Matt finally was able to get wireless internet in his room. He is quite excited to be able to read the blog and the comments. Also we will get him Skype, which will enable him to phone from computer to computer for a very minimal price. Right now he is using his cell phone and it gets expensive.
Thursday the girls and I travelled back to Red Deer. However I was able to video tape Matt standing at the parallel bars with four people helping. He stood for over a minute and they even tried to give him minimal support. However his knees want to buckle so they have to keep them supported.
Yesterday Dad went home. Matt did not do any standing but did really well in his arm exercises. While I wa there, he tried to lift 3 lbs with his right arm. What he does is try to lower his arm to his side with the pulley. That day he wasn't able to do it but yesterday he did fine. He also lifted 3 lbs with his foream by flexing his wrist. Tried to do some leg exercises while in the chair. Mom takes off his leg rests so Matt's feet are dangling. Then he tries to lift his bottom leg up. His right is stonger than the left but he was able to do it with both legs. Keep it up Matt. Need to strengthen those muscles.
Matt received an early birthday present from Karl and Corina. A nice carrying case for his laptop. Before the computer just sat on a bedside table and was always at risk for spills and things.
While I was speakingto mom, she was giving Matt grief because he was trying to bite his fingernails on his left hand by holding it up with his right. Can't quite do it. States it feels like he is trying to lift 100lbs. I told her to leave him as it is a form of exercise.
Psalms 103:2-3 "Praise the Lord, o my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Lunar Eclipse
Just wanted to drop a quick note. I am in the hospital with Matt watching the lunar eclipse. The colors were quite amazing and we watched it for over an hour. Today the trach site is healing nicely, they put only a tiny dry dressing on and the site is as big as a pencil. The trachea already has a thin membrane covering it so no more air leaking out. Matt states he can cough better, talk better, breath better. No more leaky tire sound from the trach. Yahoo!!
Exercises are still going well. The left was a little sluggish but still improving. Stood up four times, however he stood with the stand/walker. Tried to take a step again without the slidder, still toe dragging, so can't finish the step. Spasms still give him grief. Whenever he tries to do something, he spasms and then has to wait for his body to relax.
Just going to feed him some homemade perogies and chicken. Matt is looking over my shoulder telling me to hurry up and feed him! No chance yet of him being overweight, however he is now 180 lbs. Still getting tube feeds at night.
Praise for the trach being out and prayers for rehab to continue going strong. On Monday they may even try him in the pool. I think he is a bit nervous about drowning however has to learn to trust the rehab staff. Please add a verse to the comments, as I do not have a bible in the room with the computer.
Exercises are still going well. The left was a little sluggish but still improving. Stood up four times, however he stood with the stand/walker. Tried to take a step again without the slidder, still toe dragging, so can't finish the step. Spasms still give him grief. Whenever he tries to do something, he spasms and then has to wait for his body to relax.
Just going to feed him some homemade perogies and chicken. Matt is looking over my shoulder telling me to hurry up and feed him! No chance yet of him being overweight, however he is now 180 lbs. Still getting tube feeds at night.
Praise for the trach being out and prayers for rehab to continue going strong. On Monday they may even try him in the pool. I think he is a bit nervous about drowning however has to learn to trust the rehab staff. Please add a verse to the comments, as I do not have a bible in the room with the computer.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Trach Out Today
Shelley is in Sask till Thursday.Jonmarie and Shaunie got to visit their uncle Matt today, playing in gym and riding the wheelchair with Matt.
He was expecting his trach to be removed Friday but was suprised when it was done today. He was very anxious with the entire experience but in the end did fine.
There is also an apparatus to assist him with standing which takes 80lbs off the legs , so this is a great asset to his rehab.
After a meeting with the patient advocate today Matts discharge date is for now "unknown", this will give more planning time for this eventuality.
In Mike Horns Book Conquering the Impossible he uses 2 quuotes :
"We say something is impossible if no one has ever tried it"-Alexis De Tocqueville.
"The Impossible is the only adversary worthy of man"-Andree Chedid
Matt has always believed that he will walk out of that hospital in spite of what all the medical experts there have been telling him, he is not a statistic, or just a number who needs to be discharged ASAP so as to keep the almighty health budget on track.I wish they would ignore the statistics and look and the man and what he has achieved to date and give him the best chance they can.
Oh but we can only hope and pray that somebody will see the light.
Regards to all, thanks for all the prayers and support, it means the world to Matt.
John.
He was expecting his trach to be removed Friday but was suprised when it was done today. He was very anxious with the entire experience but in the end did fine.
There is also an apparatus to assist him with standing which takes 80lbs off the legs , so this is a great asset to his rehab.
After a meeting with the patient advocate today Matts discharge date is for now "unknown", this will give more planning time for this eventuality.
In Mike Horns Book Conquering the Impossible he uses 2 quuotes :
"We say something is impossible if no one has ever tried it"-Alexis De Tocqueville.
"The Impossible is the only adversary worthy of man"-Andree Chedid
Matt has always believed that he will walk out of that hospital in spite of what all the medical experts there have been telling him, he is not a statistic, or just a number who needs to be discharged ASAP so as to keep the almighty health budget on track.I wish they would ignore the statistics and look and the man and what he has achieved to date and give him the best chance they can.
Oh but we can only hope and pray that somebody will see the light.
Regards to all, thanks for all the prayers and support, it means the world to Matt.
John.
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