Just wanted to write of the passing away of Matt's grandma today. It was inevitable but it doesn't diminish the pain. The funeral will be sometime next week and Matt and dad will travel home. Mom will be organizing the funeral preparations so will be kept busy. Most of the brothers and sisters were home prior to grandma's passing.
Please add an extra prayer for the family and their grieving.
Job 19:25-27 "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes-I , and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Another Move
It has been a roller coaster week. In Weekes mom has been busy at the hospital with Grandma, who isn't doing very well and all the kids are home. In Saskatoon, Matt will be moved to a new floor at the nursing home. Currently Matt is on C2, which is the long term ward. Now he will be moved to C4, which is the short term stay ward. Because of the transient nature of the floor, the staff may be quite different and unsure whether that may cause some difficulties. However I am sure with Matt's positive disposition and attitude he will do just fine. Also Matt will no longer be going to City rehab and will have rehab exclusively at Parkridge. When I talked to Matt last night he sounded okay about the whole thing and said that the rehab staff are going to focus on building up what movement he has. They will guarantee one day a week of standing, but their main focus will be on strengthening. So prayers that the move will be as good as all the others. I think Matt likes the thought of "short stay" and that he will be coming home. The short stay is for 90 days which will take us into August.
Monday Matt got a new cushion for his chair. It is called a ride cushion and is much harder then his previous one to prevent pressure sores and to ease his movement while in the chair, such as moving his butt and repositioning himself. He doesn't like it because his butt doesn't have much padding. But time will tell. Maybe it will be uncomfortable enough to make him change positions on his own! I was quite impressed when talking to Matt on Skype that he could lift a 710 ml plastic bottle full of pop quite easily. He can't lift a coffee mug, as his fingers don't have enough strength to hold the handle. But finds he can grip the plastic bottles quite nicely. Worked out in the gym on the upper tone machine and practiced on the mat. Did really well with his bridge, can hold himself quite awhile. While he was here, he did the bridges while in bed but was harder on a soft surface. He also practiced moving his legs from side to side by having his knees bent. He could do about 70% of the movement without help.
Tuesday Matt really concentrated on moving his left hand. He feels there is improvement but it is slow. Worked with the dumbbells and practiced in his manual wheelchair. He said the new grip system works great but felt really tired all day. He didn't get up until 1030 and went back to bed at 2 pm, then slept until 5 pm.
Wednesday Matt went to City to practice standing and walking. He was able to go about 25 feet. When he walks, he still cannot lift his foot off the ground so it is more of shuffling gait. This time he was able to actually lift his right foot off the ground 2-3 times. Matt continues to wear the brace on his left leg and the curling slider on both feet to aid in movement.
Prayers for strength at home and strength in Saskatoon. Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Monday Matt got a new cushion for his chair. It is called a ride cushion and is much harder then his previous one to prevent pressure sores and to ease his movement while in the chair, such as moving his butt and repositioning himself. He doesn't like it because his butt doesn't have much padding. But time will tell. Maybe it will be uncomfortable enough to make him change positions on his own! I was quite impressed when talking to Matt on Skype that he could lift a 710 ml plastic bottle full of pop quite easily. He can't lift a coffee mug, as his fingers don't have enough strength to hold the handle. But finds he can grip the plastic bottles quite nicely. Worked out in the gym on the upper tone machine and practiced on the mat. Did really well with his bridge, can hold himself quite awhile. While he was here, he did the bridges while in bed but was harder on a soft surface. He also practiced moving his legs from side to side by having his knees bent. He could do about 70% of the movement without help.
Tuesday Matt really concentrated on moving his left hand. He feels there is improvement but it is slow. Worked with the dumbbells and practiced in his manual wheelchair. He said the new grip system works great but felt really tired all day. He didn't get up until 1030 and went back to bed at 2 pm, then slept until 5 pm.
Wednesday Matt went to City to practice standing and walking. He was able to go about 25 feet. When he walks, he still cannot lift his foot off the ground so it is more of shuffling gait. This time he was able to actually lift his right foot off the ground 2-3 times. Matt continues to wear the brace on his left leg and the curling slider on both feet to aid in movement.
Prayers for strength at home and strength in Saskatoon. Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Lots to catch up on. We were away for the weekend and I wasn't able to do the blog so I hope everyone enjoys the new pictures.
Thursday Matt wasn't feeling very well, felt like he couldn't eat anything. He went to bed at 6:30 pm, woke up at 8:30, then went back to bed at midnight and slept until 1030 in the morning. All that travelling and visiting. Matt sill managed to do some arm bike therapy and push his wheelchair a bit, but wasn't feeling strong and didn't do well. Mom returned back to work.
On Friday Matt went to City for standing exercises. They tried it without the brace on his left leg, like we did in Red Deer. But he can't walk without the brace yet. IN order to stand without the brace, the therapists put bands around his feet and lower legs to stop him from spasming. While in Red Deer, we had 4 people to hold him up and hold his lower legs, but at City they only have 2 people so it is much harder. Went outside for awhile. Temperature was above 20 degrees but windy.
They brought over a new standing machine to Parkridge just for Matt. They were very excited until they realized it was too short. It is built for a 6 foot 5 inch person and Matt is 6 foot 7. The band that is supposed to fit across his chest fits exactly at his diaphragm, so he can't breathe. Too bad. It would have been great.
This weekend was pretty boring. Dad was doing modification s on his manual wheelchair to make it easier for his hands to grip the wheel. So they are hoping to have it ready tomorrow.
Matt has shown such patience in his new normal. James 5:11 "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
Thursday Matt wasn't feeling very well, felt like he couldn't eat anything. He went to bed at 6:30 pm, woke up at 8:30, then went back to bed at midnight and slept until 1030 in the morning. All that travelling and visiting. Matt sill managed to do some arm bike therapy and push his wheelchair a bit, but wasn't feeling strong and didn't do well. Mom returned back to work.
On Friday Matt went to City for standing exercises. They tried it without the brace on his left leg, like we did in Red Deer. But he can't walk without the brace yet. IN order to stand without the brace, the therapists put bands around his feet and lower legs to stop him from spasming. While in Red Deer, we had 4 people to hold him up and hold his lower legs, but at City they only have 2 people so it is much harder. Went outside for awhile. Temperature was above 20 degrees but windy.
They brought over a new standing machine to Parkridge just for Matt. They were very excited until they realized it was too short. It is built for a 6 foot 5 inch person and Matt is 6 foot 7. The band that is supposed to fit across his chest fits exactly at his diaphragm, so he can't breathe. Too bad. It would have been great.
This weekend was pretty boring. Dad was doing modification s on his manual wheelchair to make it easier for his hands to grip the wheel. So they are hoping to have it ready tomorrow.
Matt has shown such patience in his new normal. James 5:11 "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
