Commands

There is some good news from yesterday that I have yet to blog about. Dan obeyed commands! It is tough because I want to be excited and then interpret what that means, but we need to be cautiously optimistic. I think it is very positive, but as his dad said there are going to be ups and downs we are encouraged and optimistic but know there will be some tough days ahead as well.

Today there hasn't been much of a change. He is breathing on his own so the ventilator is not breathing for him although he is still on oxygen. They have been trying to take out the vent tube, but he has been too agitated, thrashing around when they try. He needs to be calm so they can see that he is able to breathe without the vent tube in. They are trying every couple of hours. If they continue to have problems they will pull the tube and do a tracheotomy. So Dan will be breathing on his own through the trach if it comes to that. I know they are going to try and get nutrients to his stomach soon as well. Today he also obeyed some simple commands so that continues to be good news.

I spoke to Carlos - one of the paramedics that found and rescued Dan and have a little better timeline than before. The Rimrock FD got the 911 call at 4:08 pm from a good Samaritan from Prescott named Cory Speight. Cory heard the cry for help and something in it made him realize that someone was truly hurt (he credited God and has been praying with his family for Dan every night, he was grateful for the update). He hustled to the ranger station and reported it and helped them know where he heard it from. He chose to do this as he has no medical training and wasn't sure what he would do if he found someone. Carlos estimated that at 5:40 pm the TRT got to Dan. Dan was not up and moving but did know his name and age. By 7:01 pm the TRT got Dan onto the helicopter at the "Y" where the Weir and Bell trails split. Carlos was not sure when the helicopter took off, because they had some procedures they had to do before they could fly. Carlos was shocked by the fact that as they hiked in 80% of the people they talked to had heard Dan and done nothing. Thank God for Cory Speight. A DPS ranger is the one who flew Dan out.

Greg, David and Don went to the site of the fall yesterday. There is a cable with a cart from the trail side to the other side which is a pretty sheer cliff. The cable car was locked yesterday when they were there, but the paramedic said it was unlocked and on the trail side when they rescued Dan. We are just GUESSING, but we think maybe Dan saw the cart and decided to cross the creek. Once on the other side he climbed up and got to the cart, but the cart rolled to the trail side leaving him stranded. As he was trying to climb down he fell 30 to 40 feet. Again this is a guess and we may never find out for sure.

Please continue to pray for him and his family.
K