Ring of Honor

On Friday, September 18, 2009, Don Scott became the recipient of the prestigious Ring of Honor from the National Tile Contractors Association at Total Solutions in San Antonio, Texas.

The Ring of Honor is a lifetime achievement award and was presented to Don who has served the association as 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, President, and Chairman of the Board as well as Chairman of the NTCA Technical Committee. Additionally, until his illness, he served as Chairman of the ASC A108 Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC-189 and as a member of the Tile Council of North America Handbook Committee.

Don’s career spans 40 years at David Allen Company. He started as a part-time estimator in 1969 on summer vacation from teaching school. He decided to stay and through the years has been a project manager, department manager, vice president of operations, and, in 1999, became the president of David Allen Company, the nation’s premier tile, marble, and terrazzo contractor.

Don was unable to travel to San Antonio for this year’s meeting, and the award ceremony was videotaped at the David Allen Company headquarters in Raleigh. In addition to the presentation by NTCA Executive Director Emeritus, Joe Tarver, Don received a watch bearing the David Allen Company logo from Robert Roberson, Chairman—CEO of David Allen Company.

The presentations were made on Thursday morning, September 10, in Raleigh. The employees of the Raleigh office were there to applaud and participate. As can be imagined, there was not a “dry eye” in the crowd as Mr. Roberson and Mr. Tarver talked about Don Scott, “the man,” and the leader we all love and cherish.

Happy Birthday, Don!

Armed with good wishes from everyone, birthday ambassadors Cheryl and Terry went to see Mr. Scott at lunchtime on the occasion of his “36th” birthday! Samantha’s banner made a bright addition to the hospital dining room when it was hung on the windows for all to enjoy.

We presented him with the framed photograph taken in the Raleigh office last week in anticipation of this occasion.

We didn’t forget Larry’s bucket head picture either. He got a big laugh out of that one.

Pat said the mailbox was crammed full yesterday and took several trips to get it all in the house. Thanks to everyone for sending the birthday cards—they did laugh, and they did enjoy them.

Tomorrow is the big day as Don prepares to go home. He’s had a couple of “dry runs” where everything went well, and he’s looking forward to going home to stay. Yesterday he said “it is so quiet there; I’m really looking forward to that.”

It’s been a long journey (62 days) and there has been so much progress made. Don has really worked hard, and he has promised the rehab staff that he’ll be back, and he’ll be walking when he returns!

And now, this is what you really want to see….

Happy Birthday and Welcome Home tomorrow! God is good all the time!

Ron Whitt and I had the opportunity to visit with Don this morning. We got to his room just after 11 a.m., and he had just finished physical therapy. He looked great and was in good spirits. His brother, Terry, from Alabama, was with him, and we had a good visit.

We talked about the tile work in the hospital, and he asked Ron if we did it. Ron wasn’t sure, but Don thought that one of our competitors might have done it because it needed some work. He said he told the doctor that he would work up a punch list for them.

We talked about the upcoming Wolfpack Football season, and he was excited about it and is planning on going to some games. Of course he and Ron talked about the menu for the tailgate parties. I think Don is ready for some real food. He told us that Pat and Katherine brought him a hamburger from Cook Out the other day and that it was the only “real” food he has had since he has been in the hospital.

We talked a little bit about work ,and he said he is ready to get back to the office. He is still expecting to be released from the hospital next Tuesday, August 25.

It was really good to see him, and he has made much progress since the last time I saw him. God truly does miracles. Keep Don, Pat and their entire family in your prayers.

Arthur Odom

Sunday night, August 16, 2009

Dear friends at David Allen,

Bob and I were able to have a nice visit with Don this afternoon. When we first arrived, Don had his TV set to the PGA golf tournament but was snoozing peacefully! So we just waited outside until a nurse indicated that he had awakened.

Don looked great and spoke clearly. He was proud to show that he has regained a little movement in his left hand and foot. He told us about a small setback that had occurred on Friday. Because of some swelling in his foot, the staff became suspicious of a blood clot, and subsequent tests confirmed those suspicions. A minor operation to insert a “screen” in his leg (to prevent the clot from travelling up to his heart or lungs) was completely successful. Don gets back to his rehab schedule tomorrow and hopes to be home at last on Friday.

He asked a lot of questions about the folks and work at David Allen Co. It was so great to see his determination to recover completely and get back to work. We had prayer with him before leaving and left feeling very grateful that the Lord has answered so many prayers on his behalf.

Phebe

August 11 Update

Friends, I was privileged today to have a lunch date with Mr. Scott. He called and asked me to bring some things to him for his speech therapist, and he says when they get through some job cost reports , he’ll graduate from speech therapy!

Don looks really good with his weight loss, new hair style and groomed brows. He looks rested and his color is great. You’d almost think he’s been on vacation.

