Dec. 31, 2011

Bro. Dale has had a good day today.  Mrs. Doug had said that he was kinda sleepy on Thursday and they realized yesterday that his blood pressure was a little low.  So they cut back on his blood pressure medication yesterday and it really helped him become more alert.  Today he was much more alert. 

Mrs. Doug was watching him today and he stretched out his left arm as far down his left leg as he could and then he looked at his right arm as if he wanted to stretch it out as well but he could not.  He is becoming more aware that his right side is not working, but seems to be trying to make it respond.  Mrs. Doug talked with him today and told him about everything that has happened to him from the time of his stroke until now.  She explained to him where he was and what their goals are in terms of therapy and helping him recover and restore his body.  She said that she could tell he was really listening and perhaps was starting to understand.  She told him that it was going to be a lot of hard work and he nodded. 

He has really been interested in his right eye lately.  They believe that he has some problems with his vision in it, but it's unclear exactly to what extent.  It's not unusual for patients who have had the type of stroke that he has had to lose part of their field of vision on the effected side.  Janice asked him today if he could see all of her face or just part of it.  He indicated that something was wrong, but they couldn't tell if it was just blurry or something more.  The doctor has told them that when they do therapy to target use of the right eye, it usually corrects itself in 3-6 months. 

Johanna called and talked with him today.  She read him a verse from Hebrews.  He was nodding and opening his mouth to try to form words.  He has started responding more and more with moving his mouth to form words.  So hopefully soon, the words will come!

Coming up on January 18th, they will meet with the doctor who removed the portion of his skull.  He will do a cat scan and most likely go ahead and schedule the surgery to replace it.  They expect it to be February when they do that. 

A funny story from today:  Bro. Dale let Mrs. Doug know that his thumbnail needed to be cut.  So she cut it and then asked him to let her go ahead and cut the rest of them.  He quickly put his arm underneath him and shook his head "no!"  He didn't let her cut the rest of them. 

Mrs. Doug and Janice will be heading to Jackson tomorrow.  Janice's flight leaves really early Monday morning.  Say a prayer for their safe travel. 

“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 NIV

Happy New Year!  Looking forward to see what God has in store for this new year!