February 29, 2012

Mrs. Doug emailed me the update tonight:

"Yeah, the trech. came out today!  It took about a minute to take it out and he tolerated it well.  It feels strange to him because he keeps feeling where it was.  They have the opening covered with gauze and said it could close up in a day or it could take a week or so.  He has tried talking to see what his voice sounded like.  It doesn't sound much different he just doesn't have to strain as hard to get his voice sounds to come out.  I can hardly wait to see what it will  be like when he realizes he can talk again.

In PT they had him walking behind a shopping cart which gave him much more control over the right leg.  I told him he looked great behind a shopping cart and that I thought he could do that well.  I also told him while he was shopping today to pick me up some popcorn.  He just looked at me and smiled and at the therapist and shook his head.   He was able to walk a lot farther today than he has since we have been here.  They  also had him use his right leg while sitting in his wheel chair to pull himself along.  This made him use the muscles in the upper part of his leg.

In OT the worked on sitting and standing.  They also worked on moving from the wheel chair to a shower bench.  

When he wakes up in the mornings he throws back the covers and throws that left leg off the bed and is ready to get out of bed right then.  I have to remind him that we have to wait for them to come help him get dressed and move to the wheel chair.  

Tomorrow is their evaluation day and I will get a report on how well they think he is progressing.  I have had each of them to say they can tell he has made progress.  They each have said that they can tell he still has trouble when you tell him something to do with it making a connection.

I know y'all will enjoy this story.  We have just finished supper and gotten back to our room and Mr. clock watcher wanted to go to bed as soon as he got his teeth brushed and started pointing at the clock and at me.  I told him they were cleaning up the dining room and would be here in a few minutes.  That wasn't soon enough.  He kept on and I told him to go to the door and get somebody.  He did! He went to the door opened it and sat in the door way until the nurse saw him and asked him if he wanted to get back in bed.  He nodded and said u-huh.  Then he came back in the room and is waiting on them.   Each day is something new! 

Thank you, for all your prayers. We love you."

 

Yay!!!  Thank You, Lord for this great report.  We praise You and thank You for your help in our times of need.  Amen.

 

"¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
   where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.  ³ He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵ The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore."  Psalm 121

 

February 27, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said Bro. Dale had a good day.  They are planning to leave his trach capped tonight to see how he does with that.  If he does well, they are talking about taking it out sometime this week.   They got him up around 7:30 this morning and didn't get back into bed until about 3:45!  He was give out after a full day of therapy.  He took a nap and by 5 was ready to get up and go to supper. 

 In speech today, they mentioned that he is doing so well with the puree diet that they are going to start him on more solid foods tomorrow.  Today he had his first slice of pineapple since November.  He lapped it up!  (For those who may not know, Bro. Dale LOVES pineapple and has eaten a pineapple sandwich for lunch just about everyday of his life prior to his stroke!)  Also during speech today, she used music, with short familiar songs like Happy Birthday and Row, Row, Row Your Boat.  At one point, he said, "happy" and it seemed to shock him so much that he could say it that he didn't say it again.  The therapist said it's normal that it would shock him because it's common for a stroke patient to think they will not be able to get to the point of saying more than just a couple of words.  Also, they have been using some word pictures and such for him to match.  He does well as long as there are just a few, but when it gets to be more than about 3, he gets frustrated.  But she's going to give him some picture words that he can use to give signals, such as a sink if he wants to wash his hands or a toothbrush, etc.  That will give him a base for his communication that will reduce some of the confusion.  He has already gotten into a pattern of using a few hand signals, such as waving his hand in a horizontal line, it means turn the volume up on the tv, NOT change the channel.  :)

 In OT, they taught him to use what they call a slide board.  They slide it under his hip and then he slides on it to wherever they are wanting him to sit.  Today they had him sitting at a table.  So he can move himself from the wheelchair to a seat by himself.   

 In PT, they had him stand straight up and bat a balloon back and forth for about 20 minutes.  They also walked him this afternoon with his right leg (the calf and ankle) wrapped in an ace bandage.  They had him do that for about 15 minutes and then had him lay down and worked on his feet and legs for several more minutes.  They are going to start walking him earlier in the mornings from now on because he was pretty tired by the time they got to PT today.   They do 30 minutes of each type of therapy in the morning and then again in the afternoon.  He has a break from about 11-12 that he can rest without laying down.  Today they went out on the deck and enjoyed the beautiful weather for a little while.  