Blackberry at hand, he is sending and receiving a few emails.

Don has been approved to stay in the Rehab hospital until August 18 with a re-evaluation to occur then. He was up on the walker this morning. He said he was unable to walk on it yet, but that is his goal before leaving there.

As you know, construction is everywhere on the Wake Medical Center campus, and Craig Cahoon had asked that Don be his on-site representative. Craig, he said to tell you that he’s got everything under control!

Because I know you also will be reading this, Don, I will tell you that when I left from our visit in June, I was crying but never without hope. Today, I am filled with tears of gratitude and a big grin across my face. I know everything is going to be okay.

Thanks be to God.

Terry

August 10th Update

This post submitted by Jim Owens:


Susan and I had a "banana pudding" visit with Don last Wednesday, Aug 5. Susan makes some of the best BP you've ever eaten, and as you all know, this is a Don favorite.

Jon and Catherine were there with him that day, as Pat was having some back issues and
needed to rest at home. We found a delightfully different Don, one more like the guy we all know and love. He was very alert, upbeat, joking and smiling, and very talkative. We
discussed many subjects, and we were fascinated at his memory of everything that has
occurred since he had his stroke. He was moving the fingers on his left hand, and described in detail the different kinds of therapy, the therapists and the rigors and results.
We saw a much improved and pleasantly optimistic Don, one who is looking forward to getting home, and one who is already planning the logistics of how all of this will be handled. Be reminded, however, that there is still much remedial work to be done for him to be able to resume the desired degree of daily normalcy.

Yesterday, as Susan and I were traveling back from a weekend trip, we had a call in the car from Don, to visit, and to wish Susan a happy birthday. Through the magic of
speakerphones, we were both afforded a great visit, and discussed several subjects.
Don related that on Friday, he was able to stand, and with the aid of two of the nursing staff, take several steps without a walker or the leg brace. He seemed very excited about
this progress. He stated that at this point, they are working toward his being released
from the hospital at the end of this week.

Don has mentioned on numerous occasions how many cards and letters they have gotten, and how much they have meant to them.

August 6th Update

Don is very upbeat and positive about his recovery and is committed to the hard work of daily therapy. He speaks often of how much he misses his friends and co-workers and wants you all to know that the care, love, support and prayers you have extended are greatly appreciated. If all goes well, Don may be able to come home in about another week or two. While there are certainly advantages to being at home, it will be somewhat more difficult for him to get to his therapy sessions. Don has nothing but high praise for his medical and therapy team at the hospital; he says that they have taken excellent care of him.

Don is continuing to see progress with some movement in his left leg. His arm and shoulder are coming along, but at a slower pace. The therapist tells us that the larger muscle groups usually respond to therapy first and then transition to the smaller muscle groups. He has feeling on his left side and with a leg brace can support some weight on his left leg. On Monday, Don moved his thumb and index finger in therapy. The therapist asked him to do it again, and he did!

Just as you would expect, Don still has his unique sense of humor and ability to communicate his genuine concern and care for others. Please continue to send cards to the home address and hopefully soon, Don and Pat will be able to have some visitors.

July 20th Update

Pat just called and talked to Mr. Roberson and to Terry, and she sounds the best I have heard.

She said that Don actually slept for four hours straight last night which is a big improvement. He is much more alert this morning and is expressing more positive thoughts than in the past. They are getting his medicine regulated so things are really looking up.

It still looks like two to four more weeks in the rehab hospital, but she thinks it will be closer to two weeks now. She is optimistic, but cautions that things could change.

Continue to keep them in your prayers.

July 17th Update

Post submitted by Jim Owens from speaking with Pat on the phone:

Don continues to work hard in Rehab.

Here are the highlights:

They are using some electro-stimulation on his left arm, leg and shoulder periodically to "wake the nerves"

He is doing various exercises to promote movement and return of balance. One involves pushing a basketball across a board. He moves it very slightly, but Pat says the therapists are encouraged and consider this to be progressive.

With help from two therapists, he stood up for the first time today. They put a leg brace on him today, but he still needs lots of support to stand and move. They are working hard to get him to move his left leg. They consider any left side movement as progress.

Pat says his medical team will not give a definitive long term prognosis. They do say he may drive again and return to work, but they emphasize that these events will take a great deal of time to occur.

He starts his day at 8 AM with breakfast, and goes through his therapy regimen until
2:30. He often falls asleep in the wheel chair on the way back to the room.

They expect him to be in the hospital, in therapy, for 4-5 more weeks. At that time he would be sent home, and would continue out patient therapy.

Pat says he has not really felt up to having company. She feels that this is due to his medications and his being very tired from the therapy sessions. He has very little appetite, and many odors or smells like soap, lotions or perfumes are offensive to him. Pat feels that they are finally getting his medicines balanced, which will improve the these issues.

