Monday, December 17th, 2007

Today David worked on the stationary bike in the gym with Mitch. David was really sleepy (the drugs) so Mitch had to continually encourage him and ‘wake him up.’ Mitch would apply a little pressure on David’s left leg whenever it was time to push. After a while I saw David make a fist and begin to pull his arm back, and Mitch calmly put his hand over David’s fist and asked him what was wrong. David told him to quit touching his leg. I don’t know if David would have hit Mitch or not, but Mitch defused the situation nicely, and they moved on.

Mitch worked with David on standing up from a seated position (pushing up with his right arm, keeping his ‘nose over his toes’ and straightening his legs) over and over. Then they worked on transferring from a seated position into a wheel chair. Not by standing and pivoting, but more of a squat and pivot. It was good practical training that will help a lot until he is able to do all of these things on his own.

Then Mitch had David walk between the balance bars, turn around, and do it again a few times. It ended up being a great workout, and David was tuckered out.

As David was heading back to his room, we got a call from the Mannings, saying that they were almost to Palo Alto. David wanted to get ready before Kelli arrived. We hurried and shaved but didn’t have time to change clothes before Wes, Rose and Kelli got there. Bruce, the speech guy, showed up at the same time to teach me how to feed David, so the Mannings got to sit in on David’s lunch. He did well and maybe has graduated to the next step towards real food.

David was tired so we all left and the Mannings treated us to a birthday lunch at P.F.Changs, (yes I’m another year older) and it was good to get away from the hospital for a bit, and hang out with friends.

Tonight David was awake and talkative (from about 9 until 10:30), and we had a good time with him. He definitely enjoyed having Kelli there. Kelli called Ashlea Thayer, and David talked to her, and we could hear her getting emotional, and then we got emotional. She sang ‘happy birthday’ to him, and it was pretty special.

It was another really good day in Palo Alto. Areas of recovery to pray for might be more strength in David’s left leg, ankle and foot, movement in his left arm and hand (there seems to be none), and his memory. We thank you all for your faithful prayers and comments. They really help.

Steve