Details can be found on:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=50339831882
Please email silverfirz@hotmail.com if you have any questions!
Hope you can make it!
Alex
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Sunday, 18 January 2009
January 19th 2009 - Almost home...
Drew continues to improve everyday! So far he continues to attend physical and speech therapy (includes feeding) everyday Monday to Friday - between 8 am and 5 pm. I have been to a few of his sessions - they make him work on sitting flat on his belly and lower arms to hold up the body while on a flat platform; sit up with his hands holding the edge of the platform, with someone besides him to make sure he doesn't fall back; machine that helps him stand up - in intervals of 45 minutes; etc. This is all being done to help him build his strength and increase his mobility.
A few days ago, the feeding tubes have stopped for the most part, to make him eat real food more - by hunger. I believe they told me that they feed him only once a day instead of intervals all day - to try to get him to eat more on his own. He is starting to eat more but hates it since he is not used to it.
About 2 weeks ago - he starts to move his RIGHT hand!! So far he can move it a bit... but just like his whole recovery has been... it is a bit and a bit at a time... we keep encouraging him to keep moving it as much as possible - he tries to "stretch it" by using his left hand to bring it out.
He is aware of everything around him, can communicate by signing - but it's difficult to understand some of his signs (can only sign with left hand) unless you're used to them; uses the sign language ABC, the erase board or the ABC poster to create words/sentences out of them. He tends to be a bit lazy and won't say much but YES or NO and make you guess a million things that leads to a YES or NO answer - drives me mad sometimes! Sometimes I will be like, "stop that, tell me a sentence" - then he will.
What else, oh the MAIN news!!! Last but not least! So far it is hopeful that he will be coming home in March because he has constantly signed "home, home, home" but he isn't able to take care of himself yet, so another reason for him to work extra harder everyday. He will continue be picked up by someone to take him to therapy everyday Mon to Fri when he comes home.
Will continue to report anything newsworthy in the meantime....
Godbless...
A few days ago, the feeding tubes have stopped for the most part, to make him eat real food more - by hunger. I believe they told me that they feed him only once a day instead of intervals all day - to try to get him to eat more on his own. He is starting to eat more but hates it since he is not used to it.
About 2 weeks ago - he starts to move his RIGHT hand!! So far he can move it a bit... but just like his whole recovery has been... it is a bit and a bit at a time... we keep encouraging him to keep moving it as much as possible - he tries to "stretch it" by using his left hand to bring it out.
He is aware of everything around him, can communicate by signing - but it's difficult to understand some of his signs (can only sign with left hand) unless you're used to them; uses the sign language ABC, the erase board or the ABC poster to create words/sentences out of them. He tends to be a bit lazy and won't say much but YES or NO and make you guess a million things that leads to a YES or NO answer - drives me mad sometimes! Sometimes I will be like, "stop that, tell me a sentence" - then he will.
What else, oh the MAIN news!!! Last but not least! So far it is hopeful that he will be coming home in March because he has constantly signed "home, home, home" but he isn't able to take care of himself yet, so another reason for him to work extra harder everyday. He will continue be picked up by someone to take him to therapy everyday Mon to Fri when he comes home.
Will continue to report anything newsworthy in the meantime....
Godbless...
Thursday, 18 December 2008
December 18th, 2008
Hi everyone! I posted a couple pictures from last weekend and Thanksgiving Day to see how Drew looks! Quite normal I assure you! :) Still handsome as ever... please go on and visit him anytime between 9 am and 8:30 pm (Visiting Hours) at Ranken Jordon off Dorsett road near Lindbergh! He will love the company... he's been bored a lot and gets sad when we leave him! Just sign your name in at the front desk, grab a visitors badge and they will tell you where his room is! It's a small hospital so you can miss it! Hugs, Alex.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Time for a new update!!!
Drew continues to do great! He had his bouts of being sick on and off... the most recent one was pretty long which prevented him from really doing anything for almost 2 weeks. Poor thing. Neverless, he seems to be back in good health and slowly improving a bit day by day! Recent Sunday, he was in a good mood, my family and I made jokes, he would show the BIGGEST smiles as if he was almost trying to laugh along with us... with twinkles in his eyes... very cute!
