Cocktail Mixer and Benefit

Friends, the New York chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBGNY) is graciously using its monthly cocktail mixer as a benefit for me. It is an extremely generous gesture. I, in turn, wanted to invite my friends to join us for a few afternoon drinks and good times. Below is the event information and I would love to see you there.

And again, many thanks for all the support,

Scott

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Time:
Monday August 30 • 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Location:
Entwine
765 Washington Street (at West 12th Street)
New York, NY

Please join friends on Monday, August 30th from 4-6pm, as the New York Chapter of the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBGNY) holds their monthly mixer and a benefit for my lovely boyfriend, and Brooklyn's friendliest artist and bartender, Scott Andresen.

While he is doing better, Scott remains out of work as he continues to heal from a terrible bicycle accident he was in a few months ago, which led to emergency spinal surgery, a lengthy hospital stay, and loads of on-going rehabilitation.

In lieu of the circumstances, the USBGNY has graciously offered their support. In addition to making a generous financial contribution towards Scott's medical expenses, the Chapter is also donating the tips and proceeds raised from $1 raffle ticket sales made during the benefit! Prizes will include USBGNY shwag and bottles of liquor.

So please stop in with a friend or two and drink to Scott’s health!
Thanks to the kindness of the USBGNY, complimentary food and beverage will be provided courtesy of Don Modesto Tequila and Entwine in West Village will be the mixer's host.

See you then!

Naomi & Scottie

Gun Shy

One of the things I didn't anticipate on getting home was the level of fear or nervousness I have. For most of my life, or all of it, I felt in complete control. There were obstacles, etc. but I was doing it on my own. Now some of that has been taken away. Something happened to me, I had no control of it, and the consequences were extreme. I will be dealing with the aftermath for months if not years.

But most frustrating to me right now is when I am walking down a busy street I see imminent disasters. Too many speeding cars and honking horns, an accident is coming. A car trying to speed to make it through a yellow light, here comes the worst. Someone riding a bike without a helmet, an accident is coming.

I find myself flinching at the possibility of what could go wrong all the time and I hate it. I expect it to get better but right now I am living in a bit of a state of fear and it is frustrating to no end. No, it is not crippling, it does not keep me inside my house walled up, but it is in the front of my mind when I am out.

What I worry about is when I am better, hopefully, and have the opportunity to ride a bike, or go skiing, or something else active that involves a degree of danger, I really hope the accident doesn't affect me negatively. I am just not a person to live in a state of fear.

'Mission Impossible' or How I Won Every Argument With Naomi From Now On

Mission Impossible - To surprise Naomi at her sister's wedding while recovering from spinal trauma in the hospital

From Left to Right are:
The Mark: Naomi Doerner (My Girlfriend)
Accomplice #1: Jaret Vadera (Close Friend)
Accomplice #2 and #3: Stephanie and Brendan (Naomi's Sister The Bride, and The Groom)

The Setting:
Naomi, since my accident six weeks ago, had been balancing a full time job, running her summer program for Lower East Side High Schoolers with 2 friends, visiting me in the hospital daily, dealing with insurance and lawyers, and trying to put the house back together after the fire. To say the least she was over extended.

She was also looking forward to her sister's wedding in Westchester and seeing all of her family on one of the rare occasions when they are all together. She was excited, stressed, and going a little batty. The pressure of doing things for me, for her sister, for the wedding, for her family, as well as her own responsibilities was a lot. And bless her heart, what was she most frustrated about, that we would be spending a few days apart. What an amazing woman.

So it was quickly decided that a surprise visit to the wedding was in order and spending a little quality time with my girlfriend celebrating family and friends instead of broken bones and insurance forms was a must.

I first checked with the doctors to get a day pass to leave the hospital. When the nurses found out what I was planning I immediately became the best boyfriend in the world in their eyes. I of course called Steph and Brendan to make sure it was OK with them, and they were as excited as I was. I did ask Steph not to tell anyone, including Naomi's mother, who is probably the worst person to have holding a secret, and thus the plan was taking form. With Steph and Brendan on board it was a matter of the logistics of getting to and from.

I immediately rang Jaret and asked him to help out, he was game for everything. We rented a car for the day, he took a quick wheelchair class at the hospital, and he also stopped by my house to pick up a bunch of clothes for the wedding. And with that we were ready to go.

On the day of the wedding Jaret stopped by the hospital in the afternoon with the clothes. I quickly got changed but with one problem, the brace that I have for my right leg would not fit in my dress shoes. The only other solution was to wear my sneakers. Not exactly wedding attire but it would have to do. Next it was down to the car to load the wheelchair, crutches and me in, with that we were off.

