Time just flies! This week has been so busy I hardly had time to phone for updates. But Matt is just so exciting to hear about I always want to phone.
Thursday they tried Matt on a new sit/stand/walk machine. They need 3 people to operate it and dad gets to be in charge of the controls. So Matt is in a sling and then dad raises to a height were Matt is almost standing. Then they really encourage him to push himself up the rest of the way. Once he is in the standing position, they lock his left leg in the brace so it is stable. Then with the 2 physio therapist helping Matt's feet to go forward, Matt has to try and walk. The left foot has a curling slider on it now to help him move it forward.
So Matt shifts his weight on his left leg (the weaker one). Then he bends his right leg and can almost take the step himself, but needs a little help to lift those Size 12 feet!! So Matt has now stepped forward with his right foot!! But it doesn't end there. He must now shift his weight on his good leg, or the right side and slide his left foot forward. The physio really needs to help him with that side, unlocking the brace so Matt can bend his leg, pushing his leg forward on the slider etc. Then the whole process begins again. In total, matt took 12 baby steps!! Dad said Matt was just sweating!! Dad says the steps equal to 3 big steps for him. Great work Team Matt!! Thanks to the rehab staff that continue to persevere and to Matt who has never lost sight of the goal line. Little by little, everyday.
Nolan and Lindsay drove up to see Matt last night and give him his belated birthday present. Nolan was able to purchase a W11 game off the internet. Of course the package was open because we all had to try it out to see if it was suitable for Matt!! You almost never received your present Matt!! What a great game!
Left hand continues to progress. He can make a noticeable dent in the putty when he squeezes his hand.
The only bad spot is Matt has another urinary tract infection. I had purchased some cranberry tablets when I was there in February and he has been taking them dilegently, however that nasty infection reared its ugly head. So feeling tired today. Started him on antibiotics. But that will soon clear up and next Thursday Matt starts in the pool. Dad has already found his swimshorts and has them hanging in his closet.
Praise God for his continued blessings on Matt. God has 3 answers to pray: No, Yes, and Wait awhile. We are seeing the benefits of patience!
Psalms 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."
Friday, March 7, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Played Pool
Sunday: repeat of Saturday
Monday: rehab is going really well. Focusing on Matt transferring using the slide board. Doing so well they are talking of using just one person to assist instead of two. Matt starts in the wheelchair and wants to get to the raised mat. So he leans across and puts his right hand on the mat. Then they are encouraging him to use his legs, butt muscles, and abdominal muscles.
Was able to play pool for the first time. Since he cannot use his left hand yet, he uses the cue rest. So first someone has to line up the rest and the cue so Matt then can hit the ball. At first, Matt couldn't even move the cue ball, but after he got the hang of it dad said Matt did really well. Rocky and Barrette, 2 other paraplegics went and played too. They go to a billards place on Central Ave.
Tuesday am: Matt is just gaining every day!! It is just so exciting to hear all the good things. Matt was up in the sit/stand machine again. They have now taken off the curling slider off his right foot and are encouraging Matt to bend his knee and lift his foot. Dad says he almost has got it, and believes within the next week Matt should be able to take his first step. It takes so much concentration. First Matt has to shift his weight onto his left leg, and then mentally goes through all the stages of taking a step. Then he has to tell his body to do it. It comes so naturally to us, but if you break it down, it involves many processes.
The left foot is not quite advanced enough for the slider, but they want Matt to try and go through the process. So Matt has to try transferring his weight to the right side and try to move his foot. Then he has to twist from the waist to the left, and then the right. Also is bending ahead, all while standing. Matt accomplishes this all in about 6-7 minutes, but it is so good for his back and abdominal muscles. Also, this is usaully done on the 3 rd attempt. The first standing attempt always makes Matt nauseated and very green!!
After they put Matt to bed, he wanted to show Kristen (the physio) what he could do. So she bends his knees and holds his legs. Then Matt tries to lift his bum off the bed and support his weight on his shoulders. There is about 10 cms from the bed to Matt's bum. At x-mas, he could lift his right butt cheek 1 cm with great difficulty so just to emphasize the amazing gains Matt is making.
Another thing, when dad returned from "getting some fresh air" the physio was very excited about something Matt did. Matt wouldn't let her tell until dad guessed. So on the first guess dad got it! Matt had lifted his left forearm off the bed, bending at the elbow! How did dad know? Because the previous evening he had put the electrical muscle stimulator on and really worked Matt's bicep, making Matt move his elbow into a bent position. So the body remembered and did it without the stimulator!
I will write more tonight, realized this was a very long blog!!
Monday: rehab is going really well. Focusing on Matt transferring using the slide board. Doing so well they are talking of using just one person to assist instead of two. Matt starts in the wheelchair and wants to get to the raised mat. So he leans across and puts his right hand on the mat. Then they are encouraging him to use his legs, butt muscles, and abdominal muscles.
Was able to play pool for the first time. Since he cannot use his left hand yet, he uses the cue rest. So first someone has to line up the rest and the cue so Matt then can hit the ball. At first, Matt couldn't even move the cue ball, but after he got the hang of it dad said Matt did really well. Rocky and Barrette, 2 other paraplegics went and played too. They go to a billards place on Central Ave.
Tuesday am: Matt is just gaining every day!! It is just so exciting to hear all the good things. Matt was up in the sit/stand machine again. They have now taken off the curling slider off his right foot and are encouraging Matt to bend his knee and lift his foot. Dad says he almost has got it, and believes within the next week Matt should be able to take his first step. It takes so much concentration. First Matt has to shift his weight onto his left leg, and then mentally goes through all the stages of taking a step. Then he has to tell his body to do it. It comes so naturally to us, but if you break it down, it involves many processes.
The left foot is not quite advanced enough for the slider, but they want Matt to try and go through the process. So Matt has to try transferring his weight to the right side and try to move his foot. Then he has to twist from the waist to the left, and then the right. Also is bending ahead, all while standing. Matt accomplishes this all in about 6-7 minutes, but it is so good for his back and abdominal muscles. Also, this is usaully done on the 3 rd attempt. The first standing attempt always makes Matt nauseated and very green!!
After they put Matt to bed, he wanted to show Kristen (the physio) what he could do. So she bends his knees and holds his legs. Then Matt tries to lift his bum off the bed and support his weight on his shoulders. There is about 10 cms from the bed to Matt's bum. At x-mas, he could lift his right butt cheek 1 cm with great difficulty so just to emphasize the amazing gains Matt is making.
Another thing, when dad returned from "getting some fresh air" the physio was very excited about something Matt did. Matt wouldn't let her tell until dad guessed. So on the first guess dad got it! Matt had lifted his left forearm off the bed, bending at the elbow! How did dad know? Because the previous evening he had put the electrical muscle stimulator on and really worked Matt's bicep, making Matt move his elbow into a bent position. So the body remembered and did it without the stimulator!
I will write more tonight, realized this was a very long blog!!
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