Thursday Evening, September 20

We are finally getting used to the layout of the Reading Hospital and finding the best parking lot and entrance for the shortest way to Josiah’s room on the fifth floor of the T Building.

We waited until evening for our visit yesterday due to some TFC responsibilities, but mostly because we wanted to get there after he was awake from surgery and after our daughter Diane arrived. Thank you to Mark and Deb Bucher for delivering her to the hospital – from Maine.

Diane had only been there about an hour when we arrived and could not get enough of being by his side and holding his hand. He said his pain level was at 10 following surgery. By the time we got there he said it was about 8.

Lydia sent us several x-ray pictures earlier in the day. The above photo is of his broken pelvis. Thursday was the day they repaired his pelvis and wrist. We understood that his hip socket was also cracked. I didn’t ask if anything had to be done to that. His badly broken femur was repaired earlier in the week.

We are still amazed at the amount of damage to his right femur and leg. The tiny holes in his lower leg are from when there were metal pieces in his leg for traction – immediately after the accident. The major damage to his femur is in the area of his knee – where the femur bone was broken and through the skin inside his leg. Methinks he is going to need some lengthy rehab.

Friday morning update from Diane: The surgeon is pleased with the surgery but concerned with the black spots on his leg. If the skin is dead they will need to do skin grafting.

Josiah can’t see his leg and after we did enough exclaiming over it, he asked his mom to take pictures so he could see the damage.

Diane used her cell phone to show the pictures to him.

Lydia had gotten permission for a day off of work so she could be with him during his day of surgery.

We learned that Tyler had been transferred to the T Building and was on the same floor as Josiah. During a trip to the Starbucks shop in the hospital, Lydia took me by Tyler’s room. This time he was awake. He remembered my visit of the other day even though he seemed to be sleeping. His wife and mother were also in the room last night. It was nice to visit with them.

We will go back to see Josiah on Sunday after church and take Diane to a friends house where she will get a ride back to Maine. Diane will stay at the hospital and give Lydia a break for the weekend.

Keep Josiah in your prayers. He is being strong and patient and has not lost his sense of humor.