He continues to have difficulty seeing to the left, which the Docs call "left side neglect" he has to force himself to turn to see the left periphery. His catheter was removed today, which is a positive.
Pat continues to emphasize that the recovery process is going to be long. She says her spirits are buoyed by Don's progress and his willingness to work toward improvement.

July 13th Update

This is a verbal report from Pat.

On Saturday Don showed some symptoms—tingling, tongue was not right, dizziness. They did a CT scan and determined that no additional damage was occurring, just IMPROVEMENT!

The swelling is lessening and the hemorrhaging is being reabsorbed by the body. This will cause strange symptoms for a while and will be a 4-to 6-week process.

He is in physical therapy today.

The doctors say they want Don to concentrate on therapy and healing and to avoid all stress.

July 10th Update

Post Submitted by Jim Owens:

I have just had a call from Pat. She started her conversation by saying that she had some good news. She reports that Don is feeling better today and is showing some signs of improvement. The therapists have been using a Hoya lift to belt him and transport him to the wheel chair, rest room, to get him to a standing position, etc. They have discontinued this and are now using two people to get him to a standing position and to help him walk. He can distribute weight and walk with the help of two people, and they are thinking about trying a leg brace today to help him to stand. She emphasizes, however, that he cannot walk or stand on his own, and although they are optimistic, he still has a "long way to go."

He can smile and wink now, and yesterday moved him to a regular diet. These are all positives, as this means he can swallow efficiently, and is regaining some use of his facial muscles on the left side. Pat says that he does okay with eating, but that his appetite is not great. The rash and reaction to the stroke medication has subsided, but he is still taking pain meds and muscle relaxers. She reported that he slept through the night on Thursday evening, which is a victory.

Pat says that Don's daily therapy really tires him out, and that his doctors and attendants are still saying that he is not up to seeing visitors yet. She promises to let us know when they, and she, feel he us up to company. They are telling her that they feel he has at least three more weeks of formalized therapy to accomplish, but this can change and become a longer period, depending on their weekly evaluations.

Pat is upbeat and stated that she is doing well and is encouraged by his progress. She emphasizes that his doctors and caretakers are telling her that the key for both of them, and for all of us who are concerned, is patience. Stoke rehabilitation is a long arduous process, and takes a lot of time.

July 8th Update

Post submitted by Jim Owens:

I have just had a call from Pat Scott. She says that Don has had a better day today, but still has a rash and some pain from the reaction and fever he suffered on Sunday to one of the stoke medications that was being given to him. She says he has been through his therapy routine today, and is now being given some muscle relaxers for back spasms and to help him sleep.

He is receiving some electric muscle stimulation therapy to his left side limbs, and is doing repetitive motion exercises to encourage the regeneration of muscle memory.

Due to the fever and reaction to the medication, his therapy schedule was disturbed, and his evaluation process delayed. The doctors and therapists say that it is still too early to predict how he will respond to treatments, and how well he will progress in recovering feeling and movement on the left side. They are still working toward his being able to come home in two weeks, but this is not a certainty at this juncture and it could be four to six weeks.

We discussed visitation, and, although she and Don appreciate and know how much many of us would like to see him, she says his doctors are advising against it at present. Pat says he is very tired and continues not to rest well. She says that, candidly, Don just does not feel like company now. She pledges to let us know when he regains strength and feels like having visitors. I asked her about herself, and in typical "Pat fashion" says she is fine and holding up well. Her orthopedist has actually moved her therapy base to Wake Med, so they are actually able to be in therapy at some of the same times. She says she is going home to sleep in the evenings, as Don is not in a private room now, and staying the night at the hospital relegates her to sleeping on a sofa in the therapy wing lobby.

Day 5 & 6 Update from Pat

Sorry for the delay in updating, but Pat has had her hands full.

Don was moved to the Rehab unit Wednesday PM. He spent his first night there, and started the rehab evaluation process this morning at 6AM. He is being encouraged to dress and bathe himself ( with help as needed). He is transported to therapy sessions and meals in the cafeteria via wheelchair. The purpose of the rehab evaluation is to establish a baseline from which they will work, and goals for him to achieve by certain times. He is going through physical therapy, speech therapy, head trauma evaluation, and mentality therapy. They will probably have his evaluation and base line done by tomorrow PM. Pat says this therapy is rigorous and wears him out. He works with each therapist for 30 minutes 2 times a day or more. His two doctors are Dr. Solomon and Dr. O'Brien. They are both very upbeat about Don and his ability and desire to work toward recovery. They state that his mental acuity is very good at this point.

