Straight from the Heart

A more difficult time our family has never passed through. We are all trying to find the positive and laugh when we can. With all of the updates of good news and fun pictures posted on the blog there has also been many tears, heart ache and pain. All of your support and prayers have been a great blessing to our family. When the Lord promises us that he will pick us up and carry us through hard times, we have felt the Lord working through all of you. We came across a song this week that express' what we as a family have felt this past month and we would like to share it with you:

He knows your heart, He knows your pain, He knows the strength it took just to simply breathe today. He sees the tears that you cry, He knows your soul is aching to know why, He hears your prayers Each humble word, When you said you couldn't face another day He understood, He knew the paths that you walk blind, Though you've felt alone He's never left your side. He knew there'd be moments when no earthly words could take away your sorrow And no human eyes could see what you're going through When you've taken your last step and done all that you can do he will lift your heavy load and carry you, He'll bring you peace and leave you hope And through the darkest night He'll comfort you until you know the sun will rise and each new day. You will have the strength to live again and in the moments when no earthly words can take away your sorrow And no human eyes can see what you're going through When you've taken your last step and done all that you can do He willl lift your heavy load and carry you. He hears you when you're crying in the night He hears you when your soul longs to fight, til the morning will come and the light of the dawn reassures He knew there'd be moments when no earthly words could take away your sorrow and no human eyes could see what you're going through When you've taken your last step and done all that you can do He will lift your heavy load and carry you. Hillary Weeks

We miss all of you dearly, and also love our new friends here in Denver, the Lord has never left us alone. We will be forever grateful for your faithfulness and prayers in our behalf. Please continue to share the plan of happiness with those you come in contact with.
all of our love,
Cord, Lisa, Josh, Jake, Justin, Marne' and Colton

An Exciting Week of updates

• Monday,Started Physical Therapy
• Tuesday, triceps and lat muscles engaged-Super exciting
• Wednesday, got a smaller trac called a "jackson 5", mom and dad passed off classes to be able to take Josh outside. We don't want to brag or anything but we did get 100% on our test.
• Wednesday, Josh also was qualified to get on a bike. They "stem" his muscles to see if they respond, they did right away. Another great blessing and exciting news for us. He will be scheduled to ride every M,W,F.
• Thursday, worked hard in P.T. and played a little "baseball"
• Friday, got fit for 2 new wheelchairs. One is a corvette version to be pushed on his own, the other is electric to race with Grandpa Wayne! Josh actually pushed the corvette all on his own for about 20 feet. We have worked hard and had an incredible week.

Trying to change Josh from a Cougar Fan to a Colorado anything Fan-We don't think so

Dave Freeman (Brianna Gardiner's Uncle) tried to capatalize on Josh not being able to move

Does He know BYU is ranked 16 this year?

Craig has some fun staff and also a super cute staff

Another Kansas Fan!

We love the respitory therapists

Life's path change for all of us

A tender mercy from our Heavenly Father we want to share

We all experience blessings and tender mercies from the Lord each day. These last few weeks our family has felt many and our hearts are full from all of your prayers and faith in our behalf. The Lord has truly kept his promise when he tells us that he will lighten our load, whenever it seems too heavy for us to carry, he picks us up and brings us through. We have probably had the hardest week of our families lives this week. It is a great blessing to be here at Craig Hospital but we are very homesick for all of you, and our emotions are being tested, along with our strength. Cord says "It is flat out tough"!
The other night we were reading the scriptures around Josh's bed. We were passing the scriptures from person to person and it came Josh's turn to read we were in Enos. Enos was praying unto the Lord to preserve the record of their people. The Lord told Enos, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it. And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time".
We are so grateful that we are able to pray unto the Lord asking in faith, believing that He knows who we are and our needs and will meet them, in His own due time. As a family we find great strength in the phrase "In His own due time".
Josh says to everyone that asks "what they can do" and he says "read your scriptures daily and continue to pray". We are all so grateful for your faithfulness and feel of the blessings daily that it is bringing to our family. Much love from, Cord, Lisa, Josh, Jacob, Justin, Marne' & Colton

Medical Update

• Sunday morning a new smaller trac was placed in Josh, it is much easier for him to talk and to exhale all of the air out of his lungs. This trac is awesome because it does not have a cuff. (which is the balloon mechanism that expands in his throat)
• "Where's the beef?" YEAHHH No more feeding tube
• Lungs look so great, infact on the exray they are normal!
• Started PT today and did great, tired this evening! We are so excited about his progress.

Does it get any better than Chillis Fajitas?

