I got an email from Jaco this morning (sept. 6). Here is a little clip of what he said:
"I'm still doing well in the rehab place here. The muscles in my arms and shoulders are back in the same condition as they were before the accident and also some small muscles in my core are working. Riding around in a wheelchair starts to be second nature and I'm getting used to it. I'm also doing a lot of physical fitness and sports here which stimulates the recovery of the muscles which are working. Last weekend I've been home again for a day and that went pretty well. It was nice to be back in the farmhouse of my parents and also to see the new house that my parents are building. "
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Here is an email from Jaco dated August 11.
Hello my dear friends in Bishop,
How are you all doing? How did the trips go and what are you all up to? How is it going in the SOAR-house? How is it going with the new base?
Thanks for the cards and e-mails!
I'm doing good. I'm staying in a rehab-place for 4 weeks now and learning to go around with my handicap. Learning to transfer between my bed and the wheelchair by myself and doing fitness to get more and more strength in my arm and shoulders. It's amazing how quickly the strength in my arm and shoulders is coming back. My hands are also improving but very slowly and some small muscles inside my hand are not (yet) working. It's sometimes hard to realize that I have to go around in a wheelchair and not just able to go running, climbing or whatever. I really miss it to be around with you guys, it was such a good and fun time. But the best time still has to come; eternity!
I'm curious where you're all up to the coming time, finding Gods way for your life. If any of you has received a picture or word from God for me, please let me know! I'm a kind of struggling with the idea that Eline&I had received from God what things we had to do, but the accident made a lot of those things impossible. For us it kind of feels now that we have to hear from God again about our future and what He wants to teach us through this time.
I hope you're all doing good and I keep praying for you.
God is good, as He always has been!
Ciao, Jaco.
Hello my dear friends in Bishop,
How are you all doing? How did the trips go and what are you all up to? How is it going in the SOAR-house? How is it going with the new base?
Thanks for the cards and e-mails!
I'm doing good. I'm staying in a rehab-place for 4 weeks now and learning to go around with my handicap. Learning to transfer between my bed and the wheelchair by myself and doing fitness to get more and more strength in my arm and shoulders. It's amazing how quickly the strength in my arm and shoulders is coming back. My hands are also improving but very slowly and some small muscles inside my hand are not (yet) working. It's sometimes hard to realize that I have to go around in a wheelchair and not just able to go running, climbing or whatever. I really miss it to be around with you guys, it was such a good and fun time. But the best time still has to come; eternity!
I'm curious where you're all up to the coming time, finding Gods way for your life. If any of you has received a picture or word from God for me, please let me know! I'm a kind of struggling with the idea that Eline&I had received from God what things we had to do, but the accident made a lot of those things impossible. For us it kind of feels now that we have to hear from God again about our future and what He wants to teach us through this time.
I hope you're all doing good and I keep praying for you.
God is good, as He always has been!
Ciao, Jaco.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Update July 10th
Here is an email from Jaco's girlfriend, Eline.
"Finally some news from the dutchies :) Would be nice if you could pass this message through to Ruth so she can put a update on her blog.
Well, I think you already heard that we arrived we safely in holland. The whole trip was very good arranged! They brought Jaco to a normal hospital in our town to check everything again and to check if he was infected with the MRSA bacteria. Last week we heard from the doctors that he can start with rehab in +- 2 weeks in utrecht, a city close to our town. In the meantime the started with some therapy, moving his legs, arms en sitting some time in the wheelchair. Jaco is way less tired and the tinkling in is legs and back is still there and on some place more/stronger. He can feel more lower on his back and he has also some feeling on his right knee. Sometimes his feet make some spastic moves, looks strange! The hardest thing is that we really don't know how things will go. All the positive signs, like tinkling, more feeling, they say nothing about the rest of the healing of the nerves. It's kind of that we can't look to a certain point to work to. But we do experience, by taking a day at the time that God is giving us the strength we need and that He is still in control of our lives!
I think now Jaco's body is more stable, he starts to think more of the whole situation. Like how simple he could have prevent the whole accident, i think he has some guild, and also the consequences of being paralyzed go through his head. Because of this he has some bad nights, and some times he is kind of quiet. Maybe you could al pray for this specific?
Well, I think this all the news. I you would like to sent some mail, it the best to send it to his parent house. I think he will move to the rehab place in one and a halve week, so if you send mail to the hospital he is already gone :)"
"Finally some news from the dutchies :) Would be nice if you could pass this message through to Ruth so she can put a update on her blog.
