Monday, July 31, 2006
Wow, all I can say is, WHAT A TOUGH DAY! As you read on the caringbridge website. The seriousness of Lukes condition has really hit me. Listening to the doctor outside of the intenisve care unit with my arm around Nancy and her holding Tim it felt like a movie. The things the doctor was saying just seemed so surreal. Infection, more surgeries, losing knee, shrapnal, all the words just jumbled together. I could hear him and understood, but was trying very very hard to hold back tears. That didnt last long, we all broke. The three of us trying to find a quiet place to go in the hospital just crying down the hallway. Eventually we made it to the chapel. I've been so strong for so long, that today it just came out. Luke is always so strong, and to see him on breathing tubes, in pain and telling me he is scared, its a different ballgame. The guy who always threatens to beat up any guy who talks to me is now laying in a bed fighting so hard. Luke will survive, the doctors have no worries of that., but serious condition! oh my. It was good to see him tonight after all this. I missed most of the day because I stayed in his room with Tim last night. I came back to the room and took some tylenol pm to get some sleep. We are all running on little sleep and some food. Tonight we got off base and went to the Olive Garden. It was really good to get away, have good food and of course some wine to settle nerves. So far, I hate Texas for what I'm going through and Lukes family. But tomorrow and in the near future I plan on getting off base, touring San Antonio and getting a feel for this place they call Texas. Maybe even some Texmex food. Anyway, luke looked good tonight. I noticed his color had faded yesterday, but tonight, we was tanner than I once again. The night terrors continue, but he asked for some happy sleep pills (Ambien) to sleep better. He had taken those Sunday night and he slept well. Its time for me to fall asleep and get energy for tomorrow. I thank those who have emailed and phoned. AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE DONATION! If you want to donate money in Lukes cause, Donate to the Fisher House or Fisher Foundation. They are the ones who got me here to be with my man.
Luke went in for some more exploratory operations today, and they found more shrapnel. His infection is getting worse, so they moved him to the ICU. Please continue to pray for him, especially over the next few days.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Here is Luke's current address, if you want to send him letters.
He has a phone number, but will not release it at this time to prevent getting worn out due to the high number of calls he would get.
Tina says that he looks much better than she expected. He is awake and talking with them a lot, and able to get hugs that he needs. He has some shrapnel in his left-inner thigh, a fracture in his right arm through the radius and is in a splint, and has broken his thumb and some fingers. Other than that, his upper body is relatively untouched. He is fighting an infection in his leg, and they fear he may lose half or all of his knee.
Continue to pray for Luke, his family, and Tina as they wait for healing and surgeries in San Antonio.
Lucas Schmitz
Room 209-1 Brooke Army Medical Center
Building 3600
3851 Roger Brooke Drive
San Antonio, TX 78234-6200
He has a phone number, but will not release it at this time to prevent getting worn out due to the high number of calls he would get.
Tina says that he looks much better than she expected. He is awake and talking with them a lot, and able to get hugs that he needs. He has some shrapnel in his left-inner thigh, a fracture in his right arm through the radius and is in a splint, and has broken his thumb and some fingers. Other than that, his upper body is relatively untouched. He is fighting an infection in his leg, and they fear he may lose half or all of his knee.
Continue to pray for Luke, his family, and Tina as they wait for healing and surgeries in San Antonio.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Well i'm in the cities airport right now, chillin, and trying to relax. our plane just arrived and we board in about an hour. the trip from fargo to msp was sooo quick. luke called his grandparents this morning wondering where we are, he has arrived in san antonio and was heading to the operation room to get more wounds cleaned and the leg looked at. i want to thank the fisher house foundation for providing my travel! they said we will have computer access down there, but it still may be awhile before i write. thank you to everyone and god bless. try this site also.
www.caringbridge.com and look for lucas schmitz.
www.caringbridge.com and look for lucas schmitz.
Friday, July 28, 2006
update:
we are leaving at 11 tomorrow morning ,the flight leaves fargo. SAN ANTONIO is where we will be.
we are leaving at 11 tomorrow morning ,the flight leaves fargo. SAN ANTONIO is where we will be.
Below, you can see the first T-shirt design. I'm working on a more kid- and mom-friendly version for those who don't want implied vulgarity. However, in order to plan for how to make the shirts, it would be good to know how many people want one. Please leave quantities and sizes in the comments to this post.
