Its funny how we don't really notice changes in Matt's progress because we're here everyday. Dad came back this evening after being gone all week and he says he can see a big difference. I just notice small things like he was okay eating lunch in the dining room yesterday and today he ate more of his meals than he ever has.
He's still dealing with headaches which can interfere with his therapy some days. Today was one of those days and he ended up having therapy in his room. His OT is now working with electric stimulation on his right arm and its so crazy to watch! She puts electrodes on certain muscles and when she turns it on his wrist bends and his hand raises up. Matt was fascinated to watch it. Its a good sign that everything still works - he just has to reteach his brain how to make that arm function and this practice will hopefully help him relearn faster.
I hope you all have a fantastic New Year's Eve and here's to a better 2010!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday morning
I know its been awhile since I've posted, but Matt's been keeping us so busy! His words are very clear, but we spend a lot of time guessing the meaning of what he is trying to say. There is a list of things we can go through of what he is usually asking for: apple juice, pudding, blankets... but every once in awhile he throws something completely new in and gets so frustrated with us. This weekend the new thing was shaving his beard, so finally he made a razor noise and pretended to shave. Then he is so thrilled when we figure something out! Its like Christmas morning everyday.
Matt is staying quite busy with physical therapy - yesterday he took the giant tricycle for a ride down the connector. He came back completely exhausted, but was willing to walk with the parallel bars for another 15 minutes. He is so determined to get that leg to work. He's still wearing his eyepatch for double vision, but it seems to be getting better because the other day we played a round of dominoes and he played on his own! A week ago, he needed someone to play on his team to help him find the pieces.
I feel like we make that statement a lot these days. "A week ago, Matt couldn't..." And now he can. I'm amazed each day by his progress and can't even imagine what we'll be saying in another week. The best thing now is that Matt is along with us - he has a vague idea of what he couldn't do before and what he can do now. And he keeps us laughing through it all.
Matt is staying quite busy with physical therapy - yesterday he took the giant tricycle for a ride down the connector. He came back completely exhausted, but was willing to walk with the parallel bars for another 15 minutes. He is so determined to get that leg to work. He's still wearing his eyepatch for double vision, but it seems to be getting better because the other day we played a round of dominoes and he played on his own! A week ago, he needed someone to play on his team to help him find the pieces.
I feel like we make that statement a lot these days. "A week ago, Matt couldn't..." And now he can. I'm amazed each day by his progress and can't even imagine what we'll be saying in another week. The best thing now is that Matt is along with us - he has a vague idea of what he couldn't do before and what he can do now. And he keeps us laughing through it all.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Keri's Mom's Comment
As an observer of Matt and Keri's journey, I wanted to try and put words to the feelings that are ever present. At the moment, I am reading the book 'My Stroke of Insight' by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. She made a list in her book of things that she needed most after her stroke. One of them was to keep her familiar with family and friends and their loving support. "Build a collage wall of cards and photos". Well, you should see this wall of support in Matt's room. Usually the mail comes after lunch and Keri opens the cards and reads them to Matt. The staff here are amazed at Matt's popularity. Believe me, it is helping. The love and support that is coming through from all of you is fantastic. A 'thank you' barely covers it.
The author also explains the use of our right and left hemispheres of the brain. I think we all need to search into our 'right mind' for a moment because it is "all about the richness of this present moment. It is filled with gratitude for my life and everyone and everything in it. It is content, compasionate, nurturing, and eternally optimistic."
Matt is working so very hard. Every day he says he is 'ready' and wants to work more and more. Today was another hard day at work - with help moving the right leg forward, he is walking along parallel bars and we can see the right hip beginning to engage. Then he sleeps - which is a huge part of brain healing. We are very vigilant about keeping music soft and letting him heal more and more every day.
Linda Bolluyt
The author also explains the use of our right and left hemispheres of the brain. I think we all need to search into our 'right mind' for a moment because it is "all about the richness of this present moment. It is filled with gratitude for my life and everyone and everything in it. It is content, compasionate, nurturing, and eternally optimistic."
