that now he has returned to duty! he and his wife are also expecting a baby! two more prayers answered!

another recent inspiration was this short video. if you get a chance, please watch it....i promise you won't be disappointed. it really demonstrates the IMPORTANT things in life! the link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aO64aKqek




last night, my friends, neighbors, and my sister terry built a big fire in my portable fireplace out in the driveway and passed out candy while eating a huge pot of chili spaghetti that my sister made. we had a great time sharing ring-tones, jokes, and just good ole fellowship!




i continue to pray for the retired captain walt ashbridge family. as i mentioned before, he passed away while waiting on a second double lung transplant. unfortunately, due to my dr's appt., i was unable to attend the funeral. he was a great man. please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as well.




also continue to pray for officer cory winfield from marion. while he has made great strides, according to colonel and brenda collins, he has a long way to go at dodd hall. God has performed great miracles here!





dan r. - i appreciate the advice on moving a potato chip. who knows when that tidbit of information might come in handy! you crack me up, sir!





elzie f. - i have conducted an ad hoc survey of the folks who travelled to gatlinburg with us. everyone remembers you riding the chicken. sorry, man....ad hoc surveys don't lie.





brian b. - i won't be intimidated! i've painted racing stripes on my wheelchair, buddy! i'm ready to smoke your **^$#^*)_! bring it on! just don't cry like a girl when i thump your hiney!





mccarthy - it is a fact....i HAVE pulled your fat outta the fire more times than i can count!





more later....continue to be blessed!





lisa - 1095

october 29, 2007 - fruit of the spirit....

top of the morning, friends....

another weekend has passed and was (as always), a bit too short!

on friday, colonel collins, major john born, and retired major rich rucker came over to see me. they gave me updates on the division and changes in the retirement system. it was a very nice and informative gathering.

my dad and his wife mary came over on friday as well. they brought me a beautiful hand-made bench that dad made as well as a new snow-blower. dad is convinced that i won't be shoveling snow this winter! lol i told him that it just provides some needed exercise, and would be part of my therapy, but he didn't buy it.

my sister terry came over and stayed for part of the weekend too. she and i went shopping at wal-mart yesterday. i think we bought out the store. we stocked up on halloween candy for the trick or treaters (yeah, right....lol).

last night, i went and spoke to a drivers ed class about DUI/OVI for my friend, raejean. raejean is a former trooper who now works for the insurance industry. she asked me to speak on the topic from the perspectives of trooper and victim. it was alot of fun. we went out for a bite to eat afterwards.

right now, i'm waiting on a phone call about my surgery date. hopefully, it will be soon. i'm anxious to get it over with.

i have therapy on tuesday this week.

elzie f. - ANACONDA???? wow....that's a stretch! oh, yeah, on the '63 falcon issue....i would be happy to oblige....although, i can't be responsible for the way it turns out. i'm on meds, you know...lol

terri w. - i'm so sorry to hear about the passing of retired captain ashbridge. he was a good man who fought a good fight. please keep his family in your prayers - they really need it now.

mike h. - i think you're right....i'm about to be put through the mill. but - strength comes from adversity. i'll just have to look at this as another challenge in my recovery.

fred g. - i'm sorry we keep missing each other! i'll give you a call sometime this week.

i'll let you all know when i have more information. continue to expect God's blessings....

lisa - 1095

october 25, 2007 - my cup runs over...

top of the evening, friends....

well, this week has flown by! i don't know where the days go!

therapy went well on tuesday and thursday. rina, jeremy, and norma (the therapy nazi's) were kind to me. i was bruised and battered, but it was a "good bruised and battered." lol

i mowed grass again today, under the watchful eye of my friend, trish. she is so afraid i'm going to hurt myself. i have to admit, it does feel good to actually accomplish something! hopefully, we can plant some mums tomorrow. i finally was able to get the picture of me teaching her how to edge to post on the blog...pretty funny!

i went to the plastic surgeon today and got the green light to see my bone doctor to have the orthopaedic surgery done! praise God! while it will be a rough surgery, i need to have it so i can bear weight on my left leg. the plan is to replace 10 inches of bone in my left thigh (with a cadaver bone), replace 2 one-inch pieces of bone in my left calf, and take marrow from my right leg to fill the cadaver bone. the dr's also plan to remove both plates from my left hand/forearm. the bones have healed sufficiently that they can remove the plates that are impeding my pinky finger and wrist movement. the dr's will put their heads together and come up with a date they can both be available for surgery.

i talked to mary today. she's still going to physical therapy and anxious to return to work. she was extremely disappointed that she was not able to be there for her post inspection, however, she said she was very proud of her post "team" for the way they handled the inspection preparation. the inspection went very well. unfortunately, she may have to have an MRI done on her left ankle, as she has very limited range of motion. because of the position of her ankle on the motorcycle, i think it probably took the same brunt of the crash that my leg did. please continue to pray for her healing as well.

update on retired captain walt ashbridge: he has developed 2 infections, one being a blood infection which is what the doctor's did not want to see happen. they are still optimistic and are treating the infections with antibiotics. however, time is really of the essence now to get the lungs within the next 2 weeks. he continues to need our prayers now more than ever!

on october 6th, mint john grandson of rosemary suffered a ruptured aneurysm on the right side of his brain. he was stabilized and they transported mint to children's where a drain tube was inserted in his head to relieve fluid pressure and allow time for further evaluation for a course of action. testing revealed the rupture and two additional aneurysms-a small one in the frontal lobe and a larger one on the left side. his condition was such that a catheter process could not be performed so they opened a "window" in his skull to clamp the ruptured vein. they were also able to isolate and encase the one in the front. as of now, the left aneurysm is "stable" and doctor's want him to heal some from the surgery before going after it. We celebrated his 15th birthday on October 12th. he then had to deal with vasospasms caused by spinal fluid on the brain. normally the brain absorbs the fluid but due to trauma, is not functioning so mint's "brain drain" relieved the pressure and was finally removed on the 18th. while his condition continues to improve, the doctors say that he will be in ICU for at least another week and then a hospital stay...not sure how long. this family also desperately needs our prayers!

unfortunately, i've heard that the "kailee" doll has given many of you nightmares. i apologize for that, but i have to say....welcome to my world! lol my sister terry is twisted, don't you think?

tina p. - the promotion boards will NEVER be the same without our teamwork! in fact, pennsylvania will never be the same after our visit. lol when's the next court date...i've heard nothing yet.

terri w. - kailee wants to come visit you......!

dale r. - it was great seeing you guys in D9 last week. thanks for the hospitality. i miss you all!

laura m. - we DO serve an AWESOME God! thanks for your testimony!

elzie f. - shhhhhh! what are you talking about? a butcher knife in my boot?????!

tammy w. - thanks for visiting the blog. you continue to be one of my best and dearest friends. i'm glad we've had the opportunity to see each other and reunite after several years. let's not let time and distance keep us apart again. i pray that you remain strong during this tough time in your life. continue to rely on Him for courage and guidance.

i'll write when i have more information. thanks for continuing to read the blog! be blessed!

lisa - 1095