Friday, June 11, 2010

Friday, June 11 (2010)

Lt. Zach Hart & Lt. Austin Hendrickson helping Clay "fly" in the simulator.


Cody in flight simulator


ENJJPT Class 10-06

Thank you for serving our country!

Clay & Cody with 2Lt. Austin Hendrickson






ENJJPT(Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training) Class 10-06; Katie in white; Cody& Clay in front; Chance & myself standing between Major Scott Segal & 2Lt. Austin Hendrickson along with all the other special pilots.

Clay trying on a helmet



Clay in the flight simulator






Sign that we passed when we entered the base.




Hello to all! Yes, once again, it has been awhile since we have posted any news. First of all, I have uploaded some pictures to Clay's blog. One of the pictures is included with the previous posting (in April). It is a picture of the boys (and a cousin) standing behind Clay's miniature steer. The group of pictures, included with this post, were taken yesterday. We were invited to Sheppard Air Force Base yesterday evening. Katie Crosbie with Channel 3 in W.F. has been following Clay's story since his accident. She has now become the boy's adopted aunt :-) and she accompanied us. She is friends with many of the airmen at the base. One of her friend's, 2Lt. Austin Hendrickson, wanted to do something special for Clay & his brothers. Austin, along with his ENJJPT Class 10-06, planned a special evening for the boys. They served pizza for dinner & as Clay was eating his pizza, he said "Mom, it's like we are having a pizza party!" They gave them a framed T-38 picture (signed by the pilots), shirts, and patches. They took us to the Sims (simulators) where Cody & Clay got to "fly" for awhile. Then they let the boys try on the helmets and parachutes. We were able to walk out to the flightline to look at a T-38. Last, but not least, we got to go to the RSU (Runway Supervisory Unit) to watch the night take-offs. What a once-in-a-lifetime experience and what a top-notch group of gentlemen! Thank you for this! You all may be wondering why Carson (our oldest) wasn't mentioned; but, he is enjoying his time at one of our church conventions in Colorado (he'll return home on Sunday). Believe me, Cody & Clay will be ready to tell him about their experience with the pilots.




Clay had his first dose of saline placed in his tissue-expanders on May 24th. The PA and nurse taught us how to insert the saline at home. This is helpful because it saves us from having to drive to Dallas on a weekly basis. Chance helps me do it each time because I don't like to insert it on my own. Cody helps as well & gets the supplies together(it's a family affair). The port to the expander on Clay's left shoulder has slipped under the expander and will have to be surgically repositioned. Clay's next surgery will be next Friday (June 18). Dr. Bidic will perform surgery on both of Clay's hands and reposition the tissue expander port. He will deepen the web space between Clay's fingers on his right hand; and, he will have to do some skin grafting on Clay's left hand as he deepens the web space and releases a scar band. This will not be Clay's last surgery; but, it will be our last with Dr. Bidic. We will meet our new Plastic Surgeon this same day (recommended by Dr. Bidic). As I mentioned, Dr. Bidic is moving to the East coast & a new Plastic Surgeon will take over Clay's care.



All in all, everyone is doing fine. The company that Chance works for (Tower Extrusions) had their annual Jr. Golf Tournament last Saturday. The boys enjoyed it and Clay played too. Last year, at this time, we said that Clay would probably never be able to hold a golf club again. He proved us wrong and amazes us in so many ways. Many lessons have been learned from him. Carson's orthodontist told him that it is time to put braces on his teeth. Carson will have braces put on in a few weeks. He never could wait until he got braces, and now he's not too sure about it.



We want you all to know how thankful we are for your continued encouragement. We always mention that we will try to post more often, but life doesn't slow down much (and we are not sure how many still follow this blog). I'm reminded again of one of the boy's favorite hymns "Time is fleeting, flowers are falling, Life will soon be past; Pause and ponder where thou goest: Time is flying fast".




Heartfelt thanks from the Fite Family!

27 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Very glad for this update. I certainly do still follow this blog, and also ask about Clay when I talk with my Tx. relatives.