Well, I think you already heard that we arrived we safely in holland. The whole trip was very good arranged! They brought Jaco to a normal hospital in our town to check everything again and to check if he was infected with the MRSA bacteria. Last week we heard from the doctors that he can start with rehab in +- 2 weeks in utrecht, a city close to our town. In the meantime the started with some therapy, moving his legs, arms en sitting some time in the wheelchair. Jaco is way less tired and the tinkling in is legs and back is still there and on some place more/stronger. He can feel more lower on his back and he has also some feeling on his right knee. Sometimes his feet make some spastic moves, looks strange! The hardest thing is that we really don't know how things will go. All the positive signs, like tinkling, more feeling, they say nothing about the rest of the healing of the nerves. It's kind of that we can't look to a certain point to work to. But we do experience, by taking a day at the time that God is giving us the strength we need and that He is still in control of our lives!
I think now Jaco's body is more stable, he starts to think more of the whole situation. Like how simple he could have prevent the whole accident, i think he has some guild, and also the consequences of being paralyzed go through his head. Because of this he has some bad nights, and some times he is kind of quiet. Maybe you could al pray for this specific?
Well, I think this all the news. I you would like to sent some mail, it the best to send it to his parent house. I think he will move to the rehab place in one and a halve week, so if you send mail to the hospital he is already gone :)"
Friday, July 3, 2009
Update July 3rd
Here's a letter we received from Jaco's sister in Holland, about how he's doing now.
"Yes, Jaco is back in Holland. He had a pretty good flight, slept about half of the trip. Even Eline was able to go in Holland into the ambulance to the hospital.
That day he was very tired, but yesterday he said he was better (although still looking a bit tired).
He is now in isolation, which gives him a room by himself, but not so much space and no possibility to go outside. The doctors first want to see the X-rays that are made, before they will take him out of the bed. But they are already applying for a place in a rehab center.
We are glad to have him back in Holland, to be able to see and talk to him. It gives us more rest.
Mom and dad made it also safe in Holland.
Thanks for everything you did.
Blessing and shalom,
Gea"
We're not sure how long the quarantine time will be (this is because he transferred from a US hospital to a Dutch hospital) but hopefully he will soon be out of bed and working on rehab again.
Thanks again for all your prayers- I know it meant so much to his family (and still does). Please pray for his continued healing and high spirits, for encouragement from family and friends, and for excellent doctors and nurses in Holland.
"Yes, Jaco is back in Holland. He had a pretty good flight, slept about half of the trip. Even Eline was able to go in Holland into the ambulance to the hospital.
That day he was very tired, but yesterday he said he was better (although still looking a bit tired).
He is now in isolation, which gives him a room by himself, but not so much space and no possibility to go outside. The doctors first want to see the X-rays that are made, before they will take him out of the bed. But they are already applying for a place in a rehab center.
We are glad to have him back in Holland, to be able to see and talk to him. It gives us more rest.
Mom and dad made it also safe in Holland.
Thanks for everything you did.
Blessing and shalom,
Gea"
We're not sure how long the quarantine time will be (this is because he transferred from a US hospital to a Dutch hospital) but hopefully he will soon be out of bed and working on rehab again.
Thanks again for all your prayers- I know it meant so much to his family (and still does). Please pray for his continued healing and high spirits, for encouragement from family and friends, and for excellent doctors and nurses in Holland.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Update June30th
Jaco flew home on Sunday afternoon. Elina got to ride with him to San Francisco and was on the same flight all the way back to Holland, as well as a couple of Dutch nurses. It seems like he was pretty well taken care of. The rehab bed they found for him is in his own city, so his family can be comfortable and, when Jaco's ready, it will be easy for friends and family to come visit him. Jaco's parents flew home early on Monday morning.
It's sad to say goodbye, but we're relieved that they can be at home now, and it's a good thing that Jaco was ready to make such a big trip so soon.
At this point, our updates may become less frequent and hopefully Jaco and Elina themselves will be able to post some too.
Thanks for all your prayers. Jaco still has a long recovery ahead of him, so please keep lifting him up in that way: for strength of mind and incredible faith, for encouraging progress in healing, for really great doctors and nurses in Holland, that his family would stand by him with strength and hope and love, and that all involved would be able to find God's blessing and love in what happens in the future.
It's sad to say goodbye, but we're relieved that they can be at home now, and it's a good thing that Jaco was ready to make such a big trip so soon.
At this point, our updates may become less frequent and hopefully Jaco and Elina themselves will be able to post some too.
