Update #97 from Rob and Linda

Happy Halloween to you all. We didn't pass out candy this year, as the doorbell ringing sends the dog into barking hysterics, which startles Steve. Despite the fact that our lights were off, several groups of kids rang the bell and we wound up with a plate of spagetti launched in the family room! Nothing to do but laugh about it!

It hardly seems like 10 days since the last update and 21 since Steve came home. We are starting to get into a routine and it feels good to do the same thing the same way, more than once. As Lin mentioned, Steve and I travel to Med-Rehab in Ann Arbor Monday thru Thursday for therapy. We are trying to get him to see Speech, OT and PT for an hour each day 4X per week. He was getting 90 minutes of OT and PT per day in the hospital, but that was split up into two 45 minute sessions before and after lunch. We have asked to keep our appointments in the afternoon with the winter coming up. Thankfully, Beth lives in Ann Arbor, so we might invade her if the weather gets bad!

Trying to get the needed supplies is also a daunting task, but so far so good. You really don't realize how easy it was in the hospital, until you leave.

We have great therapists, and as before, they seem to have taken a special interest in Steve. We are seeing more spontaneous use of the left hand and arm. In PT we are seeing that a walking machine that Steve could not use before, works well now that he has some strength in the left arm. The task is to get Steve to keep his feet from crossing in front of each other. This usually happens when he gets tired.

We plan to start short therapy sessions at home so we can keep Steve "in shape" so to speak. Getting more involved in Steve's therapy will be good for us all. If you'd like to help out with this, please let us know. :) It can be as simple, but important, as having him say words to complete sentences.

Our home design is also helping strengthen Steve's legs. Being a Quad Level, we have added railings to both sides of each stairway and Steve has little problem getting up and down with one of us standing with him. This will only get better as he gains more strength on the left side.

Steve seems so rested to us since leaving the hospital. A dark, quiet room works wonders! He gets about 10 hours of sleep every night. We have also started giving him small doses (which will be slowly increased) of a different anti-seizure medicine, which his neurologist wanted him on. It took us days to get up the courage to actually give it to him, but haven't noticed any side effects. We think timing is everything, and make sure he gets it after tube feeds.

We are thankful for everyone who comes by to see Steve at home, as well as the countless others who send energy, prayers, emails, cards, meals, etc. We treasure you all! Beth keeps Steve supplied with Sudoku puzzles and chocolate chip cookies, which just cracks us up, as he never used to eat junk food!

Please continue to keep Steve in your thoughts and prayers. We're also asking for your prayers for a teacher at the high school Beth and Steve attended. He fell while hunting last weekend and suffered an injury to his spine (neck). He was airlifted to UofM Hospital and is in the ICU there. His family reports that he has been able to breathe on his own for up to 36 minutes, and that he now has some feeling in his upper arms. We don't know him, but this hits a little too close to home. We know what miracles you have worked for Steve, so please keep "Kirk" in your thoughts.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! We're taking Steve for his first "official" haircut in a long time, and hoping to enjoy the beautiful weather and maybe see a movie. :)

Thanks,
Rob and Linda