Last Thursday was packing day at G&B’s house and All My Sons was hired to do the vast majority of the packing.  Friday afternoon Tony Stuart Moving sent a crew and moving van to the house to load, move and then unload at G&B’s new apartment all their basic household items.   Mr. Stuart provided this service at no cost. 

Saturday found more of Santa’s elves  loading non-basic items (don’t we all accumulate way more than we use on a regular basis?) into trucks and trailers and delivering them to storage sites in Indy, Raccoon Lake and the Fort Wayne area.  As all this was going on, Brooke began unpacking  at the apartment.  Anyone who has ever moved knows what a seemingly never-ending task that can be.

As all these moving chores were in the works Gabe continued a rigorous therapy schedule at Hook.  He also has been fitted for his chair and it should be constructed and to him within ninety days or so.  Gabe also selected equipment needed to assist him at home as he starts this next chapter in his life.

Yesterday–”free at last, free at last” — Gabe was released from the rehab center and headed to his new home.  He stopped by Goose the Market to say hello and thank you to his co-workers, and while in the neighborhood went next door for a long awaited hair cut at Salon Orange Moon.

Gabe is looking foward to seeing a lot of his friends tonite at the Night of Rock and Roll Benefit.  He will be getting into Recess on a more regular basis as it approaches opening day.   

We thank each and every one of you who has helped Gabe and his family through this first part of the journey.  Your prayers and thoughts and energy have carried and uplifed us all.  Your gifts of time, and hugs, and well-wishes, and your shoulders that have caught our tears have been invaluable.  Your contributions to the Gabe Jordan Trust Fund will help allow Gabe to move on into the next phase of his life and recovery.  

“There is a sacredness to tears.  They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.  They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.  They are messengers of overwhelming grief…and unspeakable love.”                                     Washington Irving

Our thanks, love and best wishes for the upcoming holidays to you all.

Mom and Dad

love,

g

First, thank you, thank you, thank you! I am brought to tears daily by the selfless outreach from family and friends. We are truly surrounded (both physically and spiritually) by wonderful people, some of whom we have never even met. All of the prayers, well wishes, and otherwise positive energy you have sent Gabe’s direction has worked wonders. He is consistently surpassing all expectations.

Secondly, there is still plenty of curiosity about what injuries Gabe had sustained the evening of November 8th. The bullet entered his back, through his spine at the T10 level (approximately half way down his back). The bullet went through his spinal column, severing the spinal cord in a manner that the neurosurgical team is calling “complete”. As it exited the front of the spine, the bullet missed Gabe’s aorta by no more than a millimeter. It went through-and-through his pancreas, spleen then stomach. His spleen was damaged irreparably and a splenectomy was done to remove it. Due to the injuries the pancreas sustained, the tail of his pancreas was removed. Fortunately, Gabe has not had any sugar management problems which can sometimes be a side effect of removing parts of the pancreas. On its way out of Gabe’s body, the bullet went up through his diaphragm and into his pleural (lung) space. It then penetrated his pericardium (the sack surrounding the heart), followed alongside the heart apparently bruising it a little bit, then exited the pericardium. Even the slightest nick of his heart could have taken Gabe away from us. The bullet, having finally done enough damage, exited the front of Gabe just below his nipple. To recount the path of the evil bullet, I get emotional considering the other potential outcomes. We are fortunate to still have his company.

I am blown away daily by the magnificence of this man. Gabe has always been an amazing person but now on top of that, he is mind-blowing. Truly a man to be admired, and someone Ezra will certainly look up to. He is an inspiration to me.

Now that Gabe is in intense therapy at Hook Rehab, his days are much more structured than they were back at the Wishard “Spa”. His morning and afternoon consist of around 3 hours of occupational and physical therapy. Meals are scheduled and visitation is more limited. Monday through Saturday the best times to visit Gabe fall between 6 and 8pm. Sunday is pretty much a free day for him. Regardless of the day, it’s probably best to call ahead if you want to see him: (317) 370-3401. I want to thank you all again for all of your thoughts, prayers, calls, food, contributions, etc. You have inspired Gabe, as well as the rest of us, with your generosity and caring. Stay tuned for more updates.
Love,
Brooke

Meals: Eli & Nicole Anderson – 331-3598 – eliandnicole [at] mac [dot] com

Refrigerator and freezer space is limited and Gabe is eating very small portions at this time. Please keep these factors in mind as you prepare meals for them. Please contact Eli or Nicole if you are able to help with meals, or have questions.

Transportation: Kathy Holom – 525-3912 – katholom [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

May include – Gabe to and from outpatient rehab and/or work
Ezra to and from Bailey’s (daycare)

Please contact Kathy if you are able to help with transportation.

Moving: Mollie Eley – 430-3929 – molliegoose [at] hotmail [dot] com

From current home to transitional housing — current estimated date is Saturday December 12, finishing Sunday December 13?
Please contact Mollie with truck and trailer sizes. Strong backs are a plus.

Household Maintenence: Susan Kissel – 457-0894 – susan.kissel [at] gmail [dot] com

Including, but not limited to your choice of: vacuuming, dusting, bathroom cleaning, litterbox cleaning, recycling, etc.
Contact Susan if you can help with any of these tasks.

Home Maintenance & Construction: Mike Jordan – 714-0296 – ann-jordan [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

Everything from building ramps to gutter cleaning. Contact Mike with your talent and energy level.

Fund Raisers/Benefits/Events: Mollie Eley – 430-3929 – molliegoose [at] hotmail [dot] com

If you are planning, or want to plan, fund raising events to assist Gabe and Brooke please contact Mollie.
Ask Mollie about events currently planned if you wish to help and/or attend.

Sorting and Eliminating: Katie Fese – 809-6312 – allenkate [at] aol [dot] com

Can you help Katie figure out what to do with some of this stuff? EBay? Consign? Donate? Dumpster?
Contact Katie if you have expertise in this area.

Thanks!

Some pictures from the show:

Thanks Michelle!

I thinks it’s amazing how well Gabe is acclimating to getting around in a chair.  He noted a couple of slight changes to improve access at the front door, and Greg assured him they were already in the plan.  The architect is changing  the height of the front sales counter so it is more usable.

As Gabe enters the next phase of his recovery through occupational, physical and recreational therapies, we ask that you continue with your support and correspondence. Gabe enjoys reading the comments you make on the web site as well as e-mails.

We are going to press ourselves to get the job board and calendar up and going by Monday. Please continue to check here for further updates. Thank you all again for your caring and support for Gabe and his entire family.

Gabe was taken to Hook Rehab Center today, and is settled in there watching some basketball and dozing off. He got to see Ezra earlier this afternoon. Tomorrow we are all going over there and sneaking in the back way for a quick Thanksgiving dinner.

Finally gets to shave off that funky beard.

Gabe’s chest tube is coming out this morning, which is the last major hole left with stuff coming out of it. There is still a feeding tube in at the moment which hasn’t been in use for a few days now but we think that one is coming out today too. His pain clicker was revoked (poor guy,) so now he actually has to ask a nurse for more meds if he needs them. The plan at the moment is for Gabe to be transported to the rehab center sometime tomorrow where he will finally get to see Ezra!