StrokeSurvivorBlog

On Thursday they had him standing behind a table with all his weight on his left leg as a therapist knelt behind him and held his knee in place so it wouldn’t buckle. Then his left hand was placed on a small skateboard-type device on the table which he moved back and forth. This was so incredibly difficult for him, but he gave it his all and moved it. That was the first time since he broke his ankle on Jan. 29 that he put all his weight on that leg. He said it felt good.

His left tendon feels so much better and on Monday he’s being fitted for a new support device that will be custom-made for the foot and ankle instead of the big black cast/boot that he’s been wearing. It is just so heavy and difficult for him to move. Please give thanks to God that the tendon is better.

Sunday morning a new pain materialized in his left leg from his groin going upward to his side. Just having someone move the leg slightly sends shooting pains up his leg. As it felt tonight, he will not be able to do therapy with it. So please ask for God’s healing touch on the nerves and muscles in this area and for the pain to leave.

The speech therapist is working with him to scan his eyes from left to right. Since his peripheral vision in the left eye was affected, he tends to ignore that side. When you visit him, try to stand on his left side. That will force him to look that way.

I get reprimanded by the therapists all the time for helping him do things instead of letting him figure them out or waiting until he asks for help. They keep telling me that I’m not his mother. They want him to exercise problem-solving techniques. There were little things like moving a piece of furniture out of the way so he could maneuver the wheelchair around it. They told me that he needs to figure out what’s wrong and then ask someone to move it for him (problem-solving). I just want to help and I don’t even realize that I’m doing that, but they’re right. I don’t want to enable him to be dependent on me.

Pam and I visited some nursing homes on Friday, and after checking with a few other people, residents and professionals, Woodside Lutheran Home over by Bay Park Square was highly recommended. It is referred to as the Cadillac of nursing homes in this area for therapy, staff, cleanliness, food, etc. We were very impressed with it as well and felt a great sense of peace with that decision. Bellin will be making the referral on Monday and he’ll be moved there later this week or the following Monday.

Please pray that Steve will have a smooth transition. It means all new staff and therapists for him, plus a whole new environment. But I think it will be a good move and he knows it’s only temporary. The only thing is that there will only be 1 1/2 hours of therapy a day vs. 3 hrs at Bellin, so my girls and I will have to work with him whenever we can.

We are continually hearing stories of stroke survivors who have been affected like Steve or worse who have rebounded 80-95% with therapy. Some of them were in their 80s, so if they can do it, so can he.

Thank you again for your continued prayer support and well wishes. You’ll never know how much that means to both of us and our family. God’s grace, peace and strength on our lives continues to amaze me. We wouldn’t be able to go through this without Him or you.

Love, Kathy