Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Hello to all! We mentioned a few months ago that we would post more frequently, but that has not happened. We want to thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. Clay's eyes, hand, and donor site seem to be healing well from the surgery he had on Sept. 18. If you place your hands under your eyes and pull down hard, you will have an idea of what Clay was experiencing before his surgery. The skin grafts placed under his eyes are full-thickness skin grafts (contains all the layers of the skin including blood vessels); therefore, theses grafts are less likely to contract.
Clay has skin grafts on about 65% of his body (chest, back, head, face, hands, and a portion of his left leg). These grafts are split-thickness grafts (top layer/layers of skin only) and these types of grafts really contract because they do not have the elasticity that full-thickness ones would have. Therefore, this makes his skin resistant to stretching and prevents his normal movement. The scar formation has pulled his chin down to his chest & his bottom lip is almost totally inverted. Clay's next surgery will be a neck release. They will cut into those scars to release them and this will give Clay the ability to lift his head. I am not a doctor, but I have explained some of what we have learned with Clay.
We went back to the doctor about 2 wks. ago (Sept.28) and they cut his cast off to look at the pins in two of his fingers. The doctor wanted to keep the pins in for 3-4 more weeks; so, Clay got to pick the color for his new cast. He picked a "fluorescent" yellow-he can't hide with this one. :-) After two weeks of wear, his cast is now a dull looking color (it's hard to keep little boys' casts clean).
Chance gave us quite a scare on Sept. 24. We were getting the boys ready for school and Chance told me he thought he was having the symptoms of a heart attack. We called his cousin who is a doctor in Seymour (30 miles away) & he told me what to do and that he would be waiting for us at the emergency room. Some of our neighbors came down to get Carson & Cody to school and to watch Clay. Of course, by this time, the boys and I were all in tears and I was trying to reassure the boys that everything would be okay. Chance's cousin (Dr. Martin) had all the tests run on him and everything looked fine. Could have been angina, pleurisy, indigestion...... Could it have been caused by the stress of the past months? He will go back for a stress test soon. We are just so thankful he is feeling better. We also celebrated Chance's 40th birthday on Sept. 27th. We had a potluck birthday party at lunch and then a surprise party that evening. He was surprised! Now he's "over the hill" and feeling fine!
Carson showed a steer at the Texas State Fair last Thursday (Cody will be old enough to show animals next year). It was our first trip to Dallas, in a long time, with no doctor appointments or hospital stays. After the steer show, we had an appointment at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. They wanted to interview our family for their Fall newsletter. It was special to see the wonderful staff and volunteers again.
We continue to drive to Clay's therapy appointments 2 days a week and have therapists at our house 2 days a week. Clay is enjoying his schoolwork and "homebound" teacher. He is enrolled in a Kindergarten teacher's class at school and this teacher sends all of Clay's lessons with the "homebound" teacher. The homebound teacher takes his work back to his Kindergarten teacher to grade and then returns it to Clay. He really likes to look at his graded papers~it makes him feel like he is part of the class. He looks forward to his brothers coming home from school each day because he's always ready to play.
Thank you, thank you, thank you again! We will never be able to say this enough for all your care, prayers, support, and kindness. ~Chance, Deidra (DD), Carson, Cody, & Clay Fite

17 comments:

  1. Wow!! What a scare with Chance!! Glad he is feeling better. I was looking at my pictures of Clay while reading the explanation of what was done during surgery. It is amazing what can be done, isn't it? You and your family are so awesome (know you don't feel like it but you are!)
    Again, thanks for the update.
    Love, hugs, and prayers!
    Rena

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  2. I am glad Chance is doing better. Maybe it was the thought of turning 40 that caused him some anxiety?! :) Seriously, we hope his stress test goes well. And . . . we are so pleased with Clay's progress. He is a true Fiter! And such a bundle of joy. May things continue to look up for you and your family. Love, Dawn & Pam

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  3. So glad to read a fresh update. I hope that everything goes well with the next surgery. Enough "stuff" going on in your house already. Tell Chance to wait a bit before adding to the drama!! :-)

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  4. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I have tears as I read of Clay's excitement about school and I love that there are homebound teachers!

    You ALL are an inspiration. We continue to pray for you.
    The Pittmans in NM

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  5. Thanks for another update! Clay is such a trooper. And that's great that he's enjoying school at home! We continue to think of you all often...keep encouraged!

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  6. We are SO GLAD to see this update!! Thank you for again taking time to keep us posted on Progress! And...Life goes on with all of the rest of you, too! Sorry about Chance, but glad that it was nothing serious..hope the stress test goes well. Our little guy started school this year. He is only a month younger than Clay, so we can imagine Clay's excitement and love for learning, and also his anticipation to play! How fun for Carson to be able to participate in the State Fair! Think of you all so often, and have checked this blog just as often....so good to see the news today. Hugs and Care!!

