Thursday, January 10th, 2008

Our God is an awesome God! David continues to blow our minds and the staff at the hospital. Today he actually tried to run in the parallel bars! He walked with a walker and barely used it! He held onto the PT and my arms and walked 6 feet! Oh, and he walked up five steps, turned around, came down and went up several more times! Then he decided he didn't want to step up with his right foot and bring the left to the same step, so he told the PT, Se, that he wanted to step on each step with a different foot. She said not yet, and he did it anyways! He is soooooooo excited about his progress.
Sgt. Anderson, from Travis AFB, came by today and David was jazzed to see someone from the AF. He wants so much to continue with the AF. He misses his friends from Turkey really bad! We looked at the pictures on his camera tonight and he remembers the trip now and can give us details about where they stayed and what they did. He doesn't remember the accident, which is fine! We watched the video with Sgt. Anderson and it makes David just light up to see everyone. Thanks Daniel again for making it. I wish you could see his face when he sees the groups from Turkey! Sgt. Anderson reiterated the need for David to follow orders from the therapists. It would be a shame for David to have a set back because of a careless injury like falling at this point in his progress.
Back to progress: David played Solitare today with some minor help. He played Bingo Wed. and Thursday nights and can do it 90% by himself! (Remember he couldn't find the numbers a few weeks ago, and perseverated on the game pieces?) An AF "sister" tonight went on and on about the improvement she saw since Christmas. Last time his head hung down, he drooled, and needed 90% help!
The Optomotrist tested him some more today and said he is focusing closer up, and his vision has really improved. He continues running into objects (sometimes sharp) on the left side of his wheelchair.
In 'N Out is sure happy with David's recovery. He has a shake every other day it seems like. But, today the "test" for Speech, was if he could eat a Double Double or a Cheeseburger. Sure enough, David passed. He passed the thin liquids test also. His meds are being changed to pills and capsules, so maybe in a week or so, he can get rid of the tube feeding in his stomach.:-)
Steve and I are so excited to see David's progress. However, it is hard to see these other men here who are not progressing. I talked to a lady last night whose husband was injured the same time as David and is still not able to respond with a thumbs up, nod, blink, or anything. She has 2 teenagers and doesn't know if or how much her husband will progress. There are many others with the same story. A young mom with preschoolers, and the 27 year old dad is in bad shape. Our hearts break for them and their families. We have said at every stage that David has progressed through, that we were excited he was alive and with us. We would have been happy just to have him, anywhere along the healing process. Each day brings more joy for us as he progresses. Pray with us for these other families and their dads, brothers, and sons too. We feel so blessed and excited that God chooses to heal David, but don't understand why David gets so much and they don't. We're not complaining! Just feeling almost guilty.???
Tonight when Steve left, David told him that he doesn't like it when we leave him at night, alone in the room with the nurse. He prayed with David for peace and safety, and also for his left arm that is really bothering him. Thanks for your prayers too. We give God all the glory for David's progress!
Patty