It seems like Tison loves going down hill. He has adapted to the winter in Alaska very well. Who would have thought a child who knows only sandy beaches and tropical weather, would feel so at home in the snow. His host family has made it possible for him to enjoy sledding, snow machining, and snowboarding.I have watched Tison play soccer for hours in Indonesia, even with his disabilities. Soccer is really a popular sport in Indonesia. He told...

We all walked into the surgery center at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital early in the morning on February 4. Tison had picked up a cold over night. That was not a good sign for the scheduled surgery. The nurse came into the pre-op room and took his vitals and expressed a little concern but said the decision to have the surgery was up to the Anaesthesiologist. We waited for a while and then the Anaesthesiologist came in and in a short time he made...

Tison has been very active since he came to Fairbanks. The Johnson’s, his host family, have made many opportunities for him to enjoy the fun activities of Alaska. In Indonesia, Tison’s father is a fisherman, in the remote region of North Maluku. Tison talks about his father and the fish he catches, now he is also catching fish. It is very different when you can drive on the lake and drill a hole in the two feet thick ice and put...

The next surgery for Tison is very close. The first surgery is healing well and the surgeon is confident he is ready for the next step. February 4 is the date set for the surgery.His translator, Hendra, was able to stay about a month longer than he was planning. He has enough time on his visa and he has been very gracious to give another month to assist in Tison’s transition. The next surgery will realign his great toe on his left foot...

Thumbs up is the best way to describe Tison’s first surgery. Literally, Tison’s injured thumb is now up. It was bent backwards in a very awkward and useless angle. The thumb on his right hand was pointing backwards. It was painful just to look at it. It was completely non-functioning. The first surgery turned the thumb into its normal position. The surgeon placed a pin in the end of the thumb to hold it in the correct angle until it...

Tison came out of surgery thirsty and groggy. If you have every been in surgery, you know the feeling but likely do not remember much. He did very well following the surgery on his right wrist and thumb. He was taken to his room and had his right hand elevated. A good first night sleep followed and he was released the next morning.After arriving home he asked for French fries, chicken nuggets, and ketchup. The three main food groups for this...

Tison came out of the two hour surgery, completing a major hurdle in the year of care in the U.S. The hospital staff did a wonderful job of preparing him and making him comfortable with the unknown ahead of him. He has never had surgery before. He was aware of why he was here and the day of his reconstruction had finally come. Liz Wood, the nurse who has a major role in his care, wrote her evaluation of the surgery, “Some work on his...

Tison has had a wonderful Christmas and has seen a lot of new things. I have written about his adjustments and the many people who have been a part of his first month here in Fairbanks. He is a lot of fun and is really making strides in his English language. I am surprised at how fast he is picking up phrases and key words.The real reason he has come here is to get his burn injuries treated. Liz sent us a note with the awesome news that he has...

Tison opened each gift with what can only be called–pure joy. He was as excited and joyous for everyone who got to open a gift at our home, for his first American Christmas. It was like the best day you can imagine.When the dust settled he got three movies. He kept saying moobee. He loved the remote control car and mastered it in a short time. Our dog does not appreciate the car but Tison is enjoying the small things.We do not have a date...

English is not an easy language to master. If you come from a remote island in a far off corner of Indonesia, you will not hear English spoken. You may not even hear Bahasa Indonesia (official language) spoken either, because many of these people speak only their local dialect. Tison comes from one of these places and has done very well in his first weeks in America.We just love the way he asks to see a movie–he calls it MooBee. He is now...