 Mrs. Doug said to tell everyone that the best times for a visit would be from 11-1 or any time after 3:30.   

Mrs. Doug wanted to share a verse tonight.  She read a devotional that said we often avoid the hills for the flat ground, but it's when we must walk up the mountainside that we are strengthened and learn to depend on God for our strength.  The scripture that went with it was Exodus 15:2. As well as this prayer:

"Dear Father help me to learn to depend on You daily.  Show me your mercy and grace, I pray."  She said they are learning to do that daily.    

 "² The LORD is my strength and my song;
   he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
   my father’s God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2

 

BROTHER DALE'S BENEFIT: All first pre-ordered benefit t-shirts are ready and can be picked up at Cotton Ink. Their hours are Monday - Friday 7-5 and Saturday til 2. Thanks to everyone who has bought tees and dinner plates, who plans to cook, serve, who has donated auction items, or work in any way to make this benefit a success!

February 25, 2012

Mrs. Doug emailed me her update tonight, so I'll just copy and paste it for you to read:

Greetings from Jackson,

We have had a good day.  Had physical & speech therapy today.  Dale is getting stronger already in his walking.  Today they walked him without a brace of any kind on the right leg.  He didn't walk quite as far as yesterday but held himself taller and had much more control of his upper body.  He also got to pet 2 dogs today.  One of them was about as hyper as Buster.  They were long haired.  He really enjoyed getting to pet them.  I wish you could have seen the look in his eyes when he was petting them.  The lady gave me some pointers on how to handle Buster when we get home.
When anyone says OK to him now he will answer back OK, except to me.HA!  He can also say yeah &  no sometimes.  I haven't talked to the speech therapist much yet so don't really know what all he is doing in there.  He is really trying hard to do everything they ask him to do.  The young man that had him in physical was about an inch taller than Dale and made that comment to Dale that he was a little taller than Dale was.  When the guy stood Dale up the next time Dale stood as tall and straight as an arrow and was as tall as the guy.  Dale just grinned when the guy told him he was as tall as he was now.  He was able to move his right leg on his on when he was walking today.
This morning I got out his electric razor which he has never used one and he shaved himself with it and did a good job.  I can't wait to see what happens next week with a full week of therapy.  There will be one speech therapist assigned to him and we met her and she seems really nice.
We've had company yesterday & today.  Always enjoy the company it helps pass the time and is great seeing everyone.

To each of you who reads the Blog and prays for us daily and hourly May God's richly bless you and thank you so much.  There just aren't words to express what we feel for each of you.  Whenever I mention any of you to Dale he gets emotional & so do I.

We love you all,

Dale & Doug

 

 

"¹⁶ “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! 

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."  1 Samuel 12:16, 20-24

 

Heavenly Father, we find our hope in the fact that You are pleased to make us Your own, even though we are frail and weak.  Forgive us where we fail you.  We ask you to continue to heal Bro. Dale so that Your great name will be known.   In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

February 23, 2012

Bro. Dale had a good day today.  They had him walking with a half walker and a lower leg brace (different from the air brace he had used before).  This one is more like a metal boot.  But there was nothing from the knee up.  He did really well with it.  He would get tired and have to sit down, but he did great with it. 

The speech therapist said he'd gotten a little frustrated while he was being evaluated.  He was trying to say so much but could only get "well good" out.  He was clearly rattled by it.  But the therapist said she knows where to start with him from there and they will get him past that point. 

The OT had him matching all kinds of shapes.  Then he'd have to pick up some pegs and put them in a peg board. 

The respiratory therapist will come in tonight and she is hoping to find out more about how soon the trach can come out.  

He got back to the room about 3:30 and Porkchop came to visit for a while.  Bro. Dale ate all of his meals in the dining room today.  There were other people there that they had a conversation with and Mrs. Doug said Bro. Dale seemed really comfortable and would nod and say, "uh huh" a lot.  He also got a chance to spend some time outside and enjoy the pretty weather.  They have a deck on the 3rd floor that they can go out on with tables and sitting areas.  She's hoping to get him out there as often as possible. 

The sink in his room is such that he can roll right up to it in the wheel chair.  She showed him how to adjust the water and he washed his face and brushed his teeth.  He even leaned over and spit, which is something he's not been able to do.  Mrs. Doug said that when he brushes his teeth, he seems completely normal with the speed and accuracy that he has with it. 

