Royal's Day

I have felt like poor Royal didn't get much of mother's attention since his accident.  The day of his surgery Amanda went into labor so Teele went with him to his surgery and I went with Amanda.  I did get to take care of him for a couple of days and then I stayed with Amanda to help out with baby Isabelle.  So today was the the day he got his bandages and half cast/splint removed and I got to go with him and give him the attention he deserved.  So this is Royal's day in photos.

First we went to his job to pick up his pay check. 

This is the steel mill he was building at the time of the accident.

This is a picture of his x-rays.  We learned today that instead of the plate and 2 screws they thought was needed he got a plate, 11 screws, pins and caps.  The break was worse than they thought.

This is his incision...looks good

So his stitches were removed.

A new removable cast was made for him.

He has a new half cast and has to start physical therapy to help him regain full use of his hand and fingers.  He can almost straighten the pinky finger.  The other fingers remain bent and his thumb is still very numb.  That is all stuff the Physical Therapist will work on and we are hoping he will gain full use of his hand.

As we were pulling off of the freeway on our way home we were behind this truck.  The memorial in the back window is for a High School buddy of his named Nathen Martens.  He graduated a year before Royal.  They were on the football team together and he helped train Royal for his postition on the team after he graduated.  Nathen dreamt of being a Doctor so he joined the Army and trained as a medic.  He was killed one year later when his hummer was hit by an explosive.  Nathen left behind a wife and child.  This truck belongs to Nathen's dad.  One day I will have to blog about all of the friends Royal has lost since his senior year.  He has had to say goodbye to far to many friends.  I'm so thankful for those that are willing to serve this country so we can have and enjoy a life of freedom.