Weekly update:
Don is no longer walking inside the parallel bars. He walks on the floor with the aid of a cane and a therapist who assists with his right leg. He has been able to move his right leg forward some on his own this week. They are also doing stretching exercises to keep his hip flexible as that will aide in his walking. The Doctors tell us that usually with therapy the patient will see muscle movement return in the leg first, then arm and then speech. Additionally, the larger muscles return faster than the fine motor muscles. It is wonderful that his hip is coming back. Next would be the quad, calf and finally toes.
Don has gotten his morning routine down to a science. Showering and grooming tasks and putting on his shirt are things he does quite well. Today the therapist got good muscle action from his bicep and tricep. That was very exciting.
Reading comprehension is great for Don and his writing is constantly improving. His speech therapy though difficult is coming along nicely. It is wonderful that he is getting 3 therapy sessions 2 times a day and he is committed to working very hard.
Family training has begun to help Don with his exercises to help with flexibility to help move Don toward coming home as soon as he is able.
As you can imagine, it is a full-time job keeping track of insurance statements and bills as well as working to make things ready for Don when he gets home. Both Britney and Barbara are busy doing whatever is needed so that Don can have the best outcome possible. Josh is anxious to be back and will be amazed at his dad's progress.
The miracle continues!
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5 comments:
We are excited at the amazing progress Don has made. Got the Mo. Dist. e-mail and have been praying for Don,Barb,and family. What a wonderful family God has blessed you with!You have our continued prayers and support.
Best regards,
Connie Lowry King
Don
It won't be long until you are up and ready to come to the barn. Wanted you to know that Sox and Streaker enjoyed their first baths on Sunday. Both stood very quietly while Ronda washed them. Afterwards, we put some fly repellent on them so they wouldn't get bothered so much by the flies. The baby (Whinnie is what we are calling her) was introduced to the halter yesterday as well. Doll kept telling her to relax and let Ronda put the halter on so they could get out of the round pen and back into the pasture. Just like Doll, always thinking about eating! Whinnie should be halter trained by the time she is weaned and ready for sale.
A suggestion for all other bloggers out there who want to help Don: You, either individually or as a group, could provide a scholarship to Brian & Joy Miller's New Horizon Ranch Therapeudic Riding facility. Stroke victims have been very successful with regaining some movement through riding horses. Since Don is having some large muscle improvement, he is getting to the point where the more exercise he gets the better. Why not have him exercise on a horse, his third love after his family and God. This would give Don the opportunity to be involved in two of his favorite pasttimes, horses and riding, while recovering from the effects of the stroke. Therapeutic riding introduced early on may provide greater rehab than waiting to see how he progresses and then trying the riding. This is not something that would necessarily start immediately but might be an option once Don returns home.
Keep up the good work, Don. We look forward to seeing you at the barn again.
John & Ronda
What a fabulous idea. Don and I are in!!
kjw
I have heard great things about therapeutic riding, and in Don's case it sounds perfect. Let us know when and where and Everett and I will be happy to contribute.
Connie Lowry King
Don, continuing in our prayers for you and your recovery. Haven't seen any news about you in a week. Hope things are alright. much love and prayers, karen
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