Today I went with Drew to St. John's Mercy with his nurse and therapist for a "swallow" test to make sure he was eating down the right tube... Don't jump yet! He can't eat yet, still on feeding tubes, BUT he can take in a bit of food and swallow it... but because he hasn't really used his tongue/mouth to eat, the food can be NASTY to him... and he tries to spit it out! The therapists will continue to try to feed him a couple times a day to help him progress to bigger stages! Today I kept him company during the whole appointment. While waiting, I would work on asking him questions, making jokes, and telling him to stop putting his head down or I'll (threatening) put a neck brace on him. He will smile and put his head down in defiance and grin... making his nurse, therapist and I laugh.
He is able to finally say NO! If you see him trying to rub his finger and thumb together, tell him NO! That he can sign "NO" perfectly as well "YES." His signs for no and yes are very good now! Sometimes he will move his head in a yes or no position instead. I tend to ask him the same question twice to make sure I understood which YES or NO he meant! Every time I visit him, I have him pick a movie he wants to watch... he always picks out something... He does TRY to sign with his left hand but it's REALLY hard for me to understand... takes time... if you ask him to sign something... he will TRY even because remember he does not have FULL control of his hands/arms/body parts.
He can fingerspell but he tends to fingerspell in skips. If the word is small/short, he will fingerspell the full word... but today for example, I asked him to say his name, forming perfect sign language letters: A N D W. I noticed this pattern a couple days ago, then I would guess the word he was trying to spell then ask him to confirm it... sometimes it's not the right word - then I will ask him to spell again! Can be exhausting but you have to PUSH and ENCOURAGE him that he CAN spell the word and communicate with us!
He can say the international symbol I LOVE YOU almost perfectly with a crooked tiny index but neverless if you say I LOVE YOU, he will certainly repeat it back! It's touching. :)
That's about it for now... til next time... give me a couple weeks... if anything worthy to report - I will try to get back on here! :)
Alex
Today I went with Drew to St. John's Mercy with his nurse and therapist for a "swallow" test to make sure he was eating down the right tube... Don't jump yet! He can't eat yet, still on feeding tubes, BUT he can take in a bit of food and swallow it... but because he hasn't really used his tongue/mouth to eat, the food can be NASTY to him... and he tries to spit it out! The therapists will continue to try to feed him a couple times a day to help him progress to bigger stages! Today I kept him company during the whole appointment. While waiting, I would work on asking him questions, making jokes, and telling him to stop putting his head down or I'll (threatening) put a neck brace on him. He will smile and put his head down in defiance and grin... making his nurse, therapist and I laugh.
He is able to finally say NO! If you see him trying to rub his finger and thumb together, tell him NO! That he can sign "NO" perfectly as well "YES." His signs for no and yes are very good now! Sometimes he will move his head in a yes or no position instead. I tend to ask him the same question twice to make sure I understood which YES or NO he meant! Every time I visit him, I have him pick a movie he wants to watch... he always picks out something... He does TRY to sign with his left hand but it's REALLY hard for me to understand... takes time... if you ask him to sign something... he will TRY even because remember he does not have FULL control of his hands/arms/body parts.
He can fingerspell but he tends to fingerspell in skips. If the word is small/short, he will fingerspell the full word... but today for example, I asked him to say his name, forming perfect sign language letters: A N D W. I noticed this pattern a couple days ago, then I would guess the word he was trying to spell then ask him to confirm it... sometimes it's not the right word - then I will ask him to spell again! Can be exhausting but you have to PUSH and ENCOURAGE him that he CAN spell the word and communicate with us!
He can say the international symbol I LOVE YOU almost perfectly with a crooked tiny index but neverless if you say I LOVE YOU, he will certainly repeat it back! It's touching. :)
That's about it for now... til next time... give me a couple weeks... if anything worthy to report - I will try to get back on here! :)
Alex
Monday, 17 November 2008
Progressing really well!!! Able to sign!
November has been an amazing month for Drew!! Sorry if I haven’t been here for a while. I have so much to report that finally I am here! The last 3 weeks have been really amazing… My family and I continue to visit Drew everyday and try to work with him. So far Drew has been trying to sign for some time – with his left hand. Unfortunately, it is VERY hard to read his signs but you can comprehend/make out what he’s trying to say. He is able to try to say no by rubbing his index finger and thumb together… yes by trying to fist up his hand or move his head in a yes position. He is able to fingerspell words if you ask him to say something simple (we can’t over stimulate him too much yet). He was able to spell many words but takes time. Sometimes he really tries to SIGN things but he has limited movement but you can notice he TRIES! It’s so hard but we continue to encourage him and to be patient – that it will take time for us to understand him.
