Sept 2007 4

My first steps! Sept 11, 2007

3 years ago from this time, my whole life changed! Aug 24, 2007, I was living in Clarksville, TN, and was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. Which is 5 min away from Clarksville. I was working on a fuel truck. My unit was getting ready to go back to Iraq. I was changing over the water filters and having to kick the wrench to try to loosen up some of the screws. When I kicked the wrench I fell back hitting my back on a metal part on the top of the truck.

After I was done, we were waiting for the end of the week "Safety Formation" for our four day weekend. My back was just killing me, but I did not think it was serious at the time.

That night I was in tons of pain. In the morning, I went to "sick call." I sat in the waiting room just crying until they took me in. When I was finally seen, the doctor started giving me shots in the bottom, trying to ease the pain. Every half an hour, he came back asking me if I felt any better. Each time, my response was "No!" I think they thought I was faking the pain, so they sent me home.

That whole weekend, I was in tons of pain. All I could do was sleep. No pain meds were working. Then on Sunday morning, I woke up and I was tingly from the chest down. I knew something had to be very wrong, so I had my husband (my ex husband now- David) take me to the Army ER. I sat in the ER for about 4 long painful hours. Finally I was seen, and the doctor gave me a X-ray. The X-ray showed nothing wrong. So she told me to go home, gave me a temp profile, and said I had a pinched nerve in all the nerves on my spine from the T-5 down. Which sounded weird, but nothing I could do about it. She told me to come back to the hospital when I could no longer walk or had no reflexes.

I went home, and went back to bed. Again no medicine even came close to helping me. Little alone Loratab! I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I woke up and started walking across my room to go answer it. I took 2 steps, and fell. My legs were frozen in a straight position, and I no longer was able to walk.

David loaded me back into the car. It was hard to put me in the car, cause my knees did not want to bend. We went back to the hospital, and waited another 4 hours. During the time, I really needed to go to the bathroom. When I got on to the toilet, I was not able to pee! Needing to REALLY go to pee, and unable to, is an weird and scary experience.

When the doctor finally saw me, she gave me a CAT Scan. They still could not see that anything was wrong, but she knew that something was wrong. For the first time, I was taken seriously by that doctor. She gave me a catheter to help relief myself, which was great. But because the CAT scan showed nothing, she had no idea how to help me. She transfered me to Skyline Hospital in Nashville, TN, which was 45 minutes away. By this time, it was the middle of the night. So I was in and out of sleep.

The doctor at Skyline put me in an MRI very first thing. During the MRI she saw a Hematoma growing. She stopped the MRI in the middle of the scanning, and called the Emergency Surgeon. She told me, that if they waited about another hour or two, I would be paralyzed for life. So the ER surgeon came in, and did surgery.

When I woke up (Aug 27, 2010), I was a little grossed out, cause they were giving me a blood transfusion. I guess I lost a lot of blood. They also told me that they found Staff Infection in my blood. So I had to get a pic line, that stayed in my arms for months. Actually they had to switch arms at one time, cause it got infected, and I got a temperature of 106 degrees. I was uncontrollably shaking! The good thing about waking up, was my mom, sister and dad were there. They all flew from Utah. My mom was very worried, cause Jan 1999, me step dad was paralyzed from the T-5 down, and died of staff infection.

At that time, I could no move anything below my chest. I could not feel much below my chest. Slowly I started feeling things, but it was a tingly feeling. When I started feeling, my legs felt really heavy. They had me start trying to walk with a lot of help, and a walker. But I could only take a few steps at a time. It was scary just standing without holding something!

On Sept 11, 2007, I took my first steps without my walker. It was only a few steps, but I did it. It took a long time to get where I am now. When I first went home, I had a wheelchair and a walker. Then I was able to get around on a 4 prong cane. Then a one prong cane. Now I am using nothing, and get around very well. Most people have no idea that I ever had to relearn to walk. Now, I am permanently tingly from the chest down and my legs feel very heavy. I do not think that feeling will ever go away, even for 5 minutes. I do not have great balance, so I am unable to do anything that requires a lot balance, as of now. But I am happy how far I have came so far. Someday, I will be able to do more than now.

My doctor told me that it is 1 in a million chance of something like this happening to someone. Only 1 in 30 people are able to walk again. I wish I could do what I used to do, but I am happy where I am now.

Shortly after, in Oct 2007, my husband left me for another girl. Which I do not think would have happened if I was in this position. But it was a great blessing in the end. Cause now I am with Rocky. I am so glad I am married to Rocky. I have a great family that has helped me through this all. I meet Rocky shortly after, and Rocky has been the one to push me, and help me believe in myself to know that I can do anything I want to again!

September 2010

My husband, Rocky, and I decided that every Friday we are going to look at the boys grades. If they are having good behavior in school and good grades at school then we are going to Trafelga or something like that, for the weekend. We got a pass called "The Pass of All Passes." Which is unlimited Trafelga, unlimited Seven Peaks during the summer, unlimited Utah Flash Basketball games, and unlimited Owls Baseball games for one year. So this year we are planning on having tons of fun!