Matt is working so very hard. Every day he says he is 'ready' and wants to work more and more. Today was another hard day at work - with help moving the right leg forward, he is walking along parallel bars and we can see the right hip beginning to engage. Then he sleeps - which is a huge part of brain healing. We are very vigilant about keeping music soft and letting him heal more and more every day.
Linda Bolluyt
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!
We all got 'Matt hats' for Christmas - there's been some time to knit while we wait for Matt to get better.
We had a great Christmas eve day - Matt 'walked' more with the help of his therapist and even had her crying. Then my dad, sister and brother-in-law joined us for the evening and we talked about Matt's accident. He seemed to comprehend more than ever before and just kept saying "Wowee."
Matt's exhausted today and sleeping a lot, but he seems to be quite happy that we're around his room. Plus, we had the best Christmas dinner - we got to eat together! Earlier this week, that didn't seem like it was going to be possible. Matt also had a Christmas cookie and Dr. Pepper, so he's pretty happy!
Hope you're having a great Christmas and we're sending lots of Christmas hugs to you all! Love Keri
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday night
I can hardly believe the difference in Matt just since Monday - and I think its all about eating real food again. Monday in PT he took 5 left-foot steps with the standing walker and today it was 80. Donna, his PT, said that she could feel his right hip engage some today, which is the first step in getting that leg to work. He's paying attention to his right hand, still, even though he can't do anything with it yet.
Whenever Matt wants to get in or out of bed we have to call a nurse or therapist to help him and he's been getting really frustrated with that because if they're busy, he ends up waiting 10 or 15 minutes. Then this afternoon we were waiting again and he decided he was going to try it on his own. Luckily I stopped him before he actually got out of the chair, but his therapists decided it was time that I knew how to help him. We did a quick training session and now I can help him whenever he wants. It feels like a big step towards getting better and more independent.
His language is still getting clearer and we've found that whenever we ask simple questions we can usually understand the answers. Its only when he brings up something he wants to talk about that we have no idea what he's saying. He's still getting caught on certain words that he'll use to mean various things. David, his speech therapist, says this is a common step and things will continue to get worked out.
Whenever Matt wants to get in or out of bed we have to call a nurse or therapist to help him and he's been getting really frustrated with that because if they're busy, he ends up waiting 10 or 15 minutes. Then this afternoon we were waiting again and he decided he was going to try it on his own. Luckily I stopped him before he actually got out of the chair, but his therapists decided it was time that I knew how to help him. We did a quick training session and now I can help him whenever he wants. It feels like a big step towards getting better and more independent.
His language is still getting clearer and we've found that whenever we ask simple questions we can usually understand the answers. Its only when he brings up something he wants to talk about that we have no idea what he's saying. He's still getting caught on certain words that he'll use to mean various things. David, his speech therapist, says this is a common step and things will continue to get worked out.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
3 squares
Matt got to eat 3 full meals today! He's more and more himself everyday and its amazing to watch. He's also awake longer and keeping us busy so I don't have long to blog. Thanks for all the comments and emails - even though I don't always have time to respond your thoughts and encouragement are greatly appreciated!
Monday, December 21, 2009
No, but okay
All of Matt's therapists today commented on his determination. Each time they asked him if he's ready to try something one more time, he would say no, but okay. He first got to eat breakfast this morning, and after telling his speech therapist he was a vegetarian, he ate the whole sausage and skipped on most of the waffle. He might get to start on 3 soft meals tomorrow! Maybe that means we can make Christmas cookies later this week...
He had PT and OT together this morning and they did get him up with a standing walker and he made a few steps with his left leg. They have to move his right leg along for him, but he's doing a better job of balancing his weight. This afternoon he worked on his vision a little, but that wears him out really quickly, so he's going to visit a neuro opthomologist soon to see if they can figure out what is going on and how to move forward.
He had PT and OT together this morning and they did get him up with a standing walker and he made a few steps with his left leg. They have to move his right leg along for him, but he's doing a better job of balancing his weight. This afternoon he worked on his vision a little, but that wears him out really quickly, so he's going to visit a neuro opthomologist soon to see if they can figure out what is going on and how to move forward.
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