Monday and Tuesday, January 14th and 15th, 2008

David walked on the treadmill yesterday and today, for 15 and 22 minutes. I think that a few days ago he walked for 10 minutes.

Yesterday David got botox (spelling?) shots in his left arm and leg. He gets a tummy tuck tomorrow. Actually, the botox is to relax the muscles on one side of his arm (bicep) and leg, so that the other side (triceps) can be exercised to the point of being equal. I’m sure I’ve totally screwed up the translation of this procedure. This will hopefully regain movement in his left arm and hand, and improve the strength of his left leg. David said that the 13 shots didn’t hurt too badly; mainly it was when they squirted the botox into his leg that it was painful. If this helps, there will be periodic injections to continue the treatment.

Last week, Laura, his Neuro-Psych doctor gave him a test. She said that she would come by this week and, if he remembered to ask, she would give him the results. I missed their meeting, but David told me that he asked, and she said that he did average. He told me that he was real disappointed, because he wanted to do better. Then she explained that there was no ‘curve’ in the results for TBI patients, that he scored average for the "general population"! Imagine how he will do when he recovers fully!

After David’s vision therapy, we were just hangin’ in the lunchroom, waiting for the lunch delivery, and David started to talk to some other guys who were waiting also. They were ‘patients’ in the ‘PTRIP’ unit. Military men who have been through what David is going through now, and are now in this more advance ‘transitional’ program. There is another Air Force guy in that unit, so David felt a little ‘camaraderie’ thing. He was stationed in Italy, as a fire fighter before his accident, and had big hopes of returning to the service and continuing his job. I think he probably was crushed when he was told that that might not happen, unless he could pass all of the stringent tests again. He seemed to have a good outlook though, and thought that maybe he would use his ‘free’ education and become a physical therapist. David also met an Army guy who suffered an IED blast in Iraq, and now lives in an apartment with his wife and 4-month-old daughter. He said that one ‘good’ thing about his injury was that he was able to see his daughter be born. It helps me to picture David a few months down the road, and I know that it gives David hope. He just wants to be ‘normal’ again.

It’s been a good couple of days, but Christa and her two girls, Bella and Tobey, left today, so we miss them immensely. Also, Laura has not had Baby Bryn yet! For sure on Thursday, if not Wednesday. Can't wait. :-)

Please pray that the botox shots work, that David regains control of his left arm, and for his left leg to get stronger.

Steve