OH man, I just wrote a really long update, and accidently deleted it.
He is flyin over the ocean right now on his way to the good ole USA!!! We will know soon where he is going, and will be on our way tonight or tomorrow morning. His mom, dad and older sister will be more than likely flying before his younger sister and I. Because I am not family, it makes it more difficult to get down there and stay.
He is doing alright. He is still worried hes not safe and is aggitated (sp). He sometimes thinks he sees his leg and will try to stop the bleeding thats not there. His post stress is progressing and probably will until he starts talking to a counselor and his family. So far he still has his knee and they cleaned out his wounds yesterday in the OR in Germany. I'm going to try to keep this going, but its going to be difficult to get internet access. Thanks everyone for the support!
PS-- LUKE RECEIVED HIS PURPLE HEART!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Ok Everyone. Here it is. I will tell the story, and the details. Sorry if anything sounds intense, but you need to know.
Luke was on patrol in a humvee, (he sits on top as the gunner). When on patrol two humvees go out, so another followed. His humvee ran over and IED, aka, a roadside bomb. When this happens soldiers are to dismount (get off) the vehicle and run for safe ground. Who ever planted the IED knows what US soldiers do, and planted land mines around the IED. Luke stepped on a landmine and it obviously exploded. He was out for about 1 minute, sat up cried for a medic, who was in the 2nd humvee and tied his own turnicut. He was awake until he hit the hospital, even in the helicopter. The soldiers did their job and I commend them for it. Luke saved his own life by tying his own leg. The blast he stepped on was made for another humvee. The humvees condition is destroyed, his battle buddy mike said it was amazing any of them made it out alive, let alone luke and his land mine. His gun he was carrying was completely destroyed also, just shredded. He was wearing goggles, helmet and bullet proof vest.
Right now he is preparing flight for Baltimore. We will find out where he goes at 4 pm tomorrow. Then we will fly to see him. Luke lost part of his right leg, from below the knee down, fractured a thumb and 2 fingers, and has shrapnal injuries. Its amazing he is alive. He will not be returning to the Perham area for roughly 6 months. Lots of rehab, treatment and counceling for him and us. Please pray, thats all I can write for now. Hes strong! Will make it ok, but needs support. He is much afraid of what people will think of him and if he will lose friends. He has post traumatic stress pretty bad.
I'll try to update the best I can. I'm not sure if I will have internet access for the next month I will be down there. You can call me, please not a lot. But all of my incoming calls are free. my number is 218-209-7933. He will need cards, stupid things, so send em! when i post the addy. thanks for the support, its been amazing. we will need it for a long time.
tina
Luke was on patrol in a humvee, (he sits on top as the gunner). When on patrol two humvees go out, so another followed. His humvee ran over and IED, aka, a roadside bomb. When this happens soldiers are to dismount (get off) the vehicle and run for safe ground. Who ever planted the IED knows what US soldiers do, and planted land mines around the IED. Luke stepped on a landmine and it obviously exploded. He was out for about 1 minute, sat up cried for a medic, who was in the 2nd humvee and tied his own turnicut. He was awake until he hit the hospital, even in the helicopter. The soldiers did their job and I commend them for it. Luke saved his own life by tying his own leg. The blast he stepped on was made for another humvee. The humvees condition is destroyed, his battle buddy mike said it was amazing any of them made it out alive, let alone luke and his land mine. His gun he was carrying was completely destroyed also, just shredded. He was wearing goggles, helmet and bullet proof vest.
Right now he is preparing flight for Baltimore. We will find out where he goes at 4 pm tomorrow. Then we will fly to see him. Luke lost part of his right leg, from below the knee down, fractured a thumb and 2 fingers, and has shrapnal injuries. Its amazing he is alive. He will not be returning to the Perham area for roughly 6 months. Lots of rehab, treatment and counceling for him and us. Please pray, thats all I can write for now. Hes strong! Will make it ok, but needs support. He is much afraid of what people will think of him and if he will lose friends. He has post traumatic stress pretty bad.
I'll try to update the best I can. I'm not sure if I will have internet access for the next month I will be down there. You can call me, please not a lot. But all of my incoming calls are free. my number is 218-209-7933. He will need cards, stupid things, so send em! when i post the addy. thanks for the support, its been amazing. we will need it for a long time.
tina
I have created this blog as a way to post updates about Luke's condition. Soon, Luke's family will be able to post on this site as well.
