Just got off the phone with dad. He was just getting into the truck when he noticed a parking ticket on his windshield. The main parking lot has been so full the last 2 months he had been parking on the side streets and walking to the hospital. He has been physically unwell for awhile now and today was really bad, so a ticket was the icing on the cake. But what can you do?
Matt is feeling so much better. He was quite constipated and now he is "all cleaned out". His breathing is easier and he was able to sit up in his chair for 8 hours today. Rehab was productive and they are trying different ways to see how Matt can help transferring himself from the bed to the wheelchair. He is still so weak and has lost some weight again from loss of appetite, so it may take some time to build up those muscles. Tonight the menu was Salisbury steak and it was really good. Rehab has been encouraging Matt to eat as much as he can on his own and he does fairly well for a short period of time. However dad was finishing feeding Matt when he throw up all his meal. He has this annoying dry cough and and that's is, everything comes up. So I suggested to dad to buy some Vick's and rub it on the soles of Matt's feet and give him a teaspoon of honey after he eats to coat the throat. It may sound crazy but whenever the girls are sick and they are coughing, I do that every night and it works! Just ask my cousin Shauna, she thought I was crazy until she tried it on Jada. So dad will pick it up in the morning before going to see Matt.
Today dad was a bit shocked when they got back to the room after occupational therapy and the TV was disconnected. Not sure what happened but hopefully they will get it worked out tomorrow. Matt has not been asked to pay for the TV since he got to the hospital, so I guess they decided it was time to start charging. So tonight he is watching "Pirates of the Caribbean" the new one, but unfortunately he missed the hockey game. Need to get the TV up and running for the Canada /Sweden game tomorrow.
Prayers for that left arm and hand to start working to make the transfers easier and that the trach can be removed sometime this month. Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you; Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Friday, January 4, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Keep The Faith
Was able to speak with mom for a few minutes tonight. Matt missed his physio this am because they felt Matt needed a good "cleaning out" before getting him up in his chair. I beg to differ, physio should come before that other stuff but he was able to go to the gym for the afternoon session. We as a family realize the huge amount of physio needed to get Matt up walking again, it isn't easy to exercise that 6 foot 7 inch frame! But we truly believe it is attainable, so prayers that those working with him will come to realize it as well. Job 12:13 "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." If we could just glimpse at what God has in store and to see what He can see would ease our worries and anxiety. But Hebrews 11:1 states"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Matt said he is feeling better and they now think his lung infection was caused by a virus, not a bacterial infection, so antibiotics will not help. However to be on the safe side they decided to give him antibiotics anyway orally. The medication usually makes him nauseated but he managed to eat most of his meals in spite of the meds side effects.
Matt, even though we are not with you physically, as Jonmarie puts it, you are always in our hearts. Keep the faith Matt. Cheerleaders form across the globe are praying for you.
Matt said he is feeling better and they now think his lung infection was caused by a virus, not a bacterial infection, so antibiotics will not help. However to be on the safe side they decided to give him antibiotics anyway orally. The medication usually makes him nauseated but he managed to eat most of his meals in spite of the meds side effects.
Matt, even though we are not with you physically, as Jonmarie puts it, you are always in our hearts. Keep the faith Matt. Cheerleaders form across the globe are praying for you.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
From the Gustafson Family, we would like to extend best wishes to all in the New Year. And i I agree with one of the blog comments, let 2008 kick butt! Matt has settled back into the routine in the hospital. Mom had to go back to work so it is up to dad to do Matt's neck stretches and encourage him to exercise. The occupational therapist was impressed at the improvement in Matt's throwing ability. Believe me, he had lots of practice trying to aim at my head! He can actually lift his arm off the chair's arm rest to throw the ball. Before he would just use his forearm and not his upper arm. Also, we had encouraged Matt to try and help us when we got him dressed. Mom would hold his legs in a bent position, then Matt would count and try to lift his butt so Airene and I could pull up his pants. It worked much better when we were taking his pants off, but Matt tried his best to help and managed to lift his right butt off the bed.
They believed Matt had a chest infection so they took a sputum sample just to be sure and started him on antibiotics. They also said how important chest physio is, so hopefully he gets a good one today.Matt isn't struggling so much to breathe now which is good to hear. Prayers that sometime in January he will get that trach out. It will be so much easier to bring him home next time without it.
We had noticed at home that Matt had a pressure point on his heel, so prayers that it does not get worse. A pressure point is an area that the skin remains red and the skin tends to get thin. Because Matt is susceptible to skin breakdowns, we have to be especially cautious. We had to turn him every 2-3 hours when he was in bed at home.
Thank God we were able to keep Matt at home for as long as we did. He needed a lifting up of his spirits. God is always with us. Deuteronomy 4:39 "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other."
They believed Matt had a chest infection so they took a sputum sample just to be sure and started him on antibiotics. They also said how important chest physio is, so hopefully he gets a good one today.Matt isn't struggling so much to breathe now which is good to hear. Prayers that sometime in January he will get that trach out. It will be so much easier to bring him home next time without it.
We had noticed at home that Matt had a pressure point on his heel, so prayers that it does not get worse. A pressure point is an area that the skin remains red and the skin tends to get thin. Because Matt is susceptible to skin breakdowns, we have to be especially cautious. We had to turn him every 2-3 hours when he was in bed at home.
Thank God we were able to keep Matt at home for as long as we did. He needed a lifting up of his spirits. God is always with us. Deuteronomy 4:39 "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other."