His left side of brain is a bit MORE slow to respond so he cannot move his right side that much at the moment. However, the doctors are very pleased with his recovery. They expect him to have a FULL recovery eventually in the months to come. He continues to work with physical therapists during the week Monday to Friday. My family and I bring him new movies, things to do and entertain him when we can. Recently, I brought scrabble pieces last Friday – he is ABLE to pick out letters if you ask him to spell something – but you cannot give him too many letters or he will be overloaded and start picking wrong letters to just please you. I would ask him to spell our names… and add just 3 or 4 more letters. Sometimes I would work on the sign language ABC with him one by one for him to try out.
Also, I created many BIG INDEX cards with a bunch of questions on them – with cards that even say NO or YES on them. You can ask him small questions and he will TRY to answer it – but if you ask him something and expect him to reply in fingerspelling or sign – you will not be able to understand. Ask him questions that lead to a no, yes, I don’t know or something you know he WILL answer to. It’s pretty amazing. He can even SMILE or give a HUG if you ask him to. It’s incredible. Drew had a LOT of visitors on Saturday and Sunday that the poor thing was completely exhausted and couldn’t do anything today (according to my mom!) Oh yes, at one point last week, my family and I would let Drew try out air hockey (in Ranken Jordon's activity area) and he TRIED to lightly "kick the puck" with his left hand (in a wheelchair) many times!
He had another MRI scan for his brain last week – so far the doctors say he is progressing very nicely… and he is able to move his head to the right or left, much more attentive to people around him.
Another note to make - one day, he was in some kind of cooking class, the doctor asked him to pick up cilantro and put it in a bowl – and he did! The doctor turned off his DVD player and asked him to turn it on – and he did! So very small steps but GIANT for him!
Continue to pray for his speedy recovery!…. HUGS!
His left side of brain is a bit MORE slow to respond so he cannot move his right side that much at the moment. However, the doctors are very pleased with his recovery. They expect him to have a FULL recovery eventually in the months to come. He continues to work with physical therapists during the week Monday to Friday. My family and I bring him new movies, things to do and entertain him when we can. Recently, I brought scrabble pieces last Friday – he is ABLE to pick out letters if you ask him to spell something – but you cannot give him too many letters or he will be overloaded and start picking wrong letters to just please you. I would ask him to spell our names… and add just 3 or 4 more letters. Sometimes I would work on the sign language ABC with him one by one for him to try out.
Also, I created many BIG INDEX cards with a bunch of questions on them – with cards that even say NO or YES on them. You can ask him small questions and he will TRY to answer it – but if you ask him something and expect him to reply in fingerspelling or sign – you will not be able to understand. Ask him questions that lead to a no, yes, I don’t know or something you know he WILL answer to. It’s pretty amazing. He can even SMILE or give a HUG if you ask him to. It’s incredible. Drew had a LOT of visitors on Saturday and Sunday that the poor thing was completely exhausted and couldn’t do anything today (according to my mom!) Oh yes, at one point last week, my family and I would let Drew try out air hockey (in Ranken Jordon's activity area) and he TRIED to lightly "kick the puck" with his left hand (in a wheelchair) many times!
He had another MRI scan for his brain last week – so far the doctors say he is progressing very nicely… and he is able to move his head to the right or left, much more attentive to people around him.
Another note to make - one day, he was in some kind of cooking class, the doctor asked him to pick up cilantro and put it in a bowl – and he did! The doctor turned off his DVD player and asked him to turn it on – and he did! So very small steps but GIANT for him!
Continue to pray for his speedy recovery!…. HUGS!
Monday, 3 November 2008
Football on Sundays with the Family
Sunday, November 2nd, my sister Courtney, husband David (Drew’s brother in law) and Bella (Drew's 3 yr old niece) were in St. Louis for the weekend. My Uncle Brian and Aunt Cindy, mom, and all the siblings except for Amanda (stuck working in KC!) were all at Ranken Jordan to watch the football game with Drew. What a moment! We had a couple friends in during the day as well.
