Rose and I took a bus over to Chicago to visit my mom and dad. After not seeing him for 3 weeks, we were looking forward to seeing what progress my dad had made. It has been so wonderful this week to see all the improvements!
To start off, Dad seems more himself. He is so much more relaxed and confident with his walking and actions. Although he hasn't been working on his right arm and leg so much this month, I have noticed improvements with both. His walking is smoother and his pace is quicker! With his arm, his wrist is stronger, and so is his upper arm.
His speech is of course what has impressed me the most. One night at dinner he said "hard work, but better and better" and then paused. He thought for a moment and corrected himself by saying "hard work, but I'm getting better and better!" He is starting to put his words into short sentences. He will often say the main word or phrase (better and better) and then form it into a short sentence (I'm getting better and better). It's so cool for me to hear this progress! And so cool for him, too, to realize that his phrase needs more and is learning to put it into a full sentence.
Besides the sentence forming, his vocabulary has always grown immensely. He almost always has something to say, and is always coming up with new words. This intensive speech program has truly been wonderful!
Just a few more days left, then back home to Minnesota for one day, and on to Costa Rica! Dad is very ready for a long break from therapy and to just relax! Of course, just because he won't be going to formal therapy over the summer, that doesn't mean we won't be working him hard every day with therapies of our own!
"I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." -Acts 2:25
Dear Hathaway Family: :-)
ReplyDeleteI have not been posting regular comments, as I should have. But I HAVE been reading and following along on all this amazing progress. As I've read your postings I find myself utterly amazed by the strength and power of the human body. With faith, the right medical guidance and an endless supply of love and encouragement - the power of the brain and body to recover from such a devastating event, is something we can all be in AWE of. I hope you all know, that, every day, I send you love, love, love. In just a matter of days, it will be one whole year since this took place. Almost impossible to believe---and look at the progress dear Geoff has made. It is simply astounding. You all continue to inspire me.
Sending (you guessed it) -- LOVE.
Julie K.