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  3. I still follow this blog and love to see Clay's progress. What a special treat for the Fite family on the base!! :) I'm glad for all your well-being, and send love and care from Oregon. Jeanie Wright

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  4. I just added 5 more names to my list of heroes this week. They are: Mr. and Mrs. Chance and Deidra Fite and their 3 sons Carson, Cody and Clay. Having Clay and your family with us was the most rewarding experience I've had in pilot training! I pray that I can have a fraction of the fighting spirit that Clay and your inspiring family have. I thank Austin for setting it all up, Katie Crosby from Channel 3 here in Wichita Falls for following such an inspiring story and most of all to you, the Fite Family, for your quiet, but powerful example of Faith and Courage. Thank you! You are now and will always be in our prayers.

    Lt Zack Hart
    Class 10-06 / K Flight

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  5. Still think of you daily and still love you all dearly.So nice Cody and Clay got to go to the base. Wyatt would have loved that too.Hope to see you soon, Uncle Arlin and Aunt Karen

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  6. Hey! We've been without a computer for 6 weeks and are so happy to finally be able to catch up and see how ya'll are doing. Love this post - what a neat thing they did for Clay and you guys too. Thanks for sharing it with us...

    We'll be thinking of ya'll as Clay has this next surgery. Hopefully it will go smoothly and not be as painful as the last one was.

    Looking forward to seeing you at Happy and still think of you all so often. Love, Morgan and Michelle

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  7. I just love your family, & I cannot think of any three kids I'd rather be an "adoptive aunt" to than Clay, Cody, & Carson! :) And that would make me your sister, right? So I guess that means you're stuck with me for life. ;) Thursday evening was such a wonderful experience in so many ways ... I am honored to call y'all friends (both the Fite family & the ENJJPT family).

    Your family is such an inspiration to so many people, and I'm really proud of the guys at Sheppard for seeing that & for going above & beyond to put this all together. It was SUCH a treat to be a part of. Praise God for such amazing love! - and for putting it on Austin's heart to plan this ~ so awesome.

    I wish Clay would never have to deal with any stares or unkind comments. If only everyone could be as understanding & compassionate as the people we encountered on base!!

    Will be saying lots of extra prayers for Friday's surgery. Give the kids a big hug for me & tell Carson we missed him ~ hope he had a nice time in Colorado. Love, Katie

    P.S.) I love what Zack wrote about your "quiet but powerful example of faith and courage" -- so very true!!

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  8. I have been reading your blog ever since the accident and am so glad Clay is doing well and improving each day. A little boy about his age in our town was seriously burned in a terrible accident at home about the same time Clay was injured, and each time I see him I think of Clay and keep both of them in my prayers. I always check for updates on your blog and am glad to see them!

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  9. I still check your blog every week, just to see if by chance there was an update! So glad that you got to enjoy such a neat experience!
    Will be thinking of you next Friday!
    Love
    The Stark family in NC

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  10. DeeDee & Chance - thank you for the update; it was special and brought tears to my eyes. We love reading what is happening with you, but understand life gets so busy and posting does take time. But we appreciate it. I, personally, check daily to see if anything new is posted, so was pleased to find this. It hardly seems Carson is old enough to venture off to a convention without the rest of you, but your little family is growing up! Cody & Clay looked as if they were having the time of their life! And what a wonderful group of me at the Air Force Base - another example of what makes America the best country in which to live!

    We'll be thinking of Clay this week and pray you like Clay's new surgeon as much as you like Dr. Bidic. Change is never easy, but it is something that is constant and it helps broaden our horizons.

    You all are so special to us and we love you, Pam & Dawn

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  11. Good morning,
    We were glad for the update and all the nice pictures. It was so nice the boys visited the Airbase and the pilots showing such interest in you and your family. They will never forget the plane ride and they made memories that day that will last a lifetime.
    It is a nice picture of their show calf and we are glad they both placed in the show.
    We will be thinking of Clay this Friday.
    Love and Care B&E

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  12. Good afternoon,
    As others already have expressed, I too was glad to see the news and read such wonderful things still happening with your family. Alot of people care about Clay's progress, and it's so kind of you to tell us of the rest of your family's life. Thank you for your quiet but most evident faith in "Christ our Lord Jesus" and his power to keep. Give the family a big Hello from Dallas,TX. Love, Irmigard and Jerry

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  13. Wow! What a moving post! That is such a great thing that SAFB and their guys did. You guys deserve it and all the kind words the young man said about your family in his comment. You are an example to all of us.