We took over a big section of the "lobby area" outside of Drew's room - he was in his wheelchair - always moving his head (stubbornly - later on - always putting it down), his left arm and legs... he still can't really communicate with us but he watched the game and let us talked to him sometimes. I saw Drew's main doctor come over and talked to mom about various things - when I asked what it was about - Mom said that this is one of his best recovery weeks so far - because he has been really moving a lot more and got his breathing tube thereby breathing completely on his own. The doctor even said – that he expects Drew to make a FULL RECOVERY one day! So this is really good news but let’s continue to pray for his health! Just a bit of an update. Hugs. Alex
We took over a big section of the "lobby area" outside of Drew's room - he was in his wheelchair - always moving his head (stubbornly - later on - always putting it down), his left arm and legs... he still can't really communicate with us but he watched the game and let us talked to him sometimes. I saw Drew's main doctor come over and talked to mom about various things - when I asked what it was about - Mom said that this is one of his best recovery weeks so far - because he has been really moving a lot more and got his breathing tube thereby breathing completely on his own. The doctor even said – that he expects Drew to make a FULL RECOVERY one day! So this is really good news but let’s continue to pray for his health! Just a bit of an update. Hugs. Alex
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Drew getting better day by day!
So far Drew is responding well. He continues to recover slowly and has a lot of great feedback from the nurses and physical therapists who are working with him. Mom says he has therapy Mon to Fri every day during the day.
There is not much to report – he has his bouts of depression – you can see it on his face but he is starting to look very healthy. His hair really grew fast!!! He has his really wide eye attentive days and droopy eyes days or even a mix of both! – it all depends on how hard his days are - therapy wise and the visitors he might have. He is starting to move more and more such as his head, left arm and leg. When I propped him up last night, he look like he was determined to get out of his bed, poor thing. We all continue to encourage him to move, move and move as much as possible.
Yesterday, he is supposed to get the breathing tube off his neck – but it was still on when I visited him – a nurse said most likely will take it off today – very good news – this means he is now breathing very well on his own. They closed his breathing tube a couple days ago.
My family and I continue to visit him daily, as much as possible, talk to him/chat with him, read to him by putting his favorite books in front of his face to be able to read and putting on dvd movies for him before we go – I’ve been holding up his Manga books in front of him at a certain distance and flipping the pages when he closes his eyes – it’s hard to tell if he understands you but so far – he catches little things… I told him to blink slowly when he wants me to flip the page… don’t automatically think he can really respond by blinking… it isn’t always certain.
Another tiny good sign mom told me about was – he was asked to cough to check something and he did!
If you can visit him – please feel free to wake him up if is sleeping; make him comfortable if he doesn’t look comfortable; ask the nurses any questions if you you’re uncertain about something; always encourage him and give him “pep talks!”
Til the next posting! :)
There is not much to report – he has his bouts of depression – you can see it on his face but he is starting to look very healthy. His hair really grew fast!!! He has his really wide eye attentive days and droopy eyes days or even a mix of both! – it all depends on how hard his days are - therapy wise and the visitors he might have. He is starting to move more and more such as his head, left arm and leg. When I propped him up last night, he look like he was determined to get out of his bed, poor thing. We all continue to encourage him to move, move and move as much as possible.
Yesterday, he is supposed to get the breathing tube off his neck – but it was still on when I visited him – a nurse said most likely will take it off today – very good news – this means he is now breathing very well on his own. They closed his breathing tube a couple days ago.
My family and I continue to visit him daily, as much as possible, talk to him/chat with him, read to him by putting his favorite books in front of his face to be able to read and putting on dvd movies for him before we go – I’ve been holding up his Manga books in front of him at a certain distance and flipping the pages when he closes his eyes – it’s hard to tell if he understands you but so far – he catches little things… I told him to blink slowly when he wants me to flip the page… don’t automatically think he can really respond by blinking… it isn’t always certain.
Another tiny good sign mom told me about was – he was asked to cough to check something and he did!
If you can visit him – please feel free to wake him up if is sleeping; make him comfortable if he doesn’t look comfortable; ask the nurses any questions if you you’re uncertain about something; always encourage him and give him “pep talks!”
Til the next posting! :)
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