Sams Story in The Daily Universe

There was an article printed today in The Daily Universe, BYU's newspaper. Hopefully this will keep the prayers and donations flowing.

Update on Sam

I received this last week:

This week Sam moved out of the Surgical ICU and into the Neurological Care Unit. He now has feeling down to his wrists. His breathing has also improved. He's still on oxygen, but not having to use a ventilator. And, because he doesn't have a ventilator, he is able to eat (although he's not too thrilled about hospital food). On Tuesday Sam said, "Ashley, I'm not going to be a cripple. I'm going to walk again."

And this one is from yesterday:

Sam has recently been moved to the new Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. He will begin his first day of rehab tomorrow. He will be there for at least 3 months.

Also, the website www.donateforsam.org has been redone and his wife, Ashley, is posting updates there on his progress.
Thanks everyone for all of your prayers and support!!

Erich = Diva

My child has lost it. Last week he started throwing temper tantrums. Where do they learn this stuff?? If he doesn't get his way or totally out of the blue he'll do one of two things: 1) scream sitting in place or 2) scream sprawled out face down on the floor.

I've decided that either the terrible twos have started early or that colic is setting in late. Either way, I have no idea how to stop it. I walk away, he flips, I tell him to come over, he flips. I pick him up, he's happy as a clam. My system isn't working.

There is one caveat however, possibly a beacon of hope. He was sick. He threw up twice on Sunday and once on Monday night (either that or I had a nightmare from 2:30 - 5:30 am). I'm hoping he's just feeling yucky these couple weeks and next week I'll have my little bubble back. And that he hasn't learned new effective ways to make mama miserable!

Donate for Sam

Below is an email I just sent out to everyone on my email list. I'm hoping that posting it on my blog will encourage more support. Thank you everyone so much for you prayers and donations!!

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Dear Family and Friends,

I just found out that a friend of mine, Sam, was paralyzed in a serious snowboarding accident. This hits very close to home because he's the little brother of my best friend growing up. My own little brother and I used to spend practically every day at their house and I still think of Sam as the bright, fun and conscientious kid I grew up with. His wife just had a baby and unfortunately, at the time of the accident, he wasn't insured. So you can see that this news is devastating.

Please, take the time to read the attached email and visit the website his wonderful friends set up for him: www.donateforsam.org. Please keep Sam and his family in your hearts and in your prayers, and if there is any way you can help them by making a donation, I know it would mean the world to them and to me.

My love and thanks to you all,

Melissa

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear Family and Friends,

A year and half ago we moved into our new home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. At that time Blair's foster brother and best friend, Sam Harrison, and his wife, Ashley, moved into our basement apartment. Since that day, we've pretty much been one big happy family. They love our kids like their own, and we love them more than words could ever express. It would honestly be hard to imagine our lives without them in it.

Six weeks ago, Sam and Ashley were happier than we've ever seen, as they gave birth to their first son, Benjamin Alexander. Although Benji arrived three weeks early, he is as happy and healthy as can be.

Now, the reason for my email. This past Saturday night, Sam, was in a
horrible snowboarding accident while night skiing at Brighton ski resort.
He unintentionally hit a jump that threw him up in the air; he flipped
around landing on his head breaking his neck in three places & paralyzing him from the shoulders down.

Sam finished working in December and is currently enrolled in night school at BYU. They were in the process of deciding what to do as far as health insurance went for him; therefore, Sam does not have medical coverage at this time. As you can imagine, the financial strain would be overwhelming even if he had had insurance.

Our hearts ache for our dear friends; we haven't slept in days trying to
comprehend how quickly one's life can change in such an unexpected, short amount of time. If there is anything you can spare for this family it would be truly appreciated. We have set up a non-profit organization and website with Sam's story and photos. You may visit the site at
www.donateforsam.org. Donations can also be made to any Zions Bank to the account name: Sam Harrison Donation. All information is posted on the website.

Please keep the Harrison Family in your prayers.

Love, Holly & Blair Hasler

P.S. Please circulate this email; post it on your blog, tell your friends.
Every little bit will help. Once again, www.donateforsam.org