Update #45, June 20th

Saturday, June 20, 2009

#45 Update, June 20th
Long week with slow and steady progress. Sean was evaluated by the speech therapist team on Monday and had his first session on Friday. There are a lot of positive areas and several areas that need work. He can read a newspaper but doesn't always comprehend everything. They will begin to work with him 3 times a week in addition to the physical therapist and occupational therapist, which each come twice a week. He continues to amaze us with what he can do, remember and strives to do. His hands are getting much stronger, he works extra hard to get more control of his right one. He can't write yet but he is able to make marks on a page which is a start. He went to the barber with Paul last Saturday and got his hair cut but still has a full beard, we took photographs just in case he wanted it shaved. His blood is back where it should be for thickness since he was off of his medicine when his peg tube was taken out. He fell for the first time and scared the daylights out of us. He was getting up to go to the bathroom on his own and lost his balance. His hands were red and he was sitting on the floor when I got to him but no blood which I was VERY thankful. We walk several times a day still to add stamina and go out on various short errands in the car. Sean and Delaney are still very tuned in to one another and share each other's activities. He has started to wear his own underwear for which he is very proud and enjoys.
Posted by Paul Andrea Knott at 7:50 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Update #44, June 12th

Friday, June 12, 2009

#44 Update, June 12th
Smiles, strength, tears of joy and laughter were all part of this week. Those of you that we have had the privilege to share a meal with you know we hold hands, say grace and then everyone from the youngest to the oldest has the opportunity to say what they are grateful for each day (good haircut etc). Delaney has been know to chatter a little during this time as well. Sean surprised us by saying grace with us and then he added "Thank you for today, thank you for this meal, thank you for everyone" pure joyful tears and lots of praise. He is getting stronger everyday, we walk several times a day up and down the street. He likes taking car rides to various places besides going to see the doctor. He will start with a new speech therapist on Monday. He is making great strides; he is reading more, doing some math, exercising using his right hand more and more. His short term memory is tough some days, he is beginning to remember more about his past. Certain foods he used to like or didn't like are changing so we are having fun trying new recipes as well as some old ones. He and Delaney play catch and she will sit with Sean more now. I think his having the peg tube out has encouraged that connection again. Each day is a blessing and we all grow more and more with each other.
Posted by Paul Andrea Knott at 8:52 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Update #43, June 5th

friday, june 5, 2009

#43 Update, June 5th
Another week of progress, Sean read Are You My Mother by Dr Seuss. He read it slowly but surely. He continues to strengthen his grasp in both hands and his core muscles for balance and walking. He always takes the harder choice whenever we ask him which challenge he'd like to accomplish and works hard at accomplishing whatever is given to him to do. He stamina needs work so we will need to walk him twice a day and a little longer each time. He has a full beard and mustache; you'd hardly recognize him. I think he looks quite handsome but I am prejudiced. When he agrees, and we are hoping that will be very soon, we will post some recent photographs on line. He colorizes all the parts and puts the items together when working with them. When given a task he starts it pretty quickly now, so the processing time is a lot shorter which is very encouraging. He misses playing with his peg tube, it is almost completely healed. For those of you that have sent him cards & words of encouragement; we read them with him as soon as they come in. I'll ask him if he remembers you and he'll say "yes", sometimes he says "no" but that is not to say he won't remember later. Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers, warm thoughts, words of encouragement and being our as well as his friend. It means the world to us and helps those long days we have sometimes. He is a joy and very up, he hasn't gotten upset or angry since he came home which is wonderful. Somehow that lets me know that I am doing my job correctly with respect and love.
posted by paul andrea knott at 10:31 pm

Update #42, May 28th

Thursday, May 28, 2009

#42 Update, May 28th
Sean's latest step is the removal of his feeding "PEG" tube this morning. We went back to the Medical Center of Aurora for the procedure. As an update for those of you who have been here, especially when Sean was in the Critical Care Unit, the remodeling has proceeded to the point where the main entrance of the hospital is now open, and what seemed to be miles to walking is now down to a few yards. The first night, when Sean spent so long in surgery, the Berger clan came to stay with us while we wondered what was happening and then if he'd survive. That waiting area is now part of Admissions. We pulled up, Sean and Andrea went in, and Delaney and I parked the car and met them in their same-day surgery clinic. A nurse came in and removed the feeding tube, put some gauze on the wound, and sent us home. We were in the house before noon. Prognosis is excellent. Evidently the stomach lining heals within two or three hours of removal.His therapy continues. Balance and strength are returning, and his vocabulary is expanding, although 90% of his replies are "Yes" or "No."We'll update this blog as things happen. As always, thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts.
Posted by Paul Andrea Knott at 12:49 PM 0 comments Links to this post