Phillip Sherwood

Just a quick note to say all is going relatively well. I’ve been doing a lot of travel and working very long hours so the pain I’ve been feeling in my back and shoulder really was getting difficult to tolerate. I was able to get some good rest over the weekend and recharge my batteries and now I’m feeling much better. I had an appointment with my hair engineer on Saturday and now her creation is taking a new turn. I never know what direction she is going to take my styles so I just trust her and go with it. The other ladies in the Salon are all really sweet to me and it’s a place I enjoy going to. My massage therapist worked me over well yesterday and last night I felt as if I was sleeping on a cloud. Right now as I type, my cat Bob has his head buried into my yogurt cup licking out the leftover. He likes sweet things and as he gets older, his personality is getting more affectionate. The final Government testing of our first production simulator is coming to an end thank goodness. I’m looking forward to going on cruise control for a little bit. Gotta’ head out the door for a day wrought with meetings. I’ll holler at you all later …Phillip

That which does not kill us will make us stronger and God won’t give us more than he thinks we can handle. I’ve been dealing with some deeply personal things lately that are troubling however as a realist, I believe there’s a reason for everything no matter how ironic the situation may be. I’ve taken a trip to visit some friend(s) who’ve known me for quite awhile before my accident to help me put into retrospect the man I was before and the person I’ve become now. We are all products of our environment and the lifelong experiences we’ve had that mold our present self. The week ended with a sudden stoppage like a main rotor blade striking a southern Alabama pine sapling. I’m starting to get the hang of travelling better now. I’ve found the airlines find it easier to let me sit in first class where the seats are easier to access then to send me back into coach where it’s more difficult to get to and transfer. I bought the ultimate “lap” suitcase at the Redstone Arsenal PX for when I travel solo and it works great. I’ve also found the curb-site service at the airport not only will help you with your bags, but they’ll go straight to the front of the line, get your boarding pass and even park your car! Wednesday night I went to Weight Watchers for my first visit to get my weight under control. They don’t have scales to weigh me so I went to the local VA clinic after my meeting with the counselor and established a baseline. My chair stripped down weighs 40 pounds and I weighed 240. I will have to weigh myself every two weeks and have a doctor or nurse sign my book to hold me accountable. I’ve really had a hard time managing this post-accident weight gain and need to step up my program a couple of notches. Thursday my new Frankenstein feet arrived and I took my first test flight with them. They didn’t quite work out as advertised but the physical “torturist” told me I’ll get better and more efficient with it in time. The important thing is that it’s another tool for my arsenal for standing. It’s been about two months now that I haven’t had any difficulty at all with falling asleep and staying asleep. Although I’m not resting as many hours, I’m sleeping a lot deeper. I was informed the motorized electric wheelchair was officially ordered last week. I’ll really be happy to be able to do my standing during the day instead of trying to cram it in at the end of the day when I get home. The expanded accessibility it will provide will be very helpful in so many ways. I am looking forward to our bi-annual family vacation in two weeks to Orange Beach on the Alabama’s southern coast. We have rented a beach house with an elevator and I will be renting a beach wheelchair that will get me out to the water. I hired a new house cleaner for the apartment and I think she’ll work out well. The other two I found on Craig’s list would not present me any form of ID and they were American. The new girl is Mexican, speaks almost no English and had no problem showing me her documentation. I can’t give anyone a key to my apartment without having some sort of traceability. I’ve had to resubmit my documentation to Big Brother’s of Huntsville because the last person I sent my packet to no longer works there so I expect to hear something shortly after the holiday. I’ve finished the next phase of the house contract selecting all the interior options, paint schemes, flooring, etc. so next week I should receive a set of draft cad drawings to preview for the final plan sign off. My $30K earnest check was cashed so everything is definitely in motion now. I’ve decided to go ahead with the surgery to have a Baclofen pump installed that sends metered anti-spaz and pain meds directly into my spinal column negating the need to take the oral meds. Not only is it much more effective but it is targeted directly into the spinal cavity by means of an internal epidural and the sub-cutaneous device is programmable over a 24/7 cycle down to the minute. I will probably do it sometime after my birthday in September where my mother or father can accompany me through the process since it takes a little while to go through the trial, acceptance and fine-tuning process. Last but not least the Army has experienced an increased rate of post-deployment suicides to the point where mandatory training is now required to given to not only the Army soldiers but also to DOD civilians too. Although the DOD civilians are not really the focus of the awareness training we too are wrapped up into the total package probably because of our close working relationships with the soldiers. Since my accident, suicide awareness and counseling has been a constant topic of discussion with my counselors and other health care professionals that I’m not sure what to think about all this. I think I’ve reached the saturation level…Phillip

