Hello and a belated Happy Halloween to all of you. Hope all is well. Can you tell when this was supposed to be published?
Steve and Rob dressed in costume for the Willowbrook Halloween Feast Friday the 29th and won the "Funniest Costume Award". They dressed as "Occupational/Physical Terrorists" complete with Nerf Weapons and a calling card that has a picture of a medieval "Rack" and a note that said,"O.P.T. Inc. masters at inflicting pain on those who sorely need it!"
As we made up the costumes, we put every quotation we have ever heard from any therapist we have encountered, on our costumes. Some are;
Wait---let me turn up the E-Stim. I've lost count, start over. No Pain no Gain. Does it hurt yet? Are you tired yet? No? do 10 more! P.T.= Pain and Torture, Holy Hamstrings (my personal favorite as they stretched Steve's tight muscles)........... I think we said it all and we got rave reviews from the Willowbrook staff. One thought that has come to mind is that the therapists are a lot like the Nerf Weapons we used. They may look menacing but they never really hurt anyone! They truly are great individuals and we would be lost without them!
Not much to update here; Steve's voice is steadily progressing as is his left arm/hand. He called "Grams" the other day, YES on the phone, and he made the mistake of calling just before the election----Grams hung up on him. She thought he was a solicitor!!!......... Needless to say she was "mortified" and appropriately "chastised" for her error. Steve also carried on an actual conversation with his friend Jess the other night. He is by no means totally conversant, but he has come miles from where he was a year ago, and is definitely moving in the right direction.
Rob and Steve have both started using Slimfast for breakfast in hopes of losing a few pounds as this issue continues to plague Steve. We have moved our elliptical upstairs so Steve can make better use of it, but we all know that you must eat less to lose the most weight.
Katie, Steve's OT, and her student Melissa, have been working tirelessly on stretching and manipulating Steve's left hand and arm. They have gotten him to the point where he is getting some functional use of both the hand and arm. (see video). He can now use the left side to grab hold of the many grab bars we have throughout the house, as well as consistently transfer a tennis ball (slowly) from his left hand to the racket. He can also reach up to shoulder height to grab a tennis ball, and then can almost throw it at Rob.
As we have mentioned, Steve has been off all meds since July and has had no concerns. We are getting a good feel for what his "unmedicated baseline" is and will now be better able to determine if any new meds or procedures are benefiting him. We are currently using caffeine to help Steve's response time and it certainly has not hurt him. We love using "over-the-counter" remedies as opposed to medicating him again. We may have to use something stronger in the future, but for now Starbucks Double-Shots, and Iced Triple Grande Non-Fat No Whip 2 Pump white chocolate mochas are the course!
Steves' friends that he used to room with came in for the Illinois Game and invited Steve and parents along. Rob whined it was too cold, only 40 at game time, but as the sun came out at the half and Michigan managed a win, it turned out to be a REALLY good day. They stopped buy on the following Sunday and readily volunteered to eat a good breakfast. We wonder if these fellows know the good they do when they stop by..........Thanks Guys!
Thanks for keeping Steve in your thoughts and prayers.
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