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  7. Tried to post 3 times this morning and no go, so the repairman came out and the motom was out, so maybe it will fly east now.
    We too were glad for the update as we have wondered about Clay since his surgery. We don't have any idea what he goes through, but we know he is in a family of love and care and Gods guidence. Chance, we hope your problem is negative. Maybe it was a stress attack, you have had enough to cause one. We open the blog different times each day and continue to pray for your family.
    Hope Carson wins a place for his efforts, it will encourage him to show again. We have been there and done that.
    Much love and care to ya'll Bruce and Edna

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  8. Thank you so much for the post. Wow! You are all facing all kinds of experiences! Glad to hear that Chance is ok. Thinking of you as you face each day ahead.
    The Stark family

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  9. Thank you so much for the update. Even though we don't know you, we have been keeping track of Clay's progress since the very beginning. We had a daughter who was burned when she was 4, although not to the extent that Clay was. So, we understand in a small measure what some of your experiences have been, both positive and negative. I have appreciated so much reading your updates and it has been so uplifting to see your faith in God. I'm positive that His strength is what gets us through whatever experience life hands to us. So glad Chance is feeling better and hope his stress test is negative. Hugs to Clay and your other boys.

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  10. Glad for the update. I still check everyday but get the latest from the Grandma. Glad you can settle down just a little even though it seems you are always on the go. Surely glad Chance is OK that was scary. You'll take care of yourselves and hurry back down. Our love. Us 2

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  11. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the update!! My thoughts have gone to you so much over the past several days. It is great to hear of all of the progress you are making. I wish I could just run right over and visit you. Keep up the good work!!! We still think of you and pray for you ALL the time!!!
    Brian, Vicki, Evan and Emily Schmer
    Omaha, NE

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  12. I'm glad Chance was okay. I used to have crushing chest pains,when we were going through some of the stuff with our kids. We will pray that everything comes out okay on the stress test. I bet it will. I'm thinking that if either you or Chance had any type of heart problem that you would have stroked out by now with all that you have been through. Chance is just getting old. After 40, everything slowly falls apart. Also, it won't be too long before you have three boys showing in the State Fair. I promised my two kiddos that if we can get moved before pig tagging, that I'll go get them a each a pig. I have no idea what to do with anything pork other than cook it. It should be interested. We are always praying for you guys. Also we got you all the National Geographic Kids Calendar in lieu of a card. We thought that might be more fun. I'll get it by there in the next few days. I might let Rusty come give it to you if you are home. I have to make sure Rusty is germ free though. He often comes home from school with the run down on who was sick that day and who barfed. Last weeks list of germy little kids was pretty lengthy and it included him. I still believe that God is going to make everything really okay for Clay. It just takes a little while for the doctors to put him all back together. Tell Chance to take it easy and don't eat any burritos with peppers in them at work. Look on the brightside, this time you went to the emergency room and they didn't have to keep anyone. That in itself is awesome. Everything will be okay. God Bless.

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  13. So good to get new news! AND to know Clay is still on the "Progress Road"! We don't know you folks, but have kept track of your family's experiences here. Hymn #283 comes to mind. We know from where your strength for all these past weeks and months has come.

    Jerry & Carol Haptonstall
    Western Colorado

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  14. Good evening to the Fite family,
    Have thought about ya'll so many many times since the last post, so thought I would check in again. We are still hopeing and praying that everything keeps going well for Clay. I have thought about the last surgery and hope all the skin grafts took hold. What would we do without HOPE both naturally and spiritually. We just hope, hope, hope. Chance we have wondered too, about your stress test, and how that turned out. Ya'll take care,
    love and hugs to each one. B&E

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  15. Great to read of how things are going for all of you. We keep wishing the best for Clay! What a little winner & champion! It's so wonderful that he can be home educated along with the help of your school.
    I had to laugh when I read of Clay's florescent cast! Last year our 4 year old Luke had a glow in the dark cast on his arm...like you said, to keep it clean...grass stains, dirt, sand...the last kicker was the boys made a big bowl of bubbles & yes accidently somehow the bowl of bubbles ended up on his cast...hair dryer worked great!! :)
    Stress can cause some pretty severe reactions to our bodies & you have experienced that this last year. We hope the best for Chance & Happy Birthday! 40 is a great age...it's all about attitude!
    A gem was shared- We can feel the heat & fire to test us but what we need to have is treasure inside to handle it.
    We think of you all often & glad Carson & Cody are doing good.

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  16. We are thinking so much of you all, and hoping that healing and progress continue for Clay. We kind of feel w/drawal symptoms, but so much understand the busy life you lead...It is hard to fit it all in. Just know that thoughts continue to go your way so often! Hugs.....

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  17. How mysterious is this? I made a post thi past weekend and it went away! LOL I SAW it! I am glad that Clay is enjoying his home schooling. How are Carson and Cody enjoying school? What sports are they playing? Give the three boys a big hug and know I still pray for you all. God bless you, Carolyn

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