One wrong turn and we were a bit behind schedule but we got there in one piece. The valets had us pull to the side to unload, but just as we park who walks right down towards our car, Naomi of course. We are there for 30 seconds and the surprise was about to be ruined, until she walked within 6 inches of the car in a stressed daze and passed us without a glance. The game was still on.

We made it inside, saw a few of Naomi's family, and they quickly began helping us out. I was taken to the room for the wedding ceremony before arousing suspicion, a few chairs were moved out of the way to park me and the wheelchair, and things were set for the surprise. A few of Stephanie's closest friends were already there and sitting around me. Not knowing me personally but knowing the story of what had happened they were dumbstruck when they saw me and started getting teary eyed when they found out what I was surprising Naomi.

As the procession started the parties passed. Naomi, one of the last to come, walked by without noticing me. She got under the wedding canopy and glanced back towards the audience. She noticed one of Steph's closest friends, who was sitting just in front of me, and the friend was still teary eyed knowing what was about to follow. And then it happened, just what I had hoped for. Naomi glanced back to me, our eyes locked, and it took just a second for realization to set in, a quick look of complete surprise with eyes wide and mouth agape, then her face welled up and tears, tears of joy. It was pretty amazing. A few people around were concerned until they realized what was going on. She let the waterworks run for a few seconds before composing herself for the ceremony, we mouthed an 'I love you' to each other and then the ceremony commenced.

The wedding was beautiful, the ceremony poignant and the party shear joy. It was great meeting her family and friends and especially her grandmother, who like all grandmothers, promised copious amounts of home cooked food if I ever visit. It was also the first time in six long weeks that Naomi and I could just enjoy each other's company, laugh and joke, and not do it in the shadow of a medical institution. A pretty amazing day all in all.

Release

So as previously mentioned I am heading home tomorrow. Good news. Funny, when I got my release date about a week and a half ago I was worried to death. At the time I still couldn't use my left arm, walking was getting better but far from comfortable, and the weakness of my body had me worrying for my own safety.

Right now I am feeling pretty good about getting out, actually great. As soon as I was cleared to use the left arm things started taking off. Using all my limbs in tandem (novel idea to be able to use your whole body) the pieces started falling into place. My walk has improved immensely, when I exercise I am working everything together, and another week of strengthening has made me that much more comfortable. Couple that with working on my balance, and more importantly working on stairs, the idea of being released has me flat out ecstatic.

Also, mom and dad have returned to help out with rehab and to piece the house back together after the fire. They will be relieving some of the stress of doing it all on our own. Just a quick note to friends who have asked to help once I am released, I will be needing your help soon enough, but for the first few weeks I have the wellness team in place, I am going to try and get mom and dad home as soon as possible, and then will I be needing some assistance from the many of you that have offered. And to all of you I just want to say thanks, knowing that when I am back on my own I can turn to my friends in times on need means the world.

So tomorrow we begin Phase III of this long and strange trip. This phase will be the long and drawn out one. Slowly working back to a normal life. But it also means I get to start focusing on not only the here and now but the future. So much of this journey to date has been planning and getting the most out of the day ahead. Tomorrow that changes and Naomi and I start doing the little things that will allow us to get the most out of what lays ahead, and I am ready to get that part of my life back. Since getting done with grad school over a year ago Naomi and I have been through our ups and downs getting life back on track, it has been hard. Just before the accident things looked to be falling in place, and then the accident. I am not saying I am going to write the accident out of my life, but it will be nice to start focusing on the good, and the future, and our life together.

So as of tomorrow all correspondence and visits should come through our home. We are at 157 Waverly Ave. Apt. 1C, Brooklyn, NY 11205 in Fort Greene / Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn.

And be sure to check out the next post entitled 'Mission Impossible or Why I Just Won Every Argument with Naomi for the Rest of Our Lives.'

End Game (Kind of) and News and Notes.....

So I have my release date, next Tuesday, August 17th. As of 10am that day I am a free man. At 10:15am on Tuesday you can find me in the Champagne Room of the Hustler Club celebrating freedom with some very special 'nurses'. I kid. I kid.

Release will be nice and the last week of therapy has been working towards that. Strengthening, range of motion, balance. Therapy has turned aggressive, I am busting my ass trying to get stronger and the therapists are trying to arm me with all the movements and skills to succeed in the outside world. Practicing movements standing without crutches, like I was working in the kitchen, working on moving over uneven terrain, transferring in and out of the shower, going up stairs with or without railings, etc.. A bit nerve wracking.