On Sept 4, 2010, Kody made the grades and behavior requirements. Kody and I went to the Lehi Trafelga and had tons of fun. We played miniature golf, bumper boats, laser tag, various small roller coaster, rock climbing and etc. We had tons of fun.

Then on Sept 6, 2010, it was Labor Day, we went back to Lehi Trafelga, but this time as a whole family. We only played mini golf this time, cause it was extremely busy! I hope I get to take my kids every week!

Right now, Rocky and I are going to school too. My philosophy is to work hard and then play hard. I am getting my BA degree in Deaf Studies in Education. Rocky is getting his degree in Physical Education. I guess we are both going to be teachers! After I get my BA, I am going to continue on to get my Masters in Special Education. By doing so, I will be able to teach Deaf Children. With my BA, I will be able to teach hearing kids ASL in a High School.

Little to say with all this schooling and both Rocky and I have part time jobs, we are extremely busy! Rocky currently is a server at Wingers. I am a Sign Language Aide for a deaf child in school. I could have worked full time, but I think it would be just that much harder, being a student, worker, mother and wife! Plus, hold a calling in Church. At church I currently teach once a month in Relief Society.

Anyways, that is enough for now! :)

Christian Simons

My Step-Brother Christian Simons, died Aug 26, 2010. He was born May 15, 1986. We loved him and will miss him. He is now back with my step-father which is his father, Paul. I know Paul will take good care of Christian. I loved Paul so much and loved him like a father. Christian was Paul's shadow, when Christian was over. They are now both gone, but will live in our hearts. Christian left behind a little boy, Gabriel, he will miss his daddy. We love you Christian and can't wait to see you again!

Loveless family

Our Family

This is the Loveless Family Blog!

I have really never done a blog before so I really do not know what I am doing. I guess I will introduce myself and my family.

Their is myself- Emily Loveless

My husband- Rocky Loveless

Kody Knaphus- age 14

DJ Knaphus- age 13

Then of course we can't forget our 2 dogs, whom we love very much Cheriah and Rosco. Cheriah is my dog (the black dog). Rosco is my boys dog (the white dog).

Well, I am 28 years old. I am currently working with deaf children. Go to school full time at Utah Valley University (UVU), I am majoring in Deaf Studies. I am medically retired from the Army. I was in the Army for 4 years. Went to war for one of those years. I went to Kirkuk, Iraq. It taught me a lot. I meet my husband, Rocky, by living in Fort Campbell, KY (101st airborne). Rocky was born and raised in KY, he is from a small town called Science Hill. I was raised in Orem, Utah. I was actually born in Calgary, Alberta, but moved to Utah when I was 3 years old. So I consider myself a proud American!

I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. Sarah is my oldest sister, she is 30. Then it is me. Then my little sister, Rachael, she is 25. Sarah, Rachael and I grew up together and have the same mother and father. Then my dad had two other kids. My youngest sister is Jordan, she is 16 and lives in SLC, UT with her mom, Kathy. Then lastly my little brother, Zack. He is 15 and lives in Mapleton, Utah with his mother, Deanne.

When I was 19, turning 20 that month, I was given my two babies. Kody at the time was 6 and DJ was 4. I got them in May 2002 and legally adopted them January 2003. Kody and DJ are my whole life. I love them to death. People comment on what a wonderful person I was to adopt them, especially me being so young, but honestly I do not see it that way. They might as well be my own flesh and blood. I love them with all my heart.

I was born and raised into "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Religion" (Mormon). I have a strong testimony of the Church, and my husband and boys hold the priesthood. I am proud that they can live worthy to be holding such an important responsibility. Rocky joined the church when he was only 17 years old. He is the only member of the church in his family, and is a great example to his family.

Rocky is going to school at Utah Valley University (UVU), he is majoring in Physical Education. Before he meet me, he went to Morehead University in KY, and he has also been to Southern Virgina University. Rocky loves sports. He grew up playing all kinds of sports and he played Baseball and Football at Southern Virgina University.

Rocky was born in Somerset, KY. He has a twin brother named Rodney. He also has an older sister, Misty, and an older brother, Brad. Rocky was named after Rocky Balboa, and Rodney was named after Rodney Dangerfield. Each grandpa got the name a twin. LOL. Rocky is really close to his grandparents, Granny and Pawpa.

Kody Paul Knaphus is in 9th grade now. He goes to Diamond Fork Jr High. Kody loves to free run hanging out with his friends. He also loves Soccer and Futsal and is very athletic . Kody was born in Provo, Utah. I named Kody's middle name after my step dad, Paul, he has passed on. Kody loves girls. His favorite subjects in school are history and science.

David Jeriah Knaphus (DJ) is now in 8th grade. He also goes to Diamond Fork Jr High. DJ loves to hang out with his older brother, even if they fight a lot. DJ and free runs too. DJ is a very smart kid! He is a great reader, loves to read. Rocky and DJ are always picking on each other. Which is all in good fun, (most of the time). DJ was born in also born in Provo. DJ favorite subjects in school are Weight training, lunch, and Pre-Algebra.

I think that is pretty much it for now.