Party with the "Brothers" and Aunt Julie

Craig Hospital Now 2008

Craig Hospital then 1907

In 1907 Craig Hospital was established as a tuberculosis camp

Dr. Craig

The patients stayed in tents during their treatments.

1960 Physical Therapy

Medical Update

• The staff here at Craig is amazing
• They are doing a battery of tests on Josh the next two days to decide "where he is at", and then they will start working with him
• Patience is a virtue
• We are overwhelmed at the opportunity to be here with this amazing medical staff, Josh is continuing to be well cared for as he was at Mckay Dee.
• Patience is a virtue
• His spirits are good, and visitors and food are welcome

Remember: "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere"

Leaving McKay and arriving at Craig

What Sweet Rides!!

Arrived just how we like it "No Complications"

A big thank you to Angelmed flight and their crew.

One picture of a thousand that have shown your love for us, we are so grateful for good friends

Colton, Travis, Cord, Brian, & Dusty

A few good laughs always lighten the load

So Dedicated to his brother, it can be exhausting

Check out the drooling on the chair

Sweet Family, Sweet Friends, Sweet hospital staff who have become Friends

We couldn't do this with out all of you!!!

We love the ICU Staff at McKay Dee, they saved our life, literally.
It is amazing in a 3 week period of time how complete strangers can become such dear friends. The Pack family will ever be indebted to the staff at Mckay Dee. Thank you for all of your professionalism, love, and amazing knowledge you shared with us. We love you

Chicks dig body damage

Oh how sweet it is

The smile says it all

Real food at last it does a body good!

First meal:

Chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes & gravy, fruit, and gatorade!

"Run for Josh"

A big thank you to Jordan and Steve Sessions, & Zions Bank-Eden Branch employees! What an incredible event for Josh and our family. We feel overwhelmed at the love and prayers that have been given in Josh's behalf. We wish that there were words to describe the feelings in our hearts for all of our family, friends and many we don't even know who have prayed and shared so much with us. There is no way for us to return our gratitude to each of you individually so it is our families goal to "pay it forward". We love you all! Josh, Cord, Lisa, Jake, Justin, Marne', & C-dog

Gatorade "Is it in you"

Joshua has been given the green light to eat & drink whatever he wants!!!! Gatorade rain was his first request. This is a huge step for Josh who has had a c-5 spinal cord injury many who experience this type of injury have a permanent feeding tube. We are thrilled and feel so grateful!

Josh's quote of the day

"It is so freakin nice to be able to talk"!

Today they were able to put a cap on his tracheotomy which allowed him to speak. For the past 10 days we all have been trying to read his lips, at times this can be incredibly challenging and frustrating. We have loved hearing his voice today and just visiting with him! His spirits are high, and his gratitude for all of you is tremendous. He is so grateful for all of your fasting and prayers, he feels of every one's love! Thank you

"Let em out"!!

It was a pleasure to spend some time outside,

first time in 16 days. Love that sunshine and

clean air!

New Suite on the west wing of the ICU

Lots of sun, no tubes in the mouth, tracheotomy is working great, Life is better!

Friends make tough times easier!!

We love all of those who are caring so kindly for Josh

Tyler you totally ROCK Man!

We love you!

Inspiring words from an inspiring teacher

We have appreciated and loved everyone's emails. They are making Josh smile and bringing much encouragement and inspiration to a very difficult time. Keep them coming. We wanted to share a thought from Michelle Evans. (Josh's 6th grade teacher)

Dear Josh,
The moment that I first heard about your accident I began to pray for you and think about you constantly during the day. Then and Now I feel that somehow and sometime in the not-too-far distant future everything will be okay for you.
I went to the hospital today to try to write in your book or give a family member a hug and couldn't find the book that the blog says is in the waiting room or anybody else. So, here's a letter! And, of course, as your former teacher, here's your assignment. Get that handsome, ripped body of yours out of there! You have permission to make all of the nurses in love with you. You have permission to be the incredibly positive minded person that you are. You have permission to keep that 100% attitude at 100%.
Your life has already fired up so many people to want to do better and be better. Your accident is just the usual Pack-type of "break some sort of bone because that's just what Packs do." But know that you are loved and cared about fiercely because that's just what Packs deserve too. We are all rooting for you.
Much love to you, Michelle Evans often known as Mzz. Evans

We are so grateful for the support of all of you, our family and friends!

Nothing like an old fashioned picinic at McKay Dee!

Sunday Dinner

"Good Brethren in the Gospel"

Bringing Great Strength

Josh loves his Priest Quorum

A big thank you to the Young Single Adults for the quilt-it will be a keepsake!