Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

David walked a lot in a new fangled walker. This is the apparatus that he has used with the treadmill, but this time they took it on the open road, where he supplied all of the power. We went out to lunch, yes David got to leave the hospital in a car for the very first time, with Richard, the recreational therapist, to a good Mexican restaurant. David had to order, figure out the tax and tip, and pay by himself, so it was a re-learning experience as well as fun. Georgette worked with his left hand, and we are seeing much improvement. And he smiled all day long.

Steve

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

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Today was relaxed and quiet as Sundays typically are here. We went to church, ate lunch, and David's only therapy was PT in the afternoon. David then had the rest of the day to do anything he wanted to, provided it was in the hospital, and on his list of approved food and beverage items.

During PT he rode the stationary bicycle that can measure how much power it is getting from the left or right legs. They have taken the straps off of his right foot (so he can't pull up with it) to allow the left leg to work harder as it pushes down, and do it's share. He was getting up into the 70% range with his left foot, which is really great. Then they had David walking with his 'regular' walker all over the place.

Some things that were an issue a few days ago we don't really think about now. He is eating so good, and swallows perfectly. He is no longer drowsy during the day, and the therapists don't have to wake him as he falls asleep in the middle of pedaling a bike.

We have a lot of fun talking with David, about serious things like his accident, recovery, friends and relationships, but also we joke with him a lot. Not all of the jokes are at his expense. He got me a few times today, and really got Christa. We are not going to share the gist of those jokes with y'all at this time though.

David did not like his dinner tonight, so I asked what was worse, Turkish food (sorry to David's Turkish friends!) or the hospital food, and he said that this made Turkish food taste like a #10. Then he added that Turkish food would be like a 'platter from Heaven' in comparison. He smiles all of the time now, and is generally in a great mood. I know that he is enjoying having his sister Christa, and Bella and Tobey here to hang out with.

Steve

Saturday, January12th, 2008

Wow! It was hard to recover from the big blow-out bash that we threw for Patty's birthday yesterday. To start with we had a Baskin Robins ice cream pie (mint n' chip) and then...oh yeah, I guess that was all. But between Christa (4 months pregnant) and her two girls, Patty, David and myself we polished that whole thing off easy! We had a lot of fun until the wee hours, 10PM or so. But by the time you get the grand kids settled in to their hotel, edit video, and blog, (I still don't know what that means!), it's about 1AM when you're actually in bed.

But today was good, David called and woke us up at 7AM to say that he was going to breakfast in the 'lunchroom' and could we meet him. I said, "sure, we'll catch up with you later". For a Saturday, David's therapy started off early. He started with PT where he peddled the stationary bike and worked out his left leg.

Georgette (OT) worked on his left hand a lot, (stretching and exercising), and was real excited to notice movement in his fingers and hand. I had noticed slight movement a few days ago, and David and I prayed immediately that God would continue to heal and restore movement to his arm and hand. Georgette recommended some exercises that David can do in his spare time to strengthen these. More exciting stuff!

David said today, "Everyone is commenting on my smile, what did it look like before?". It really is a 'Day and Night' difference, before it was crooked and fake looking, now it is 'David'.

PT worked with David later in the day for an hour, and he walked all over the halls several times, and even walked on his own (no assistance) with his 'walker". It won't be long until he can take off by himself.

A massage therapist came by this evening and worked on David's left shoulder and arm. He is also a licenced chiropractor, and we are hoping that this will help that left arm 'come alive' even faster.

David called Christa as she was driving back to her hotel tonight. He just wanted to talk some more! We love how he is initiating so many things on his own, as this is often a hard thing for TBI patients.

Thanks for all your prayers. God really is moving in David's life.

Steve

January 11th, 2008

The best birthday I've ever had was today! David walked (with help) to me, gave me a huge hug, laughed at a funny situation (remembering the hug/choke hold he gave Steve after church when Steve passed out in the corridor), showed his sense of humor by refusing to tell me he loved me, and WROTE a card during Speech Therapy (legibly, he WROTE: the date, "Happy Birthday Mom" , "Love, David", and drew some balloons)! This guy is getting funnier every minute. During dinner he was smiling the whole time. He was flirting with the Recreation Therapist and asking her how he could get on her rotation! Then asked someone if she was married..... Of course he said he like Kelli on a much deeper level than that!
Christa, Bella, and Tobey drove up on a whim this afternoon and surprised David. He is much more awake and alive then ever. It is so great to see them all again. I could write a whole other blog on how funny (3 yr. old) Bella is too! Tobey is just starting to walk too. We are looking forward to being outside with David and the kids tomorrow and just hanging out. Again David told Christa that his motivation for improvement is to return to Turkey and his unit. His friends there are constantly coming up in his conversations. He can't wait to talk to you all there!
Paul, the Vision Therapist, showed David how to use a program on the computer to enlarge the text on documents. David manipulated the computer and was able to move around in people's My Space, READ his My Space comments, the Blog guestbook and comments from here, and couldn't seem to get enough. I sat with him until 11 pm and then said we should continue tomorrow.
Earlier, the Neuropsychologist, Dr. Laura Howe, was asking David some intelligence questions this afternoon. David was able to answer analogies, puzzles, mental math problems like, "What is 13x?"! We will find out next week how he scored, but it sounded great to me!
Thanks for your prayers. The mom I told you about yesterday came in crying today that her house had been broken into and everything that could be pawned was stolen. Continue praying for them. Patty

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

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Here are some highlights from another outstanding day. David received a lot of work on his left arm, (including the wrist, hand and fingers) again. In fact it seemed like almost all of the therapists worked on it, at least a little. It is not moving on it’s own yet, but we are really praying that it won’t be long.

David walked a lot (more than ever) today with his ‘cool’ walker, and he still looked real good doing it.

He ate enough at all three meals to not have to have his supplemental tube feeding. If he keeps this up for a while he will get the feeding tube taken out of his stomach. Then he will have no more tubes, hoses, monitors or needles coming out of his body!

Tonight we spent a lot of time just hanging out with David. We talked about him, his accident and his recovery. He had lots of questions, and we realized how bad his post accident memory is. He thought that maybe he had been in two accidents, possibly because we have mentioned that he was at Walter Read Army Hospital and Palo Alto VA Hospital. We watched the DVD that his Air Force friends sent him again, and each time we watch it he gives us more details about his time in Turkey, and the friends that he made there. I’m sure that it is good for his memory. He said that he has been praying that he will get to return to the Air Force and to his Incirlik, Turkey base, as well as his friends there. I told him that if it were that important to him, I would also start to pray for that. He also called Daniel Wooten in Turkey, (and woke him up), and they talked for a while. It was the first time that he has talked to a friend from the Air Force. He also talked to his girl friend, Kelli.

As we were leaving, Patty said that she loved him, and waited for him to respond appropriately. Since he has never said (unless he was heavily drugged), “I love you” back, Patty really wasn’t expecting much, but he got this “real” smile on his face as he tried to keep from saying it. He has this fake smile that he gives us when we take pictures, but this was his old “real” smile, and it was exciting to see his face muscles working in a ‘new’ way, that we thought was lost.

Steve