Rally for Randy's Recovery Journey

On Thursday, January 23rd, Randy went in for a simple laminoplasty surgery to correct damage to his neck as a result of a fall last August. This was a simple surgery that would last 45-60 minutes and only required a 2-day hospital stay. Unfortunately, there were complications from the minute Randy went into the surgery room. As the incision in the back of his neck was made, the sensors began showing Randy had lost all control of his limbs. The surgeons stopped the surgery, woke Randy up, and began assessing his ability to feel them touching him. He told them he could, so he was put back under anesthesia and the surgery resumed. When Randy woke up from the surgery, it was determined he was completely paralyzed from the neck down, and it was unknown what exactly had caused this to happen. The surgeons performed another MRI to determine if there was a herniated disk that could have possibly ruptured and caused additional pressure or damage to the spinal cord and then took him back for another surgery right away to remove another bone. This was to allow space for the spinal cord to swell and not cause any further damage. Surgeons removed the C3, C4, C5, C6 & C7 bones from his neck. Randy still woke up completely paralyzed.

Randy was transferred to Essentia Health- St. Mary's Neuro ICU. Additional imaging tests and assessments have been completed, and the surgeon and his team still do not know what has caused the paralysis or if it can be reversed. Randy has since been transferred over to the Miller Dwan In-Patient Rehab facility as of Wednesday, January 29th, to begin an intense rehab program in hopes the paralysis can be reversed.

We continue to be cautiously optimistic that he will heal and walk out of the rehab facility and get back home to their beloved cabin in Deer River, MN with Lori and their fur babies. We are seeing small improvements daily - he makes movements with his right arm and his left leg, which is AMAZING to see and keeps us hopeful. He is working hard on his left arm and his right leg every day and can make slight movements with his hips. His sensation to touch has improved a little, and he can feel the coldness when a cold rag is placed in certain areas and feel the sensation of touch in his limbs in certain areas as well. He is experiencing a lot of pain in his neck and shoulders at the moment as a result of the incision and all the hard work he is putting in trying to gain the strength to move his arms and legs.

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC - that is our motto. Both Randy and Lori have a very long and hard journey ahead of them. It is currently undetermined how long the stay in rehab will be and when he will be able to come home... and what exactly that looks like when he does. Lori is currently driving back and forth 2 hours each way to Deer River to tend to the fur babies and their home and has taken leave from work to be by his side.

We are asking for any support that can be offered to help ease the burden of this life-changing event for both of them. If you know Randy at all, you can understand just how hard, frustrating, and terrifying this all is for him, Lori, and our entire family. You cannot keep that man down. They are going to have tons of medical bills, travel expenses from traveling back and forth to Deer River, hotel stays so Lori can get some good rest, food, and a MAJOR loss of income. My brothers, Tim & Steve, and I, as well as our immediate family, are trying to help ease the burden and all of the stress as much as we possibly can to allow Lori and Randy to focus on nothing more than healing and coming home.