    I always like to see new posts by you and see how Clay is doing. I had to go look at the miniature steer picture. I don't guess I have ever seen one before. I'm sure the boys love showing and messing with him.

    Take care and please know that I am praying for Clay and your family.

    Sunday McAdams

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  14. Even though I live in the same town of you, I always enjoy reading the post. Also I enjoy hearing Carson's stories about Clay. Clay can teach us all something about life. You are still in our Prayers and will always be.

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  15. We still love to check your blog and keep updated with Clay and his wonderful family. This was a wonderful exciting special event! Wow! Thanks for sharing the highlights and pictures with us! Have a great summer...I loved how you ended your posting with the reminder to pause and ponder where thou goest. Indeed time is flying fast!

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  16. Greetings to our dear Fite family, who is out front in the burn survival journey. You have been a strong family to watch and lean on for us! Larisa is doing is doing super. Her therapy ends today so we hope she will increase her ambition to do more at home. Clay is so zealous when it comes to movement! He is a real trooper. We are thankful for all of you and the dedicated military in the pics etc. Clay and Larisa's HUGE ARMY of friends are priceless and remind me or the hymn that mentions the 'brave and true, May the Lord depend on you'. With loads of love from Kansas!

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  17. Adding our thoughts and prayers with the others, as your family and little Clay remain imbedded in our hearts every day along with Larisa and her family! Clay is such a little trooper, and your family is an inspiration to all. That must have been such a thrill for the boys the day at the Airforce base. What a nice thing for those fellas to do! Keep looking up and keeping on and hanging in there! With love & care from your friends in NH, Kent & Sharon

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  18. What a cool day at Sheppard. I'm glad that you had so much fun. I hope Carson likes his braces once he gets them. Kelsey wants braces bad too. I know a lot of kids that want them but I haven't ran into near so many that liked them once they got them put on. God bless all of you. Still praying.

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  19. We love the pictures too. Sounds like Clay is doing well! We love you all and continue to read the blog and check in on Clay. You guys are always in our prayers!
    Love,
    Kelly, Reno, Alyssa and Morgan

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  20. What a fabulous experience you had this day!! A memory you will not forget soon that is for sure.
    So glad to see that Clay is doing good & that he keeps progressing. How encouraging this must be for all of you.
    We think of you often & just wanted to jot a note real quick to let you know that. We have moved to London for 2 yrs. & are really enjoying it thus far!
    Love,
    W, A, & boys

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  21. I still follow this blog also and I love to read the updates whenever they are. I love hearing about your experiences at the Base. That was so awesome. What great guys! Glad to hear whenever you are able!

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  22. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us. Don't worry about not posting as much as you did because we are all thrilled that the Fite family has a normal crazy busy life!

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  23. Hope Clay is better this morning. eb

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  24. We, the Hortons, in Estonia for the summer certainly do continue to follow this. Not every day like we did at first but about 2 times per month. We are still very much interested and thank you for taking the time to post!

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  25. I don't know you but have checked on your blog off & on through friends listings. I feel for you all - your poor darling. Our son is 7 too so we just can't imagine all you've been through. Hope things continue to look up for you all. We know that life brings disappointments in so many forms yet so many wonderful blessings, most which lie ahead that we can't even comprehend. ♥ from The Ransoms.

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  26. Hi darling Fites! Just think....this time a year ago you weren't sure your life would ever be back to normal again!!! But then....what is normal???? Are you busier now than you were before Feb 14, 1009? I am so very happy that you are all enjoying life and that God has blessed you with so much. He really has. Clay is just moving on with his life and so are the rest of you. This is wonderful. It could have been so different. God bless you all and I love you and I'm so proud of you. I hope Happy is another wonderful healing Convention. Oh what things you have to share with people to encourage them. I do love you!

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  27. Hello from Idaho! Congratulations, Clay, on your hard work and progress! What an exciting time with the Air Force--looks like A LOT of fun with new friends! Even though I have never met you, I still love checking in on you (and Larisa) for progress reports. You all have taken us through experiences that we can't imagine and that we don't know how to support you in other than prayers and a few thoughts here. I hope you all got to Happy. I know if I ever get there I will be looking for you. Keep up the good work. June G. in Boise

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