10/08/2025
Family, Friends, Customers, and Community,
We wanted to give everyone an update on what has been going on since Lukes surgery and how things are now, being around two months post-op.
Although the surgery went well as far as the intended procedure, there is little progress with Lukes left arm and hand mobility and motor control, although circulation and sensation has improved almost to 80%. The unfortunate and confusing part is that the arm and hand pain, and widespread pain overall, especially in his left shoulder blade, shoulder joint, bicep, tricep, and especially his neck, is only worse than before and his shoulder continues to be out of place and not functioning more often than prior to surgery.
The pain throughout his body seems to only be worsening and therefore the surgeon wants to take additional steps. Luke is going to be seen for another injection in his neck. Unlike the test injection before surgery, they are hoping this injection will relieve the muscle spasms and tension he is experiencing that are worse now than prior to surgery and should last a few weeks/months. He is currently on three different medications for muscle spasms on top of the pain medication and nerve pain medication, and they are still not able to manage it so that Luke can have more than about 25%-50% of his day.
Following this injection, the surgeon has referred him to a Peripheral Nerve and Plastic Surgeon within Johns Hopkins to have additional testing done, now that it is suggestive of Brachial Plexus damage possibly affecting the Dorsal Scapular Nerve, Long Thoracic Nerve, or Spinal Accessory Nerve, or a possible combination.
We have been praying for this for a long time as we have believed, questioned, and suggested that this pain and immobility come from nerve damage, from Lukes accident/injury.
The difficult part of this is that we would be statistically way too late for any surgical procedure that may be able to repair nerve function, and would be looking at things like possible muscle transplants, or cadaver donated substitutions, amongst other options. Very extensive surgeries and recovery time is said to be a common result. Please continue to pray for healing and guidance as we continue to seek answers and treatment for what is still unknown.
Meanwhile, we have not been able to make much progress with our home, business, and land damage. It has been 1 Year, since we left our house. A pending lawsuit is not moving quickly, however, we did grant a discovery extension request to the other party which puts us at a cooperative evidence sharing discovery date in December.
We are also still in the battle of getting any help from Disability Determination Services in regards to Luke's conditions while he is treated, and while we find out if he is going to ever have his prior capabilities again.
He was denied in April, after over 2-1/2 years of applying, to which we obviously appealed the denial, as it was a manipulative, selective, and a very discriminatory determination. We fax medical information from multiple facilities, daily, to support our filing and appeal.
We have been told that this appeal could take up to a year for a decision.
At this point, we are praying for miracles in all aspects, especially for our own stress-related issues and mental health reasoning. Luke and I know that as we navigate this together, representing ourselves by doing the next right thing and speaking the truth, exposing the corruption in our way, and fighting as a display for what could be someone else's hope, will only strengthen our bond together, as a family, and teach us many lessons. However, it is exhausting, uncomfortable, and most times unbelievable. We couldn't step away or even look away now. We're obligated to tell this story and we WILL NOT retreat.
We thank everyone for their prayers and financial support in this time. It is truly all of you who have gotten us this far with any contribution and we cannot thank you enough. There really are no words we can say. We can promise you that you will never be forgotten, and we're thankful for you every day. Every single one of you.
On a positive note, the boys have joined Cub Scouts, which we highly encourage, and we have been trying to take them fishing, and spend time in nature as a family whenever we get the chance. It is our little "mental break" for the family. Again, thank you all so much for your blessings, we appreciate and love each and every one of you.
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