My parents get back in on Monday so they will be here to help. Right now and for the next little bit I won't be able to be alone for extended periods. Its funny, just yesterday I was walking with Oscar, a very nice assistant in the therapy sessions, we were just chatting and walking and in a split second I caught my toe on my heel as I turned a corner, knees buckle and I was about to go down in a heap. He caught me with no problem, but it just goes to show you no matter how comfortable and good I feel, the smallest misstep can lead to disaster. Even as things get better I have to be cautious and limit the risky choices.

As for the fire things are alright. Huge sections of the ceiling and walls are gone, a few more sections may go. But the worse seems over for our apartment. Naomi and a host of friends (thanks Barry, Shinique, Karin, DJ, Jaret, St. John, Daniel and everyone else) have all chipped in, cleaned the apartment and done everything they can to make my move home as smooth as possible. Its been a real blessing.

And lastly, Naomis family is in town which I think is great for her. Her sister is getting married this weekend in Westchester so her dad and brother stopped by yesterday which was very nice. I obviously won't be attending but will be there in spirit. More importantly though, after all Naomi has gone through and has done over the last month and a half I think being surrounded by loved ones for a few days is just what she needs.

A few more updates over the next few days and then all correspondence from this blog will be coming from The Scott Andresen Rehabilitation Clinic and Chicken Shack in beautiful Clinton Hill Brooklyn. I am really looking forward to being in familiar surroundings. Six weeks of hospital food is just about enough.

Forecast

So where do I sit. My guess is I will be leaving Mt. Sinai not this coming week, but early the following week, maybe the 17th or 18th. The doctors and therapists are happy with the progress but there is still much work to be done. As for the fractures they are healing themselves, but slowly, and still get painfully aggravated. The nerve damage on the foot, arm and leg is staying the same. A little frustrating, but nerve damage can take many months if not years to heal itself. It is something I have to realize and not get frustrated over even though that is the first thing I want to do. I am still working on strengthening, range of motion, the walk, dexterity, and they all improve daily, but in small steps, and there are lots of steps ahead of me.

So what happens when I get home? Honestly, I don't know. I mean, a pattern will emerge, I will probably go to therapy at a Brooklyn location 3 times a week. Progress from home and try to settle into what is a normal life, but it will be difficult. In all honesty, I am scared to death. At Mt. Sinai I have had, doctors, nurses and therapists steps away from me if something happens. At home I lose that security. Don't get me wrong, I will have friends and family close, especially for the first few weeks, but there are going to be those moments. One refrain you hear at Mt. Sinai regarding release is when something goes wrong at home, and they assume it will, 'don't panic, whatever you do don't panic'. Not the cheeriest words of advice

The thing is, if in normal life you are running at 100% I am probably at 15% right now and that might be generous. I can walk maybe a few 100 feet, have to bathe in a chair, even getting up from seat can be a struggle. I can feed myself, can make a bowl of cereal, slip on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, but these are the most basic things, and I am winded after doing just a few. I guess the realization of just how long and hard the rehab process is going to take is setting in and it is frightening.

I want to get back to the point that cooking dinner for friends is not an impossibility, going over to a friend's house does not seem like trekking the Himalayas, and living a regular daily life does not seem like a dream in the future. But I know it will take time, I know I have the unwavering support of a team that will not disappear, and I know I have an amazing amount of work to do. Am I scared, hell yes, but that is trumped by the fact that when I get home I will be closer to the people I care about the most.

A Day In The Life

Lets turn our attention to something more positive than whats wrong with my body or if the apartment is burning down. Namely, why don't we talk about what rehab is all about and a day at Mt. Sinai.

As I have said Mt. Sinai is a pretty amazing place. You are surrounded by dedicated experts in their fields, be it Neurosurgery, Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Surgery, and commonly those specialties are broken down into finer subgroups (i.e. Lower Lumbar Spinal Surgery, or Shoulder and Elbow Orthopedic Specialist). To say the least, the staff is knowledgeable.

An average day begins with me getting up at 6:00 am and washing myself. Maybe a little help from the nurses, changing the linens, and first doses of pills, vitamins and drugs. Breakfast follows soon after and then I have a few minutes before rehab starts at 9:00am.

The first class is a one on one Physical Therapy session. Physical Therapy is focuses on the lower part of the body. Working on the legs and mobility by strengthening muscles, stretching, range of motion, practicing walking, electric stimulus on the nerve damaged areas, and a host of other exercises. Primarily this is an exhausting hour of pushing yourself to repair and rebuild whatever was lost in your legs and the mobility that comes along with it. I am extremely lucky to have Ryan, a PT who is knowledgeable and demands a lot out of you, but it can be an ass-kicking class.