Thursdays are the days that they do staff meetings and patient evaluations and report to the family.  They will do his first evaluation like that next week.  This week they will do individual evaluations as they get started.

"6 “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
 ⁷ “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
 ⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to me: ⁹ “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you."  Zechariah 4:6-9

Dear Lord, Just as you did with Zerubbabel, we pray that you would empower Bro. Dale with your Spirit so that he can overcome the mountain in front of him.  See this recovery process through to completion, Lord.  Bless him so that all will know that the Lord Almighty is God and He is able.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

February 22, 2012 - Benefit Information

FBC Vardaman is hosting a benefit for Bro. Dale and Mrs. Doug on Saturday, March 3rd at the Vardaman High School Gymnasium.  Plates can be picked up at 5pm or stay for the live entertainment, and the silent and live auction.  Tickets for the benefit are on sale now for $10 each.  BBQ chicken or pulled pork.  Tickets can be purchased from Tammy at the church (thru Noon on Friday) or see Sherri Williams at Bancorp South in Vardaman.  DEADLINE FOR TICKET SALES IS FRIDAY, FEB. 24.  T-Shirts are also available for $10.  If you pre-ordered a t-shirt, it can be picked up next week at Cotton Ink on Main Street in Vardaman. 

If you have an item you'd like to donate for the auction, see Whitney Casey, Sherri Williams, or call the church. 

For more information, call the church office (662-682-7458). 

February 22, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said they arrived around 11am in Jackson.  He made the trip fine.  He slept most of the way.  But he has been awake and alert the rest of the afternoon.  They did some preliminary evaluation stuff and said for him to get ready to hit the ground running at 8 in the morning!  Before therapy, he will start eating in the dining area, which will be good for him to adjust to being in a more public place to eat.  She said he needs to get used to that because they certainly don't intend to be living out of one room for the rest of their lives.   But for now, the room they have is really nice.  Mrs. Doug said it's really a big room and she has a couch bed to sleep on, which looks better than the one she has been sleeping on in Baldwyn.  She will have a meal ticket to eat in the cafeteria while she is there and a parking pass. 

They hope to get the trach out soon and then the feeding tube.  They also said they will be able to evaluate his sight.  Really, they will be able to work with his whole body in therapy to improve all areas.  He has insurance coverage for 4 weeks, and they told her that when it comes time for him to go home, they will make sure they have everything they need in terms of additional therapy or home health.  It's going to be really exciting to see how far he will be able to come while he is there!

Today while they were unpacking, she handed him his Bible that he used to preach from and he held it closely at first.  Then after a while, he started reading it a little while and then put it down.  A little while later he would pick it back up and read it some more.  She said she's pretty sure he is reading because he uses his finger to mark where he is.  He seemed to be enjoying reading it. 

"⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

February 20, 2012 - pictures

Mrs. Doug stopped by this morning and said that they will be heading to Jackson on Wednesday!  This is great news!  Thank You, Lord!  She also emailed me some pictures that I wanted to post for your viewing pleasure.  Bro. Dale looks great, but what man wouldn't with these two good lookin' girls by his side?!?

  With Addie Beth Watkins

Bro. Dale and Mrs. Doug

Love these smiles!

“Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.  Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. ⁶ You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."  Nehemiah 9:5b-6

February 19, 2012 - with Addie Beth!

Mrs. Doug reported that she talked to the lady from the Methodist Rehab in Jackson last night and they will be evaluating him this week.  She said it's very possible that he will be there by next weekend.  Once he is there, they will work with him doing intense rehab 5days a week and an hour and a half on Saturdays.  They will want her to stay with him as much as she is able. And they expect that he could be ready to come home in as little as 3 weeks!!!  Mrs. Doug said she believes they will be back in church by Easter Sunday!  I cannot wait to see him there! 

"³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
 ³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
 ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
   ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”"  Luke 19:37-40


Thank You, Lord for your marvelous works and blessings displayed through Bro. Dale and Mrs. Doug.  Let us not keep silent as we share the light of Your hope with a dark and hurting world all around us.  

Yesterday, Tony, Tammy & Addie Beth Watkins came to visit and Tammy got this picture of Addie Beth napping beside Bro. Dale in his bed.  It is so sweet, I just had to share it!  

