Dear Friends, The last week was a yo-yo week for us - lots of ups and downs. Bob is recognizing that progress is s-l-o-w in coming (it's only been 3.75 months but feels like a lifetime). He's walking short distances with his single point cane but his therapist told him that she 
wants to break a habit that's starting (a limp) and that he'll need to strengthen his right hip and practice form on the walker again (he doesn't want to go back to the walker). He saw that as a back step and coupled with negligible (in his eyes) improvement in 
speech, he was disheartened and broke down for the first time since his stroke and that made me cry too. I can only imagine if it was me who was going through this and I couldn't talk and how I'd react (a raging crazy woman).
The good news is that Shadi arrived and is helping me and she's supplementing his speech lessons daily (he was tired of me) so god-willing, we will see bigger changes. He just needs a few miracles in speech and soon!
PT and OT are going strong and he's making big progress (I've included a couple of pictures from his therapies):
- Bob walked up and down a flight of 17 stairs not just once, but twice during PT. I was a wreak and exhausted for him.
- He is learning to do "fall recovery" (get up from the ground). More exhausting! Shadi needed a nap after witnessing that.
- He's getting more movement from his biceps and triceps -small but important. They're reviving!
- You can see that his new hand/arm brace arrived and that helps to flex his hand so that the hands and fingers won't freeze.
- Bob getting his first drink of water from the water fountain at OT (with lots of assistance, of course).
- Putting his arm around me for the first time in 3 months. We (Bob, his OT, Shadi, and I) all burst out crying at that accomplishment.
- Bob opening a cupboard door (with assistance, but still a first).
After that peak and valley week, I figured we needed happy times and hauled him down to my sister's (in San Diego) for the weekend where he got two massages, which I think, uplifted his spirits. (He did say that the best part of the weekend was "getting on the mat" and he invited Jeanie up to our place and told her to bring the mat.) We went to dinner on Coronado on Friday night and saw fireworks on the bay and then to dinner in La Jolla on Saturday night. Oh yes, Bob was a wreak from my driving--and I mean an anxious mess! Go figure? The Witches of East Highland (my sisters) are super (as you can see in the photos). Sonia is demonstrating the new Hoyer lift (how we get Bob in and out of their pool. Whoo-hoo!
I'm grateful for his resilience. He just pulls it back together and takes another step forward. Please, please, pray for his speech to improve ALOT and SOON! Pray for speech recovery!
Love to all,
Sharon
Dear Sharon,
ReplyDeleteSuch an amazing story! I will be praying for you and Bob---and that his speech will be soon coming. Thank you for posting the photographs of Bob's progress.
Hi Bob & Sharon-- thanks for sharing the photos. It's inspiring to read about all your efforts and progress together. I think of you each day and pray for your continued recovery. Live strong, love strong.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about what our school is doing with Edusoft and wondered if that was where you told me that you worked when I last talked to you a couple of years ago. (I lost your address and e-mail, tech gliche.) So, I did a search and this is what I came across. I could not believe what I have been reading and am sad by what has happened to Bob and touched by all the effort that you and your family have done to help Bob and to keep everyone up-to-date on his progress. What an inspiration for all.
I want you to know that my thoughts are with you and Bob and hope that he continues to progress in his physical and speech challenges.
Take care,
Mary (Tsugawa) Shoemaker