Derek Zike Get Well Fund

Hi All,

          The website has been down for a couple of weeks, I didn’t know we had to pay for the www.derekzike.comdomain name ? But our friend (Mike Morris) in Canada has got us back on track and up and running.Derek has recently got some flicker movement in his fingers. Derek decided to do some therapy on his own one day and he got on the Moto-med bike and did an hour on the legs and half hour on the arm bike, well he over worked the muscles in his back has been in pain since then. He has been on advil for the last seven days and seems to be getting better.On Monday he had surgery on his toe for an ingrown toenail and it is healing up nicely .Robin decided to put soap in the foot soaker machine and soak his feet, well she had so many bubbles that they were two foot high and growing , so she had to get a bath towel and kept transferring bubbles to the bathroom as fast as she could, ha ! Derek was excited about the USHL Gala, which included dinner,guest speakers, a silent auction for Derek and a chance to take pictures with the Stanley Cup ! It was a great night thanks to Paul and Cindy Skojdt. Derek enjoyed the speach by Jimmy Carson who told the story about Wayne Gretzky and being involved with the most controversial trade in history that sent him to Edmonton for Wayne.Derek was honored to be around all the USHL All-Stars that evening and to  learn about the college experience and commitment that the USHL hockey league are reinforcing for our up and coming young hockey players and teaching them the importance of a college career after their playing days,and Derek enjoyed his time with (Indy ICE player) Nick Balien and Nick’s family.Derek was especially excited when Nick Balien scored the winning goal in overtime for the East All- Stars.We as a family enjoyed watching the Legends game with Paul and Charlie Skojdt, The Trottier’s,Krajovic, and all the old Checkers and Racers, and Bob Kravitz as goalie.Sam’s team went to the game to see the speed and passing and playmaking of some of the best young hockey players in the nation.Derek is starting to get back some college acceptance letters, which is exciting.We will let you know what he decides ? Derek and family are headed to Chicago next weekend for his brother Sam’s Central States  hockey tournament . Derek is excited to watch Sam and his team as the #2 seed  compete against Chicago’s best for the league title. Derek has done well maneuvering in the snow in his wheelchair, we try to get him to wear gloves but he is 17  and too tough for  all that nonsense.Taylor rebroke his collarbone and was home for the weekend.Taylor headed back to Chicago for the remainder of the season and hopes to be ready for the State tournament and Regionals. I am getting close to finishing remodeling Robin’s room at her salon and got Taylor’s bumper and fender back on his car.I am making a desk out of cherry for Derek’s room so he will have more access to his stuff .Derek and I are going to a gym next week to start doing some therapy. The guy at the gym is looking forward to working with Derek and says “If Derek can move it, I can help him get stronger” So Derek is looking forward to the challenge.Derek is doing great in school and has done a great job of keeping up  with all the homework.Robin put in an ad for the high school  yearbook for Derek which consisted of a collage of pics that we will post on his website when we get it back.Derek is looking forward to going the the Olympics in late Feburary.I hope everyone is well and warm !    Thanks for all your support, Mike