Eric’s Well Wishes

Eric is having a baclofen pump implanted tomorrow. Eric currently takes baclofen daily. It is a muscle relaxer. Unfortunately if he takes too much he falls asleep during class. The pump will be attached to a catheter to his spinal column. The baclofen will then be on a continuous low dose drip in his spine. It should help relax the muscles in Eric’s legs and arms.
We have to be at Childrens Hospital in Dallas at 6:30am. I don’t know how much sleep Eric is going to get tonight. He really wants to see the basketball games!

Hello everybody! Thank you for your support throughout this whole process. You wouldn’t believe me now! I’ve gained over 15 pounds since February. I feel amazing.

I’ve done a lot this summer. I’ve seen a whole bunch of movies. So many I can’t remember them all. I have seen Hellboy 2, Pineapple Express, and Kung Fu Panda. I also went to Lonestar Park Race Track three times. I really enjoy gambling. I went to a big concert with Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick. That was really, really spectacular. I went to Chili’s over 5 times and got their Burger Bites. Those are very, very scrumptious. Of course I finished them off with the best dessert in history: the molten chocolate cake!

I saw my Aunt Ann a couple of times this summer. She starts her new job tomorrow at her youngest daughter’s elementary school. Good luck Aunt Ann! My parents just finished a wonderful vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They bought a few souvenirs home. Two of them were matching t-shirts for me and my best friend. They have NPA on the back. NPA stands for National Pimp Association. I am going to the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving in a suite with my Aunt Maureen and other relatives and friends.

I will eventually talk with Mike Doocy about scheduling the tour of FOX 4 News Studio. I’ll put pictures of that up after the tour. Meanwhile, I am watching the Olympic Games. I hope Michael Phelps breaks Mark Spitz’s record. GO USA!

Carmen & friends with Jon & crew from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Aunt Ann, here.

Eric is back at school full time. Considering everything, he is holding up well. Eric is still awaiting the new parts for his wheel chair, and I think he will feel much better, physically, once his body fits his wheelchair.

I feel the need to share with those of you who are still keeping up with Eric the event that happened this past weekend. . . . I was in Orlando as a chaperone on the high school band trip with Eric’s cousin, Carmen. Long story short, Anthony, a percussion player on the trip passed by me and told me that he met some people from RJA (he was unaware of Eric’s & his blog). He showed me where the guys were, and I ran up to them like a mad woman! What are the chances that Anthony would tell me who he met, and that I would get to meet a group of guys that made a world of difference to Eric, in addition to their fans who read about Eric & took the time to comment on this blog??!! As I was hysterical, telling them who I was, and how much I appreciated them helping Eric, the guys listened to me as if there was nothing else in the world they could be doing. I am telling you, these are the most sincere and kind people that I have ever met. They remember Eric & his story and asked how he was.

Jon Wilkes, the drummer, called Eric on the phone and invited him to be a guest of the band the next time they come to Dallas!

I told Eric’s mom, Donna, that this is a sign that we need to go ahead and submit our application for Deal or No Deal. Howie Mandel is one of Eric’s favorite, and they could use some money to help build a wheelchair friendly house! I have completed the application, now we just need to film a 5 minute video to submit. Let us know if you have any creative ideas that could be incorporated into the video!

Aunt Ann

Thank you to the students and families from St. Mark’s 2nd Grade Class. Granny is a 2nd grade teacher and they sent a gift basket for me. While the Cowboys aren’t my favorite team (Go Browns) I will think of the class when I wear the shirt and jersey. Thank you for all the wonderful gift cards you gave me. I look forward to using them sometime soon.

Read this article about how each one of you has helped Eric! Thank you to Mikki Kirby, DMN contributor, and to all who have read and posted here!

Read it here: Dallas Morning News article about this blog

THE Eric Rice, here!

Thank you for supporting me through this operation. It really lifted my spirits and still does. Therefore, I am asking you to donate in thanks to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Without the great care I received, I wouldn’t have undergone a successful operation and recovery. So as thanks, I am trying to get donations to help patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital feel more at home. The wonderful patients need donations such as DVDs for teenagers, music CDs, video games for Wii, XBOX, XBOX360 and Play Station 2. ESPN on their TVs, wireless internet service and laptop computers would also help! Thank you!

Aunt Ann, here. It is nothing short of amazing that not even a month after surgery Eric is wanting to “give back” to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital! Eric has some big ideas on how he can help the patients of the hospital and I will work with him to accomplish his goals - whatever it takes! For now, we are asking that donations be made directly to the hospital. I have personally contacted the hospital to insure that all donations in Eric’s honor are allocated to the Child Life Department and specifically to Eric’s ideas, as he mentioned above. Eric will also receive a letter from the hospital letting him know of the donations made in his honor.

