May 2019

Setback

Our first real setback occurred when John had to be taken to the hospital complaining of pain in his midsection. He was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and placed on food restriction for 2 days. They gave him antibiotic, and he should be good to go again in a couple of days.

Therapy in motion

I spent 7 days in Florida with a focus on his therapy. After 8 weeks, he FINALLY started moving his limbs regularly on on Friday, May 10th during his (3rd??) PT evaluation. They FINALLY scheduled regular therapy for this past week (Tues/Thurs from now on), and my mom and I did exercises 2X per day while I was there. My mom is hiring extra helpers to come in to help with his evening therapy. I’m anxious to see how much progress he can make from here, and worry a bit about the 2 month delay to start.

He’s pretty much able to support his own weight if you help to stabilize him. Left leg from the knee up is impressively strong. Feeling, but no movement in his left hand and arm (including shoulder). His double vision is gone in right eye. His vision is limited to about 30-40 feet, and he can count fingers with each eye (with the other eye closed) up to 15-20 feet. Still a little blurry in the right eye, though.

Prayer requests are:
ability to move his left arm,
continued dexterity in his left leg,
speech development and improved vision.
Also prayer for my mom’s general health.

Day 51 – Yet another PT eval

I came back down to Florida this past Wednesday (May 8). On Friday, the VA sent someone from a local agency to evaluate John (again). The practitioner showed us a number of great exercised and did a bunch of testing on him. See the link below for the video – he was extending his leg without assistance, which was such a surprise to us.

We will be doing his exercises with him several times a day until we can get the scheduled therapists coming early next week.

Baby steps!!

Johns Leg Extensions

Day 42 – PT ordered by the VA

He’s FINALLY going to get PT and other therapies. The VA ordered PT, but we are still waiting on the follow up. My mom is still on call 24/7, but we are hiring nurse aides to help. One eye is still really blurry (double vision), and they are getting him an eye patch to rest it while the brain heals. Left side is coming back bit by bit. Speech continues to be the best improvement of all.

Visitors have been a blessing and keep his spirits high. His daughter is coming down from Ohio this weekend, and I will go back May 8th. Thank you for keeping him in your prayers. Just need the brain to keep healing and mobility to continue to recover.