A Busy Month Continued…
June 29, 2008 | Updates
This past Thursday, we went to the rodeo. It was fun, but Samuel got bit by a mosquito right underneath his eye. I killed the mosquito, but it was too late as it had already drawn blood. I’ve had a bite like that by my eye before and it swelled up terribly. I was pretty sure the same thing would happen to Samuel. While at the rodeo, we saw a little boy named Colby who I met a few months ago. He had Ecoli poisoning, but the hospital thought it was appendicitis. During surgery to remove his appendix, he had a stroke which caused brain damage. His mom had contacted me about 9 months after this ordeal to find out about hyperbarics and I had gone to see him. Since then, he’s completed 40 treatments with amazing results. His tone is SO MUCH better. He is more relaxed. He is holding up his head. His vision is improved. And he has regained pretty good control of his arms. But best of all, he is smiling again and saying a few words. INCREDIBLE!
The rodeo also brought the chance to see Smokey Bear, which was a little sad for me. Samuel went to the rodeo before his accident and saw Smokey Bear there. He was immediately enthralled with him and from then on, one of his favorite things to talk about was “Mokey Bear”. Seeing Smokey again brought back a flood of memories of a happy, healthy little boy. And that was hard. But at the same time, being able to bring Samuel to the rodeo again showed just how much he has improved since his accident.
The real treat of the rodeo was when Ben signed up for Mutton Bustin’. He’s never ridden a sheep before, but has wanted to for a long time. He was so excited to sign up. Tom told him to wrap his arms around the sheep’s neck and his legs around its belly. I told him to hold on no matter what - even if he started slidding off the side or ended up underneath the sheep. (I did tell him the one time you are supposed to let go is if your head is headed towards the fence!) Well, Ben had a great ride - 15 seconds before he fell off. And, guess what? He won! He got a trophy as big as he was. It was great!
Then yesterday, we ventured down to a reunion that we have never attended before. Samuel, Nathan and I rode to Salt Lake with Tom’s parents to attend the reunion. It was a little sad to take Samuel on that day since his eye did swell up terribly as well as part of his face from the mosqito bite. But we went anyway. (There’s a picture of Samuel’s poor little eye below.) We went mostly because a sweet lady in our family invited us to come. She wanted to meet us so badly and had been following Samuel’s site for 3 years now. She also invited us to tell the others at the reunion about Samuel’s story. So, we went. And I’m glad we did. We were treated like royalty there, they were so good to us. And everyone was so interested in Samuel and all he has been through. It amazes me even after 3 years and so much talking about it how hard it is for me to tell the story. But it was a good thing and we had a nice time. Plus, I learned some really cool stuff like Samuel’s great-great-great-great grandfather’s name was Samuel Jewkes. And he was one of the first settlers near Orangeville clear back in the 1800’s. He built a cabin that is now in Heritage Park in Salt Lake. I told Samuel we need to go see it and when they say, “This is the cabin of Samuel Jewkes.” We can say, “Hey, Samuel, that’s your cabin!”
We also heard an awesome story about the grandson of the first Samuel Jewkes, named Alma Jewkes. When Alma Jewkes was 2-years-old, he was on a long trek with his parents near Salina when he suddenly fell out of the back of the wagon. His mother screamed and his father stopped the wagon. When his father got back to see what was going on, he discovered Alma underneath the wagon wheel with his arms and legs entangled in the spokes. His body was lifeless and from all they could tell, he was dead. His father untangled him from the spokes and got him out from underneath the wheel and then he was given a Priesthood blessing. Instantly, he was healed! And this is the man for whom the reunion was organized. So, every decendent of his and that entire reunion wouldn’t even exist if he hadn’t been healed that day. Cool, huh? It made me envision how one day all the decendents of our little Samuel may sit around and talk about all that he went through and how if he hadn’t survived, they wouldn’t even be here. Now, that will be neat!
Well, Samuel starts summer school this week and I’m off to girl’s camp soon. I’m working on lots of things right now for Samuel like a new stroller, more hyperbaric treatments, a new therapy table, a vision appointment, a neurology appointment, a pump reduction and a new home therapy program. We’ve done over 115 hours of ABR now! We should have over 300 when we go for our next evaluation in August.
Until next time…
The Jewkes
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June 30th, 2008 at 7:59 pm, Caradie & Corbin Says:
GREAT job Ben!!!! You look like a real pro!
I never seen an eye swell up like that before WOW. You think it hurts?
Caradie
www.CorbinLeeProject.com
June 30th, 2008 at 9:23 pm, Natalie Ludlow Says:
Hey! That is so awesome for Ben! He looks so adorable with that trophy. I can’t believe how swollen Samuel’s eye is! I have never seen a mosquito bite do that–but then again I’ve never had one by my eye! Hope it gets better soon. As I read the part about Smokey Bear, I got quite sad as I have felt similar feelings myself. Those silly ‘what ifs’ can sure do a number on us, huh? You continue to amaze me with your care of Samuel and all of the things you find to help him. You are a great momma! Hope you have fun at girl’s camp!
Love ya,
Nat
July 6th, 2008 at 12:35 pm, Darlene Says:
Hello Precious Jewke family:
I hope you all had a happy/safe 4 th of July. Lots busy summer activities are under way for everyone. I had a nice week of going to a waterpark,playing miniture golf,taking a few hits at the batting cage,and to end the week a nice family gathering for a 4 th of July picnic.
Ben I just wanna send you a special congrats on a job well done at the rodeo. I would be so scared to even ride a sheep. Little Nathan happy belated 2nd birthday to you. You are a very handsome little man.
Samuel, OUCH! that eye looks like it hurts,those skeeters can be nasty. It was great that you got to see your big brother participate in the rodeo. What an amazing and interesting story to learn about your ancestors,history is always a great topic. I will be sure to keep you and your family in my thoughs and prayers.
Have a great summer Jewkes!
August 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pm, Sharon Jewkes Says:
Teresa, I was really touched by your post of your experience in Bear Lake at Relief Society. What a beautiful special experience that nust have been. WE do pray that Samuel will start feeling better. I can’t imagine the frustration of not knowing what to do for him when you know that something is bothering him and he can’t tell you. Know that our prayers are with you and your family. We are still so happy that we finally got to meet this special little boy. Love, Sharon