 

February 17, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said that she met with the team of therapists this afternoon.  They made the referral to the Methodist Rehab in Jackson and should be hearing from them on Monday or Tuesday.  They will have someone come to Baldwyn to evaluate him.  Mrs. Doug will need to be present for that.  It doesn't usually take that long once they are referred.  They could be in Jackson as early as the end of next week, depending on how quickly the evaluation is done, but by the next week for sure. 

He is tolerating standing in the frame for 30 minutes at a time without his blood pressure dropping.  And he was able to walk up the parallel bars 3x with only 2 people helping him, where it used to take 4.  They are not using the weight cast on his right leg anymore, so he is controlling the movement in that right leg now.  They are still using the electrical stimulation to strengthen the movement on his right leg.

The OT has been working with him on getting dressed.  He is needing minimal amounts of help to get his shirt and pants on now. 

The speech therapist has been working with him on matching pictures and words.  He was able to match them, which means he's able to read.  He got a lot of them right, but he did miss a few.  He is able to stick his tongue out now and move it from side to side.  Today she was using words like "black" and "white", "husband" and "wife", "cream" and "sugar," "hot" and "cold," "young" and "old."  He was able to say "white," "old," and "no."  This is an improvement from his "well good" that he has only been able to say prior to now.

His blood pressure is leveled out and holding steady instead of fluctuating.  His stitches are out and the scar on his head you can barely see anymore.  Mrs. Doug said that once his hair grows back, you won't be able to see it at all.  She was amazed.  She's going to send some pictures soon of him.  The doctor that replaced his skull wanted them to come back on March 5th for a CT scan, but she's hoping that follow up can be done in Jackson so they don't have to drive him back up for that.

Mrs. Doug has told Bro. Dale about what is ahead and she could tell he understands and is excited about it.  She said that there is a couch bed in his room in Jackson that she could stay on, but if need be, she will be able to stay with Barbara and Larry.  She is planning to stay down there with him for the first week or so, but doesn't know yet how it will be for longer term.

God has done marvelous things and we are so thankful for answered prayers!  Thank You, Lord, You are good!

"¹⁷ You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
   you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,"  Psalm 10:17

"⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the LORD,
   for he has been good to me."  Psalm 13:5-6

February 14, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and reported that Bro. Dale will be having his stitches taken out tomorrow.  Also, soon they will be meeting with an ENT about taking the trach out!  They are trying to get an appointment set up.  They might be able to get that done in Tupelo, if there is time before he goes to Jackson.  They capped off the trach this morning around 9 and left it capped until about 4.  They will be having a meeting of the whole team on Friday and hopefully will find out if he is ready for the referral to the Methodist Rehab in Jackson.  He does still have the feeding tube in but he is only taking his medications with it.  Hopefully they will be able to take it out soon also.   They kept him in rehab today a long time today.  And when he got back today, he wasn't as tired as he has been.  But he did work up a big appetite! 

Mrs. Doug said he made her a Valentine today in rehab with red construction paper and a white heart doily.  With a black ink pen they had him fill in the heart and write "I Love You. -Dale"  He was really proud to give it to her.  She told him it was the most special Valentine she'd ever gotten and he teared up when she said that. 

Continue to pray for Bro. Dale and Mrs. Doug, especially as they gear up for a new stage of recovery.  Pray for Mrs. Doug to have strength and wisdom as she continues to travel back and forth and tries find balance between work, home and being by Bro. Dale's side.  As he is becoming more aware of everything, it's that much harder for them to be apart. We thank God for their example of love and commitment "in sickness and in health."  What a blessing they are to us and each other.  And we thank God for His deep love for us. 

"³ He was despised and rejected by mankind,
   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
 ⁴ Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
   stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
   each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all....
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
   and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
   and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
   and made intercession for the transgressors."  Isaiah 53:3-6, 12

"⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

February 13, 2012

Mrs. Doug called to let me know that Bro. Dale had a good day.  She said she didn't really have much to report otherwise.  She is staying in Baldwyn tonight so that she can meet with the doctor in the morning.  She will be able to report more after that.  We are always thankful for a good report!  Please continue to pray for both of them to be strengthened for the journey.  We are praying for a good report with the doctor tomorrow and that together he and the team of therapists would have the wisdom they need to know how best to meet Bro. Dale's needs. 

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:15

February 11, 2012

Mrs. Doug is staying in Baldwyn tonight.  She hadn't planned to stay, but Bro. Dale didn't want her to leave.  When she said she was going to, he shook his head no.  She asked him if he wanted her to stay and he nodded yes.  So, she decided to stay.  She said he's had a rather emotional day.  He was so glad to see her come in this morning and he motioned for her to sit down and he held her close. 