Thanks for all your prayers. Jaco still has a long recovery ahead of him, so please keep lifting him up in that way: for strength of mind and incredible faith, for encouraging progress in healing, for really great doctors and nurses in Holland, that his family would stand by him with strength and hope and love, and that all involved would be able to find God's blessing and love in what happens in the future.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Update June 26th
Well, it looks like we've got a bed and a flight for Jaco in Holland. He's headed home on Sunday at about 3 pm with two nurses and hopefully with Elina on the same flight. His parents will be on a flight soon after. It's going to be really sad to say goodbye, but we're all really glad that he and his family can go where they will be more comfortable and at home.
In the meantime, Jaco's been taking outings in a wheelchair, and wheeled himself around the little garden here at the hospital. I think Jaco loves the feeling of independence that it gives him to wheel himself around. It's a little barren, that garden, but good anyway. He's also been working really hard at increasing his lung capacity: currently he's up to 3.5 liters, and the little gadget that he blows into to measure only goes up to 4 liters, so we think he's in pretty darn good shape.
Jordan and I brought an alpinism magazine and a good book (A Severe Mercy) for Jaco to read here and on the flight home- he's in incredibly good spirits mentally and emotionally, and honestly a big encouragement to us and to his family. What a guy.
Please pray that his optimism would continue, that his travel would go smoothly and comfortably and that the time on the airplane would go fast. Also, please keep praying for continuing recovery and healing, that every day would bring steady improvement. Thank God for what we've already seen!
In the meantime, Jaco's been taking outings in a wheelchair, and wheeled himself around the little garden here at the hospital. I think Jaco loves the feeling of independence that it gives him to wheel himself around. It's a little barren, that garden, but good anyway. He's also been working really hard at increasing his lung capacity: currently he's up to 3.5 liters, and the little gadget that he blows into to measure only goes up to 4 liters, so we think he's in pretty darn good shape.
Jordan and I brought an alpinism magazine and a good book (A Severe Mercy) for Jaco to read here and on the flight home- he's in incredibly good spirits mentally and emotionally, and honestly a big encouragement to us and to his family. What a guy.
Please pray that his optimism would continue, that his travel would go smoothly and comfortably and that the time on the airplane would go fast. Also, please keep praying for continuing recovery and healing, that every day would bring steady improvement. Thank God for what we've already seen!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Update June 25th
Jaco's family got to meet with the surgeon on Tuesday afternoon after to talk about the x-rays Jaco had on Monday and to ask all their questions. The meeting was good. The doctor was really hopeful and encouraging, but careful to let us know that only time can tell us the full extent of Jaco's injuries. The x-rays showed that Jaco's spine is stable enough not to need another surgery. Thanks for all the prayers about that!
The doctor also said that the hospital is currently looking for a rehab bed for Jaco in Holland. Once something opens up, they'll start looking for a flight and Jaco will be able to go home. It might be just a few days, it could be a little longer.
His physical therapy continues- he's getting time everyday outside sitting in the sun. All of the other SOAR students came up to Reno to visit on Tuesday also and sat outside on the patio with Jaco and talked for a long time, and met Jaco's parents and girlfriend. That was also their opportunity to say goodbye before Jaco goes home.
Yesterday (Wednesday), Jaco's parents came to Bishop to see the house where Jaco was living, see some of the mountains he climbed, and to see the site where the accident happened.
Please pray for the plans to get Jaco back to Holland. Continuing prayers for his family and their time here are needed also, and that there time here is healing for them. And as always, please pray for Jaco's healing to continue steadily, and for his mind to be at peace and that God's love in this would be evident to him.
The doctor also said that the hospital is currently looking for a rehab bed for Jaco in Holland. Once something opens up, they'll start looking for a flight and Jaco will be able to go home. It might be just a few days, it could be a little longer.
His physical therapy continues- he's getting time everyday outside sitting in the sun. All of the other SOAR students came up to Reno to visit on Tuesday also and sat outside on the patio with Jaco and talked for a long time, and met Jaco's parents and girlfriend. That was also their opportunity to say goodbye before Jaco goes home.
Yesterday (Wednesday), Jaco's parents came to Bishop to see the house where Jaco was living, see some of the mountains he climbed, and to see the site where the accident happened.
Please pray for the plans to get Jaco back to Holland. Continuing prayers for his family and their time here are needed also, and that there time here is healing for them. And as always, please pray for Jaco's healing to continue steadily, and for his mind to be at peace and that God's love in this would be evident to him.
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