I often would read the bible and learn of wonders that could not be fathomed and you think it will never happen to you. And now we can say that God does perform miracles everyday.
Today Matt was feeling really good this am and before mom and dad arrived they took Matt to rehab. They were so amazed by his previous stunt that they thought they would see what else he could do. They placed a belt around Matt's waist and 4 staff members helped Matt to a standing position in between the parallel bars (the kind you see when people are recovering from knee surgery for example and are retraining to walk after the cast removal). So after standing Matt up, they decided to let go. And wouldn't you know he stayed standing for 5 seconds all by himself!! The staff were there to steady him but Matt held all the weight on his legs (mostly the right) and his knees did not buckle. Matt, words cannot express how proud I am and so awed by God's grace. 7 months of not using your legs and very little exercise, you can imagine what it must be like on the body to do this. Matt was very light headed at first but he continued and did it 4 more times. Then he was literally exhauseted. But Matt you are getting so much stronger. He hasn't been suctioned for 9 days, he gets up earlier in his chair, his left side is moving easier, though very limited. When Paul, a fellow quad who works to improve the life af new quads met with Matt today, he was astonished. He has been working for over 20 years in Saskatoon and has never seen a c3c4 injury be as high functioning as Matt. The doctors are saying that Matt is making them rethink what they know about spinal cord injuries. Another person said he doesn't believe in divine intervention, but someone is sure looking out for Matt.
Matt, the Lord has put you in such a place to reach so many people. Psalms 34:6 'This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
Friday, February 1, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
On His Feet
Matt had a really good day. This is Day #6 with no suctioning and Matt is feeling great. The exciting thing was in rehab. They decided to try a new machine to see how Matt would do. It is a little complicated to explain, so forgive me if you don't quite understand. I haven't see it myself so I have to use my imagination.
This machine is different from the tilt table, where they strap Matt into it and tilt him into an upright position. He doesn't use his own muscles to do this, it is to see if he can handle the upright position without his blood pressure dropping.
So this "standing" machine looks like a hammock and Matt sits in this hammock/sling. They put straps around Matt's upper body so he won't fall out. In front of Matt is a table that he can rest his arms on that moves with the machine (hammock). Matt puts his feet on the floor on a blue sticky mat so his feet won't slide. So now Matt looks like he is sitting at a desk with his elbows and arms on the table. They slowly raise him up with the machine until Matt is almost in a standing position but his knees are slightly bent. Then the therapist asked Matt to use his arms, bum, and legs to push himself up the rest of the way. Matt was able to move about 3 inches off the hammock! Then he did it again 4 more times but stopped due to exhaustion. Way to go Matt! What a great feeling that must have been to put pressure on your feet for the first time in 7 months! And he had no dizzy spells or blood pressure dropping at all. Another plus!
I can't wait for mom to see him do this today and will give you feedback on her reaction later.
Signed Frosty the Snow-woman!
This machine is different from the tilt table, where they strap Matt into it and tilt him into an upright position. He doesn't use his own muscles to do this, it is to see if he can handle the upright position without his blood pressure dropping.
So this "standing" machine looks like a hammock and Matt sits in this hammock/sling. They put straps around Matt's upper body so he won't fall out. In front of Matt is a table that he can rest his arms on that moves with the machine (hammock). Matt puts his feet on the floor on a blue sticky mat so his feet won't slide. So now Matt looks like he is sitting at a desk with his elbows and arms on the table. They slowly raise him up with the machine until Matt is almost in a standing position but his knees are slightly bent. Then the therapist asked Matt to use his arms, bum, and legs to push himself up the rest of the way. Matt was able to move about 3 inches off the hammock! Then he did it again 4 more times but stopped due to exhaustion. Way to go Matt! What a great feeling that must have been to put pressure on your feet for the first time in 7 months! And he had no dizzy spells or blood pressure dropping at all. Another plus!
I can't wait for mom to see him do this today and will give you feedback on her reaction later.
Signed Frosty the Snow-woman!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Deep Freeze
Welcome to the Ice Age! It has finally hit Alberta with a vengeance! -50C with the wind chill this morning. However being a good Sask. girl I put on my ski-pants, 2 jackets, scarf, hat, mitts, Sorel boots. When I arrived at work the staff laughed! However I was warm and they were not. Practicality before fashion when winter comes knocking!
Continues to be cold in Sask. as well. Mat didn't have therapy because the staff couldn't make it. But dad still made Matt work. They bought some scratch and win tickets and dad wanted Matt to scratch it himself. So dad taped a fingernail file to Matt's right index finger, placed a flat surface on Matt's lap and placed the scratch and win ticket on the surface with fun tack (that blue stuff). Well Matt won, so they had to go back downstairs to buy another one. Wouldn't you know it Matt won again! So another trip downstairs. This went on for 3 hours!! Matt, having to scratch on his own got to be pretty tiring, but he kept on until he was finished. Matt also played crib and a game dad used to play when he was young called "High Q" . Not sure exactly what it is but it is a solitary game that consists of moving large pegs into holes, using different strategies until there is only one peg left. Good work Matt, you will have to teach me that one.
No suctioning for 5 days and counting!! What a blessing that is! Matt feels so much better today because the "internal" discomfort he was having has now been removed, so eating was again a thing of pleasure. I think back to how many days in a row Matt would feel terrible, and thank the Lord it isn't like that anymore. You've come a long way, baby! Psalms 92:4-5 "For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O lord, how profound your thoughts."
Continues to be cold in Sask. as well. Mat didn't have therapy because the staff couldn't make it. But dad still made Matt work. They bought some scratch and win tickets and dad wanted Matt to scratch it himself. So dad taped a fingernail file to Matt's right index finger, placed a flat surface on Matt's lap and placed the scratch and win ticket on the surface with fun tack (that blue stuff). Well Matt won, so they had to go back downstairs to buy another one. Wouldn't you know it Matt won again! So another trip downstairs. This went on for 3 hours!! Matt, having to scratch on his own got to be pretty tiring, but he kept on until he was finished. Matt also played crib and a game dad used to play when he was young called "High Q" . Not sure exactly what it is but it is a solitary game that consists of moving large pegs into holes, using different strategies until there is only one peg left. Good work Matt, you will have to teach me that one.
No suctioning for 5 days and counting!! What a blessing that is! Matt feels so much better today because the "internal" discomfort he was having has now been removed, so eating was again a thing of pleasure. I think back to how many days in a row Matt would feel terrible, and thank the Lord it isn't like that anymore. You've come a long way, baby! Psalms 92:4-5 "For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O lord, how profound your thoughts."
Sunday, January 27, 2008
To The Mall
When I phoned dad in the afternoon yesterday I asked to speak to Matthew. First dad had to catch up to him. I was a bit confused until he told me Matt, Nolan, and Lindsay were at the mall and had just went down in the elevator and dad was left holding the bag! Well actually the parcels they had purchased. so when dad finally handed the phone to Matt, I thought it was Nolan. His voice was so strong and he didn't have any difficulty talking at all. Matt had bought a heavy parka for himself and now they were off to have supper. And he can't talk and drive at the same time so was able to speak with dad again. When I asked how the start of the day was, Matt threw up for the first time in a few weeks. However it is hopefully soon rectified once he gets back to the hospital. "Full to the Brim" has a new meaning. I will speak to dad later today so will have more to write.
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