I had a great visit this week in Monterey with my Brazilian friend Otavio, whom I met while attending the US Army’s Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA in 1995 for Spanish, and his family. Otavio’s wife Leila contacted me about making a surprise appearance to help celebrate his 40^th birthday so I couldn’t really post anything about the trip beforehand on this website. I called him early in the day on June 17^th to tell him I’d sent a package to him that I hoped would arrive sometime on his birthday before the day was over. Melissa and I left from Huntsville late that same afternoon on United (I had booked the flight before the United fiasco) with a quick stopover in Denver. The flights went well and I flew in first class both legs. We arrived at the small airport in Monterey at 8pm PST and it was as chilly as I’d always remembered it to be. We then picked up the rental car and proceeded east along Rte 68 direct to his house. Upon arriving, Leila walked Otavio out their front door and down to the street with his eyes covered to see his “package”. When he opened his eyes, we told him we took a wrong turn leaving Huntsville and just happened to end up there J To say he was pleasantly surprised wouldn’t even begin to describe his state of shock upon seeing us there. We spent the next several days together reminiscing about our nostalgic past gallivants throughout the bay area and crazy motorcycle rides we went on. I also paid a short visit to see Patti Compton who live in Pebble Beach and had rented a room in her house to me while I was in school at the Presidio. Saturday was Otavio’s birthday party and many of his guests were people I’d known through Otavio nearly 15 years earlier. The trip overall was better than I’d imagined it would be and I can’t wait to do it again! My folding wheelchair was giving us fits due to my lack of maintenance it appears but Melissa did some quick tuning and lube to get me home where my task Monday will be to get to work on it. Upon packing my wheelchair backpack for the flight home on United, I packed as if I’d be stranded for at least 48-hours based on the last return flight I had with them. It seems when you prepare for contingencies, the plan never gets executed but I didn’t mind this time. Last week at work was very long as we entered the second week of Government acceptance testing for the flight simulator I am the production lead for. This Thursday I have a follow-up appointment with the VA hospital in Augusta for several things that will probably run into Friday getting taken care of. One of which is being fitted for and test driving the manual helium assist standing wheelchair. A little good news came tonight when I received a phone call from my realtor that my we have an appointment Wednesday to do the contract on my house so they can start building. I am anxious about the thought of beginning to countdown the days left I have in this apartment and being able to get Bob a new buddy… a new baby German Shepherd. Well, it’s late and I’ve been up since 3:30am PST and didn’t get much sleep the night before and now the text on the monitor appears to be surfing on a meaty wave. More on the trip later…Phillip

Phillip is in route to Atlanta.  They left the hospital this morning about 9:30.  Raelene Ott rode in the ambulance with Phillip.  Daniel followed in his car and his friend Isaiah Ray also followed in his car.  Just before it was time to leave they were going to pull the remaining chest tube and then didn’t want to do it because they hadn’t given him the pain medication and were afraid it might cause difficulties during the transport.  Then Shepherd Center said they would cancel his reservation because the tube was in.  After a bit of mass confusion he ended up leaving with the tube in.  During all this someone of the floor died and that caused quite a bit more commotion.

Isaiah Ray arrived from Indiana yesterday evening. Isaiah is a racing friend of Phillip’s.  Isaiah and Mellisa stayed in the room with Phillip last night.  Phillip described the night nurse as a Russian drill sergeant and at one point Isaiah had to ORDER her not to try and turn Phillip by herself. Otavio Bernardo, a friend from California gets into Atlanta tomorrow.

Phillip had one adorable little 15-month old lion trick-or-treater in his room last night.

I had a hard time seeing him go and staying here – but I told him I also always cry when he visits me in Maryland and leaves.