Sunday, December 30, 2007
A nice tribute...
Sorry for not keeping the blog updated the last few days - I've had trouble getting in touch with the family as they has been so busy!
Matt had been feeling poorly since Christmas (trouble breathing and feeling nauseous), but had recovered quite a bit after his big brother Nolan showed up on the the 27th (Nolan couldn't get off work until then). The family basically had another gift exchange on the 27th as Nolan brought gifts from Jacki & Gary and himself. Then they had two games of dice where Matt held the cup himself, and Nolan would sometimes help him lift his elbow so he could dump the dice a little better. Shelley said that whenever Nolan helped in this way, Matt would roll a 1000, so she protested that they were cheating and wouldn't let Nolan help him anymore!!! (poor loser).
Friday (the 28th), Matt's employer held their annual Christmas dinner at the Weekes Arena, and Matt was able to attend. He had a great meal and stayed at the dinner for about 3 hrs and had a wonderful time seeing his coworkers. His coworkers had a scrimmage game of hockey, and Matt hung out in the dressing room while they changed, and then watched the game from inside. By the time he got home, his neck was really sore, but Irene did some really good stretches on his neck to ease the ache.
Yesterday (the 29th), there was a benefit hosted for Matt at the Porcupine Arena that included a hockey game, 50/50 and a silent auction. I guess Matt had cold feet just before the opening ceremonies, and didn't want to go in, but Shelley and dad encouraged him and he was able to get up his nerve and "drive" himself to centre ice (Shelley stayed with him). For those of you who were there, Matt just couldn't look at the crowd he was so nervous, but he was grateful you were there just the same!!! He enjoyed the raising of the Provincial Champion flag and the singing, and was happy to see his former team members get recognized. After the formalities were over, Matt was able to visit with people inside the arena and watch a bit of the game. Mom thought there was approx. 400 people at the function, and we want everyone to know how much we appreciate you attendance and your generosity for Matt! He had a wonderful time and we hope you did as well!
The women of the family are quite exhausted from dealing with the 3 kids - Shaunie, Jonmarie & Matt! Matt's daily care is quite extensive as getting him up in a chair takes all 3 women, and doing his exercises usually takes 2, and suctioning him with a broken suction takes 2 people. So Shelley now needs a vacation from her vacation!!!! Irene was really impressed with how Matt tried to do everything she asked no matter how hard it was to do. When he is lying down, he is able to lift his right leg off the bed about 4 inches, and hold it for a second or 2. Keep of the improvements Matt!
Mom & dad were planning on taking Matt back to Saskatoon today, much to his dismay, but he really needs to go back and start on his daily physio again. Please pray that they have a safe trip back to the city, and that Matt will be able to stay motivated back in the hospital so that he can continue to improve his range of motion. Phil 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God."
Matt had been feeling poorly since Christmas (trouble breathing and feeling nauseous), but had recovered quite a bit after his big brother Nolan showed up on the the 27th (Nolan couldn't get off work until then). The family basically had another gift exchange on the 27th as Nolan brought gifts from Jacki & Gary and himself. Then they had two games of dice where Matt held the cup himself, and Nolan would sometimes help him lift his elbow so he could dump the dice a little better. Shelley said that whenever Nolan helped in this way, Matt would roll a 1000, so she protested that they were cheating and wouldn't let Nolan help him anymore!!! (poor loser).
Friday (the 28th), Matt's employer held their annual Christmas dinner at the Weekes Arena, and Matt was able to attend. He had a great meal and stayed at the dinner for about 3 hrs and had a wonderful time seeing his coworkers. His coworkers had a scrimmage game of hockey, and Matt hung out in the dressing room while they changed, and then watched the game from inside. By the time he got home, his neck was really sore, but Irene did some really good stretches on his neck to ease the ache.
Yesterday (the 29th), there was a benefit hosted for Matt at the Porcupine Arena that included a hockey game, 50/50 and a silent auction. I guess Matt had cold feet just before the opening ceremonies, and didn't want to go in, but Shelley and dad encouraged him and he was able to get up his nerve and "drive" himself to centre ice (Shelley stayed with him). For those of you who were there, Matt just couldn't look at the crowd he was so nervous, but he was grateful you were there just the same!!! He enjoyed the raising of the Provincial Champion flag and the singing, and was happy to see his former team members get recognized. After the formalities were over, Matt was able to visit with people inside the arena and watch a bit of the game. Mom thought there was approx. 400 people at the function, and we want everyone to know how much we appreciate you attendance and your generosity for Matt! He had a wonderful time and we hope you did as well!
The women of the family are quite exhausted from dealing with the 3 kids - Shaunie, Jonmarie & Matt! Matt's daily care is quite extensive as getting him up in a chair takes all 3 women, and doing his exercises usually takes 2, and suctioning him with a broken suction takes 2 people. So Shelley now needs a vacation from her vacation!!!! Irene was really impressed with how Matt tried to do everything she asked no matter how hard it was to do. When he is lying down, he is able to lift his right leg off the bed about 4 inches, and hold it for a second or 2. Keep of the improvements Matt!
Mom & dad were planning on taking Matt back to Saskatoon today, much to his dismay, but he really needs to go back and start on his daily physio again. Please pray that they have a safe trip back to the city, and that Matt will be able to stay motivated back in the hospital so that he can continue to improve his range of motion. Phil 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God."
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