Second, at 10am, is a group class that is an upper body workout. Done from wheelchairs it is a combination of stretching, range of motion, weights, and aerobics. An hour of just rebuilding some of the muscles that have been inert for so long. An interesting class in that you are surrounded by a group with a range of spinal ailments that is mind-boggling. Each person working on the areas of weakness that afflict them.

And the last class of what becomes a brutal 3 hour block is a one on one Occupational Therapy session. Where Physical Therapy concentrates on the legs Occupational Therapy concentrates on the upper body and teaching you skills to manage your daily life that take into account some of the long term disabilities. Not only do we work on strengthening and range of motion, but classes will be dedicated to normal daily tasks like, putting on pants and shoes with limited mobility, getting in and out of shower chairs since standing for long periods is dangerous, building dexterity and strength so you can write and hold eating utensils. It sounds basic but in many cases you are giving people the skills to be independent. I cannot tell you how much better you feel about yourself when you can feed, wash, and clothe yourself instead of relying on others.

This is followed by a break of an hour and a half that includes lunch and usually a quick nap from pure exhaustion. Possibly a few more painkillers.

And the last class of the day is a walking class. It is exactly what it sounds like, a group class where the therapists work with each patient in a round, giving them a few minutes of walking time followed by a break as they work their way through all the other patients. Then they come back to you and start the cycle over. This is a particularly emotional class. Over the period of a few weeks you will see patients progress from just standing up (in some cases for the first time in months) to taking there first tentative steps on the parallel bars, to seeing them walk with a crutch or walker on their own. There are a lot of congratulations thrown around the room, and I can tell you they are well deserved. Few things have frightened me more or been more exhilarating than taking those first steps. The fear of the unknown, the fear and mistrust of your body, and the hint of freedom that mobility implies, mix together for a lot of tears of fright and joy at the same time. It is a pretty amazing experience.

With the classes over for the day there is usually a bit of afternoon exhaustion before an early dinner at 5:00 or so. I also try to stretch or work on certain exercises in bed. And then I have been blessed to have Naomi come every night as well as the ever fun rotating cast of characters that are my friends. To see some familiar faces and laugh and joke for a few hours at the end of a long day makes everything seem much better.

When It Rains....

Friends-

This email may not be the most well written thing you read, forgive me ahead of time.

Last night, the building where Naomi and I live, caught on fire. It seems to have been contained to the roof and the upper levels, but 2 of the 14 units in our building are in terrible shape, the upper floors have smoke and water damage. Our apartment fared better but not too well. We were subjected to a lot of water damage. The ceilings in the living room and bedroom downstairs had to be ripped out, as well as portions of walls all over the place. What else needs to be done we are not sure and a time-line on repairs is uncertain.

The frustrating part is I may be released as soon as the end of next week, which is amazing, but I am not sure if the apartment will be habitable. To say this is a frustrating circumstance would be an understatement, compounded with what has already happened it is almost comical, and forgive me if I want to scream.

If my emails and posts are a bit slower for the near future apologies. The balancing of rehab, planning for release, daily concerns, and now fire damage is a lot right now. This may be a moment where I ask some of you that live close to us for some help. Just know Naomi and I are safe, nobody was hurt in the fire, the damage can be repaired, and we are doing are best to work through another obstacle on the road back to normality.

All the best,

Scott

The Great Outdoors

After one month in ICUs, Neurology Wards, and Rehab Facilities I got my first taste of fresh air yesterday. My beautiful girlfriend took the reins on the old wheelchair and we spent a few glorious hours rolling around the lakes, gardens and fountains in Central Park. It could not have been nicer.

And it is also about time I give a shout out to Naomi. Everyday of this ordeal she has been by my side, and will continue to be by my side. As my world has changed daily, chaos on top of chaos, she has been the constant, the one thing I know I can rely on. Simply, I am humbled by her love.

Tubes

During most of my time in the ICU I was hooked up to a dizzying amount of machines, tubes, monitors, drips and more. Being on a liquid diet didn't help, just another tube inserted wherever there was space. Post-Op I think the list went something like this:

1.) Oxygen tube in the nose.
2.) IV for PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) or a morphine system to kill pain.
3.) Heart Rate Monitor
4.)Blood Oxygen Monitor
5., 6., and 7.) IVs for various bags of Fluids, Drugs, and Nutrients
8.) Urinary Catheter
9. and 10.) Small Side Spinal Drains
11.) Main Spinal Drain

Over the course of the two plus weeks at LICH in the ICU and the Neurosurgery Wing the tubes and IVs slowly came out. An IV here, a spinal drain there, until the day before I moved to Mt. Sinai when out came the last tube. I remember my mother walking in and shrieking when she noticed the last tube was gone and I have to say it felt pretty good, knowing I wasn't attached to any machines or devices anymore. Felt good to have my body back.