I think it is important to point out that your continued comments left for Eric on this blog are more than sufficient at helping him through his long recovery. We do not wish to turn this blog into a “begging for money” - so please do not feel obligated to donate financially to Scottish Rite Hospital!

“Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children provides exceptional care to thousands of Texas children every year without charge to patient families. TSRHC is not a United Way agency, does not receive state or federal funding and does not bill private insurance. The hospital relies solely on the generosity of individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations to continue its mission.”

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Development Department - In honor of Eric Rice

2222 Welborn Street

Dallas, TX 75219-3993

Financial donations may be made directly to the hospital: http://www.tsrhc.org/default.asp?contentID=26

Simply click on the “Donate Now” button, enter your information, and if you wish, donate in “Honor of Eric Rice.” The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover.

Eric and I are watching Deal or No Deal. As you can see, he is enjoying his favorite junk foods-popcorn and m&m’s. If you had ever seen Eric before his surgery you will notice the difference in the way he is sitting. His body is facing forward and his torso is straight and not twisted to the side! Eric looks like a million bucks and hopefully the contestant will win a million on the gameshow!
Mom

Well, I think Eric was away from sports TV for too long in the hospital. I saw him watching the Daytona 500 today! I didn’t think NASCAR was a sport.
Eric had a good time at the mall yesterday with Carmen. He bought Scene It for the XBOX 360. The whole family played together last night. Dad won twice in a row. Only because I shared the answers that he didn’t know. It was nice to play together as a family.
We’ve been moving Eric around out of his wheelchair, on the couch, and on the recliner. His back gets sore from staying in the same position too long. He’s also getting those little “jolts” where the nerves are repairing themselves. We ordered a new seat for his electric wheelchair before he left the hospital. The only problem with that is all the parts are custom ordered and take a few months before they arrive.
Here’s a couple of pictures from Eric’s Birthday on January 11. One is to show how crooked he used to sit. I’ll take a new picture tomorrow to show you the after.
Good night and stay warm, Mom

Hey all!

Carmen here [eric’s cousin, aunt ann’s daughter]

What a day. I went with Eric to see the movie Jumper and to spend some of that money he got!!! While the movie was just okay (it could have been way better), we did go to Game Stop and get Scene It for the xbox! It was nice to get away from the parents and little sisters for a bit, and just spend some time without them. From getting soaked by the rain, to waiting for people to move in the store, to running over aunt ann’s foot (!), Eric and I had quite an adventure today. These past few weeks have been pretty tough, but I have to say, it definately seems worth it. Hanging out with Eric today was so much fun I can’t wait to do it again!

Mom here. It’s past time for a post from home, so I’m going to give it a try.

This has been a time of transition for Eric. I find myself trying to imagine what it would be like to go to sleep and wake up 4 inches taller in a different body. That is what Eric is going through. It wasn’t like a growth spurt. It was more like a magic wand! He’s having to adapt both physically and mentally to his new body. I’m sure it will take some time to get used to.

Eric has also been receiving support through snail mail. He enjoys opening the cards and letters. Thank you to Aunt Janet & Uncle Dennis, Cousin Maureen, Gram S. (aka Aunt Coletta), and Cousin Diane (and family) for the gifts. Granny and Pa brought over a Honey Baked Ham dinner right after everyone got home from the hospital. Thank you Christen for the delicious Chicken Pasta! Gracias to Mrs. Beltran (Aunt Ann’s mother-in-law) for the tamales! And hugs to Ms. Karen for surprising the family with Carrabba’s for Valentine’s dinner. To quote Eric: Oh my goodness! I have never tasted anything this good in my life! That was said after his first bite of sirloin marsala. It seems like Saltgrass might have some competition as Eric’s favorite restaurant for steak!

Eric and I were both pleasantly surprised today. The department where I work gave me a card for Eric before I left for home today. As you can see from the smile on Eric’s face he was happily surprised too.

Both Chris and I are fortunate to work with understanding and compassionate people. It has enabled both of us to focus on Eric and Megan for the past three weeks.

I have it on good authority that Eric is healing fantastically well. (Thanks Patty!) He had steri-strips covering both incisions. They are falling off and driving Eric crazy with itching!

I’m going to try to watch “LOST” on the Tivo. Thanks for staying tuned in!