Brother David in Maryland continues with his hospital visits.  His three-year old son Zachary had to go to the ER last night because he dislocated his elbow.  The elbow is all mended, and I think Zachary was able to get in on the tail end of trick-or-treating.

I’ll keep you posted as I get updates from Atlanta.

Well, Phillip is on his way to the shepherd Center.  They came and got him this morning around 9:00am (Central Time).  They left the chest tube in and it will be removed in Atlanta.  Phillip was is good spirts, a bit uneasy, but generally in good spirits.  I took some pictures & videos which I will post later this evening.

All, let us not forget about Phillip.  The next month is when he will need us the most.  Don’t let go of this, don’t let this fade away.  Keep praying, he will need the support.  Also, don’t forget the donations.  You can click on the ‘donate’ link, which is on your left.

Phillip is being moved to his private room as I type.  Room 1853.  Visiting hours are open if you would like to stop by and tell him a quick good-bye and wish him well before he’s off to Atlanta in the morning.  He’s ready for the trip and up for the challenge!!

Raelene stayed at the hospital last night to be on call in case Phillip needed her.  He didn’t call during the night so hopfully he had a good night and got some much needed sleep. Raelene spoke to the nurse this morning and she said Phillip was doing well.  They may transfer him to the floor sometime today.  He is scheduled to leave by ambulance tomorrow morning at 7 am.  We know we need to be flexible, but nothing seems to happen at the hospital at the scheduled time.

Phillip’s dad and his wife Patricia left this morning with Kari and Big Bad Bob.  Kari was so excited to go bye-bye. They are headed to North Carolina and then Pat will head back to Atlanta. Raelene will ride with Phillip in the ambulance tomorrow. Isaiah Ray, a racing buddy and good friend from Indiana will be here today.  Isaiah and brother Daniel will follow the ambulance.  Daniel will spend some time in Atlanta and then head back to his family in Missouri. Otavio Bernardo will fly from Monterey California to Atlanta on Friday to visit.

I will be here until the house is on the market and then head up to Atlanta for a few days and then on to Maryland – and back to Alabama when needed. We are beginning to research what will be required for him new home.  Just from the reading we’ve been able to do so far there are so many things – but I am looking forward to helping make his new house a home he will feel comfortable in and be proud of. My friend Dick is flying in Friday from Maryland and will stay with me through the weekend.

Melissa is busy today getting together the list of things Phillip needs to take to Atlanta.  Reminds me of the times I got him ready for camp – except he didn’t have so many electonics to take back then.

We’ll keep you posted as the day progresses.

As you may or may not know, Phillip Sherwood (A.K.A., Gomez 41) was involved in a bad motocross crash at the October 20th, N.E.A.T. Series race.  Phillip ended up with complete injury to the T-4 through T-6 vertebrea (with removal of the T-5) and currently has loss all mobility in his lower chest, to include his legs.  Recently the Sheppard Center (Atlanta, Ga) has approved Phillip to participate in a specialized rehabilitation program. With those expected expenses and the additional expenses to the family members that must travel from out of town, donations are needed. Please help the Sherwood family out by donating what you can, during these trying times for the family.

Please send donations to:

Phillip Sherwood

P.O. Box21188

Huntsville, Al 35813-1188

Phillip has been doing great today.  Things have been changing so fast.  As of right now the plan is the ambulance will leave Huntsville for Atlanta at 7am Thursday.  Raelene Ott and Isaiah Ray will follow the ambulance and help him settle in.  They can stay in the apartment provided for family and/or friends until family arrives.  Pat and his wife Patricia are leaving tomorrow morning to take Kari and Big Bad Bob to North Carolina.  We haven’t talked with Daniel yet – he may want to head to Atlanta or he may go back to Missouri.  I will stay here and work on selling the house and researching accommodations for Phillip’s new home.

Phillip had a restful night.  They are taking out the remaining chest tube this morning and then he will be able to leave ICU for a room on the floor.  His fever is gone. Raelene spent the night in the NICU waiting room in case she was needed. Phillip ate a great breakfast and is sitting up higher in the bed.  Daniel and Dad are at the hospital now.  Mom is working on papers at home.