Don's situation can certainly change, but the goal and hope at this point is that he will go home in two weeks. Pat is cautiously optimistic, and continues to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and continued support. As most of you know, they do not want anyone to dote, but she does ask that any cards be sent to their home, and not to Wake Med. Also, food and flowers are not the best idea now, as she is spending most of the time at the hospital, and goes home at unpredictable times. Food and meals will be much better appreciated when Don comes home.

Pat feels that attempts to visit right now is not a good plan, as his initial therapy schedule is intense, and she feels he will go right to sleep between all the activity. Therapy is seven days a week.

Today was the first interview with the neuropsychologist who was very encouraging. Assessments were performed so that there is a baseline to measure his progress.

Don is going to have to work really hard, and today’s news is the most encouragement they have had so far.

Don and Pat continue to express their gratefulness for all of your loving concern and prayers.

Day 4 Update from Pat

Sunday night, Don slept very well and Monday was upgraded to a "Soft Diet", which means he can have some meat and veggies. Monday night was restless, but the good news is that Don was moved to a private room around 10:00pm.


Monday was a big day for firsts; solid food, meeting with the physical therapist and the occupational therapist and standing beside the bed - with help. Both therapists will be working with Don up to 3 hours a day. Wednesday will be another big day because Don will be moving again to a Rehabilitation room. This will probably be his last move until he returns home.


Tuesday morning he ate eggs for breakfast, that were overdone, which is not the way he likes them, but in typical Don fashion, didn't complain, well maybe a little. His vital signs continue to be excellent and he is no longer on oxygen and they have removed all the IV's. Pat reports that he has some sensation of hot and cold on the left side of his face and he can smile and "show his teeth", which the nurses say is a positive sign. All of this is great news, but there is a long way to go and rest is very important.


Don, Pat and the family want all of you to know how grateful they are for the outpouring of support they have received, the visits, phone calls, cards and emails. They are overwhelmed by your love and kindness so please accept a great big Thank You!


For the next several days, please do not attempt to visit or call Don or Pat because the medical staff says that what Don needs the most is rest. Pat has promised to let us know when it will be appropriate for visits and calls and assures us that the day will quickly come when that is just what the doctor orders.


Please continue to keep Don and Pat in your prayers and if you would like to send a card, send it to their home address at, 2305 Wheeler Rd. Raleigh NC 27612, and Pat will deliver them to Don daily.

Day 3 Update from Pat

This post was written by Jim Owens.

Pat called me about 7 AM. Don had a good evening and was able to sleep through the night. He was given slightly more medication to help him sleep, but they are not sedating him, as they need to monitor has brain patterns. According to the morning CAT Scan, the deep bleed within his brain has ceased, and he is considered to be stabilized. Some good news items are:

He has passed the "swallowing test" and they will be moving him to a liquid and cream diet today.

They will be moving him from ICU to a private room later today. Pat will call me when this happens, as she says he is asking to see me. As most of you know, I had a very good visit with him on Saturday PM after the event of Saturday morning. He was still in the ER at that time, but was moved just after our visit to ICU. The fact that they
are moving him today is a positive sign

Best news is that his ICU nurse was turning him in the bed early this AM, and he was trying to help her, and she reported that he was able to move his left leg and foot, an extremely positive thing for us to hear, as he was initially paralyzed on the left side of his body.

Thanks Jim for the update, this is very encouraging news.

Our goal will be to give an update daily by 1:00pm.

Day 2 Update from Pat

As of noon today Pat reported that Don's condition had not changed much from yesterday except with some important additions. This mornings CT scan was the same as yesterday. This is very good new because that means there has been no further bleeding in his brain. He had a little pudding and graham cracker for lunch which is also good news because that indicates that he can swallow. He is in no significant pain although he is receiving small amounts of morhpine so that he can rest better. Please continue to keep Don in your prayers and I will post any new updates as soon as I receive them. God bless you all, Judith

Background on Don's stroke

On Saturday, June 27th, Don Scott suffered a stroke while eating brunch at a local restaurant with Pat and Katherine. Pat immediately called 911 and the ambulance response was very prompt. He was taken to Wake Medical Hospital on New Bern Rd. in Raleigh.
The doctors determined that he had suffered a "deep bleed" in the middle of the brain and was therefore not operable. He was given medicine to help clot his blood so as to stop the bleeding. The left side of his body is presently paralized, his speech is affected but understandable and he is coherent. He is aware of all that is going on around him and has excellent memory both long and short term. Pat called Mr. Roberson who immediately began calling friends and co-workers at David Allen. It was not long before the emergency waiting room was filled with those who came to support Don and his family. He is now in ICU and resting comfortably except for a small headache. Pat said he was in good spirits. The next 24 hours will be very important for Don and I will be updating this blog as soon as I have anything new to report. Pat and the family would greatly appreciate your prayers for Don and in typical Scott fashion graciously extend their thanks for your love and concern.