She said that his stitches looked really good and they are going to see about taking them out next week.  They don't do therapy on the weekends, but she had him working.  :)  She said she had him lifting his right leg up and then bend it and pull it toward him.  She had him repeat that 10x.  He wanted to stop after about 5 and she told him no that he had to do 5 more!  She said his right hand was not looking as swollen today and it was more relaxed looking so she rolled up some washcloths and put in his hand to help him keep it flexed. 

He got a call from Janice and Johanna today.  He is still not able to say more than "well, good" but he is really trying.  But he has learned to control his voice better when saying that so that it is very clear and he doesn't cough as much.  That's without the speaking valve on the trach.  They only cover the trach when he's in therapy and they can monitor him.  Mrs. Doug said that even though the speech therapist at Baldwyn is doing so much with him, they really specialize in getting the speech better in Jackson, so she's looking forward to seeing what he will say next! 

^"1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
   and make his face shine upon us,
 ² that your ways may be known on earth,
   your salvation among all nations.
 ³ May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you.
⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you rule the peoples justly
   and guide the nations of the earth.                         
⁵ May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you.
 ⁶ Then the land will yield its harvest,
   and God, our God, will bless us.
⁷ God will bless us,
   and all the ends of the earth will fear him."  Psalm 67

February 9, 2012

Mrs. Doug said Bro. Dale had a good day today.  He was watching T.V. when she got there, but he was really glad to see her.  She said his incision looks great.  She didn't get there in time to talk to any of the therapists, but the nurses said he did great today.  He ate all of his supper while she was there.  She was surprised because they had some stuff that she knew he wouldn't have eaten at home.  (I forgot to ask her if he's gotten any pineapple sandwiches yet!  I'll have to ask her next time I talk to her!)  :-) 

At one point while she was there, he started motioning with his left thumb and index finger and she finally figured out that he was making a cutting motion.  She asked him if he wanted her to cut his fingernails.  He nodded yes and seemed satisfied once she was done.  

Sherryl Mallory went with Mrs. Doug today to help her drive since she was kinda tired.  Also Robert Lee & Edna Easley came by to see him.  He knew who they were and was glad to see them.  Mrs. Doug told Bro. Dale about the benefit that the church is planning to have for them on March 3rd and he got really emotional.  She could tell that it really touched him and meant a lot to him. 

The benefit will be Saturday, March 3rd, starting at 5pm at the Vardaman High School gym.  The dinner options are smoked chicken or pulled pork.  You can call Tammy at the church office (662)682-7458 or see Whitney Casey or Sherry Williams for tickets.  They are $10 each.  There will also be an auction, so if you have items that you would be willing to donate, you can let one of them know as well.  There will also be live entertainment. 

"³¹ “As for God, his way is perfect;
   the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
³² For who is God besides the LORD?
   And who is the Rock except our God?
³³ It is God who arms me with strength
   and makes my way perfect.
³⁴ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
   he enables me to stand on the heights.
³⁵ He trains my hands for battle;
   my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁶ You give me your shield of victory;
   you stoop down to make me great.
³⁷ You broaden the path beneath me,
   so that my ankles do not turn."  2 Samuel 22:31-37

February 7, 2012 - Additional Update

Bro. Dale had a successful attempt at covering the trach opening during therapy today!  Thank you for praying!  God answered our prayers!  They did not leave it covered for as long as they will later, but it was for at least 30 or 40 minutes. (The respiratory therapist wasn't able to be in therapy with him today.  They will leave the valve capped longer when she is able to be there.)  He did great with it.  His oxygen level remained stable and he was able to make some vocal sounds.  It didn't seem to bother him at all that it was covered.  That is a great start!  They will probably try to leave it capped longer tomorrow. 

The resident doctor came through this morning and after all of them met together, they decided to wait a week to recommend him to Jackson.  This will give him more time to work with the trach and to recover from the surgery.  He will just be that much stronger in another week as well! 

When they came to get him up today, they were short handed on lifts, which they usually use.  They asked him if he could move his right leg and he moved it from the hip down this time!  During therapy, when they stood him up, he rocked himself back and forth, shifting his weight from one leg to the other all on his own.  They were not making him do it this time.  When they put the air cast on, he was doing some of the movement on his own this time, but he still was not able to move it completely on his own.  They were helping him some, but he was definitely doing some of it on his own!  When he got back to the room and he got back in bed, Mrs. Doug was talking to him about what all he had done and she could tell he was so excited.  He was clearly aware that what he had done was a big deal. 

