No major breakthroughs, but I know many of you are praying and waiting for an update. Garren continues to progress, little by little.
Swallow therapy is slow and grueling. He hasn't actually been able to start the McNeil program. We are told that you actually have to be able to swallow in order to benefit from McNeil. The therapists have been working intensely and intentionally with him to help strengthen his tongue and mouth muscles. Hopefully, eventually, he will be able to start swallowing.
The physical therapists are amazed every time they see Garren. He continues to get stronger and steadier. He has a couple of crutches that he uses to walk. He can pretty much stand up on his own. He needs someone to help him balance. I helped him walk from our house to the stop sign at the end of our road, and back again. That was a total of about 700 feet. It took about 45 minutes. It was quite a workout, but he did it.
We have another month left of approved overnight nursing. Then we resubmit and pray for that to continue after the end of March. Once Garren can swallow consistently on his own, we will no longer need nursing - we cannot wait for that day!
Thanks for your continued prayers. Garren continues to joke around and make us laugh. We have so much to be thankful for.
February 29, 2012
February 13, 2012
Ridin' Solo
I haven't talked a lot about school so here's a quick update. Garren is doing great in school. Last semester he passed all his classes with no trouble. His teachers have all been great at helping him make sure he gets everything he needs. Nancy and Kara have spent countless hours helping Garren with homework. This semester is going great. Of course, just like any 15 year old boy, Garren would rather not go to school. But he is doing great with it.
Garren has had an assistant following him around at school. She has been meeting us at the car in the morning, walking everywhere with Garren, sitting with him in class, and then escorting him back to the car for pick up. Garren brought it to our attention that this was a little bit annoying. He didn't feel like he had any freedom. He felt confined and held back. So Nancy talked to the school, and starting today we are trying something new. I dropped Garren off by himself. He went to class all on his own - no help. He will meet three different assistants today, each in a different class. And when we pick him up, he is going to come to the car unassisted! Garren has always been pretty independent. I hope this new arrangement makes him feel more independent again.
Last week we had one of the therapists looking at Garren's manual wheelchair. Garren has really gotten good at pushing himself around. He prefers the manual chair over the power chair now. That is great! The therapist wanted to make some adjustments to the manual chair, to make it easier for Garren to use. But there's a problem. The chair isn't designed for someone as 'advanced' as Garren. When I heard this I said "What? We paid all that money for a chair that isn't what Garren needs?" Come to find out, when they customized the chair for Garren, they had no idea he would progress as quickly as he has. He has already outgrown the chair! Another reminder that Garren is progressing quickly and miraculously. They are going to make a couple of adjustments to try and make the chair last a little longer for Garren.
Garren has had an assistant following him around at school. She has been meeting us at the car in the morning, walking everywhere with Garren, sitting with him in class, and then escorting him back to the car for pick up. Garren brought it to our attention that this was a little bit annoying. He didn't feel like he had any freedom. He felt confined and held back. So Nancy talked to the school, and starting today we are trying something new. I dropped Garren off by himself. He went to class all on his own - no help. He will meet three different assistants today, each in a different class. And when we pick him up, he is going to come to the car unassisted! Garren has always been pretty independent. I hope this new arrangement makes him feel more independent again.
Last week we had one of the therapists looking at Garren's manual wheelchair. Garren has really gotten good at pushing himself around. He prefers the manual chair over the power chair now. That is great! The therapist wanted to make some adjustments to the manual chair, to make it easier for Garren to use. But there's a problem. The chair isn't designed for someone as 'advanced' as Garren. When I heard this I said "What? We paid all that money for a chair that isn't what Garren needs?" Come to find out, when they customized the chair for Garren, they had no idea he would progress as quickly as he has. He has already outgrown the chair! Another reminder that Garren is progressing quickly and miraculously. They are going to make a couple of adjustments to try and make the chair last a little longer for Garren.
February 08, 2012
One Year Check-Up
We took Garren to see his neurosurgeon yesterday. Dr. Dyer and his team were waiting for Garren in the ER last year when he was taken to CMC Main. He is the one who did the surgeries.
First the P.A. came in and talked to us for a little while. He asked questions about how Garren was progressing. After a few minutes I said "Have you ever seen anything like this before? In person or case studies?" He looked down, looked at Garren, shook his head, and said "Honestly I didn't think there was any way Garren would survive. Cases like this don't usually leave the hospital." Then he used a word I don't recall having heard a doctor use: "It was a miracle." He said "Without getting too spiritual, the Good Lord had His hand on this one." Of course I quickly replied "You can get spiritual, that's ok. We know that God is taking care of Garren."
A few minutes later Dr. Dyer came in. He too asked questions about Garren's progress. We talked for a few minutes. Then he said something encouraging. "Having seen the progress Garren has made in the last year, I'm confident that he will continue to recover. Maybe another year or even two years. He's going to keep getting better."
As long as this road has been, and as much as we'd like to get to the end of this chapter of our lives, it's encouraging to have positive feedback from doctors who a year ago had little hope. We thank God for His hand of healing. We continue to trust His timing.
First the P.A. came in and talked to us for a little while. He asked questions about how Garren was progressing. After a few minutes I said "Have you ever seen anything like this before? In person or case studies?" He looked down, looked at Garren, shook his head, and said "Honestly I didn't think there was any way Garren would survive. Cases like this don't usually leave the hospital." Then he used a word I don't recall having heard a doctor use: "It was a miracle." He said "Without getting too spiritual, the Good Lord had His hand on this one." Of course I quickly replied "You can get spiritual, that's ok. We know that God is taking care of Garren."
A few minutes later Dr. Dyer came in. He too asked questions about Garren's progress. We talked for a few minutes. Then he said something encouraging. "Having seen the progress Garren has made in the last year, I'm confident that he will continue to recover. Maybe another year or even two years. He's going to keep getting better."
As long as this road has been, and as much as we'd like to get to the end of this chapter of our lives, it's encouraging to have positive feedback from doctors who a year ago had little hope. We thank God for His hand of healing. We continue to trust His timing.
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