Update #64 from Rob

Hello everyone.



Steve continues to do well in Physical Therapy and his "strolls" around the room are becoming a part of every session. The fact that he can do this at all is testament to the positive thoughts and prayers being sent his way and to his own will to recover fully. His determination seems to lift the spirits of all in the room, patients and therapists alike. We hear comments like "there goes Steve again, an inspiration to us all". I sincerely do hope that his efforts serve to bolster not only Steve believing in himself, but others that watch him believing in themselves also. There is so much sorrow in that room. There are those that have little support, and have to go through therapy alone. Please take a moment and wish them best of luck too.




Steve also has made gains in speech. Lin and I thought we would shake up the routine a little by having him do the last speech therapy alone. Turns out all it took was to have Aunt Gail sit in. Steve was able to verbalize, "Hi Mom, Dad, Beth, Grandma, Aunt Gail " and of course "Hi Danielle". He also agreed with his therapist, Laura, when told what he had just done was "amazing" by repeating the word. He also learned to "air spell" and informed Laura and Aunt Gail that the team the Wings are playing is Dallas, by forming the letters with his right hand as if he was drawing them on an invisible chalkboard.


Another speech therapist worked with him Saturday and had him saying the names of the objects in the room. He verbalized items like "flashlight", etc. and was able to tell the therapist the name of his girlfriend clear enough for her to understand it. (She had never met Danielle nor knew her name).




The X-Rays of Steve's shoulders showed no concerns so further stretching and therapy should not be a problem. Glasses should be here next week.




The headaches continue but do not deter progress in therapy. There are thoughts that they may be the result of atmospheric pressure on the brain, due to the lack of the 'cushioning' of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in an enclosed cranial cavity. What this means is it may be time to replace the bone flap. Lin and I have also made the doctors aware of the pain Steve has when he coughs. It appears that the bone flap may also be the cause of this as the area Steve points to when the pain occurs is on the edge of it. Whatever the decision, when you look back at what Steve has been through, this is merely a bump in the road to full recovery and has to be done at some time anyway.



On a lighter note, he no longer needs the TV remote he was given by rehab engineering...he can handle the regular remote now that his vision, strength, and coordination has improved. A definite lifestyle improvement! It also gives him access to the nurses' call button. Even though someone is always with him, we can now ask him to push the button...it's one more little step to being in control of things in his life.



Yesterday he was sitting in the recliner in his room and wrote that he was sliding down too far. Lin and her mom were there and talked about getting someone to help boost him up. Steve heard this and kicked the pillow out from under his feet, Lin held him under his arms and lifted, and he was able to push himself up and back into a more comfortable position. This may sound like a little thing, but it is really a huge improvement in his life as he loves that chair and keeping him in a comfortable position has always been a challenge!

Wishing you all the best.
Thanks,
Rob and Lin