When he was eating today, the speech therapist and occupational therapist were there watching him and they had him wipe his mouth with his napkin and so things that we usually take for granted that he is having to relearn.  But he was doing great with it! 

All in all, they had a great day.  Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement!  And thank You, Lord, for all You have done and continue to do with Bro. Dale!  You are worthy of our praise! 

"³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:3-6

February 7, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and asked that we be praying for Bro. Dale this morning specifically during therapy.  They will be capping the trach and monitoring him during therapy to see how he tolerates it.  They will be able to monitor his oxygen and make sure all his levels are staying where they should.  She asked that we pray that he is able to pass the test! 

She said the doctor was very pleased this morning when he checked him.  The doctor asked him if he could put pressure against his hand with his right leg and Bro. Dale was able to do it and then he lifted his right leg up off the bed!  The doctor was excited to see that.  The doctor told Mrs. Doug he saw Bro. Dale moving his right arm as well!  Currently he doesn't seem to be able to control that movement, but there was definitely movement there. 

" ²¹ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  Matthew 21:21-22

February 6, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said Bro. Dale had a great day today.  He was able to move his right foot and leg several times.  The therapist asked him to move it and he lifted it from the knee down to his foot and kept lifting it up and down.  She got him to put it down on the floor and asked him if he could slide it back and forth and he did it!  She said that uses a different set of muscles and is an excellent sign!  The physical therapist was very excited to see him doing that!  And he knew what he was doing, it wasn't just involuntary movement! 

They asked him if he was able to move his right hand or arm and he picked it up with his left hand and let it drop as he shook his head no.  So he has no control over that yet, but Mrs. Doug just reminded him that God is faithful and he will get there! 

The speech therapist said that he was eating something and then he stuck his tongue out and was able to make a clicking sound with his tongue.  He kinda got tickled when he did it because he knew it was a big deal.  He's getting pretty good at feeding himself.  He's been eating like a horse!  They brought in a biscuit and gravy and some mashed potatoes and some meat and some apple sauce.  He ate every bite! 

Mrs. Doug and I marveled at what great things God is doing.  I hesitated to use the word "amazed" at what all Bro. Dale is now able to do since it is an answer to our prayers and we know that God is able to do greater things than this.  But we agreed that what God does is amazing and that's just how we know it's God.

^"1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
   we were like men who dreamed.
² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
   our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
   “The LORD has done great things for them.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us,
   and we are filled with joy.
 ⁴ Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
   like streams in the Negev.
⁵ Those who sow in tears
   will reap with songs of joy.
⁶ He who goes out weeping,
   carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
   carrying sheaves with him."  Psalm 126

February 3, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said that they got back to Baldwyn this afternoon.  He's doing really well.  They gave him a swallow test and he passed it!  They brought him some apple juice with honey in it that was really thick.  He loved that.  They had to make him drink it slowly.  He was ready to down it!  Then later they brought him a supper tray with pureed potatoes, english peas, and ham.  He did well eating it.  Mrs. Doug fed him the first few bites and then he wanted to try it.  She said with him learning to use his left hand to eat it was kinda like watching a kid learn to use a spoon.  But he was determined and he got about half of all of it eaten.  They brought him salt to season it with too, so she figures it was pretty good.  He sure enjoyed it.  They said that soon he will be able to eat more solid food.  Tonight they brought him some sweet tea with the thickening stuff in it and he did not like being told he had to drink it slow.  But after Mrs. Doug threatened to take it away from him, he agreed to sip it slowly.  He did get strangled a little a few times, but he immediately was able to cough it up and recover.  So the only thing he is taking by the feeding tube is his medicine.  All other nourishment will come through the meals. 

She said that they will not be able to remove the trach before he leaves Baldwyn.  They are not equipped to do it there.  They will be able to do that in Jackson, so she's not worried about it.  They believe that he could easily tolerate the 3 hours of physical therapy at this point.  They will have a meeting on Tuesday and evaluate whether or not he meets all of the criteria necessary to get in at the Methodist Rehab in Jackson.  

He has not been up a lot this week, but Wednesday they had him up on the side of the bed and were trying to get him to support himself with his right hand instead of his left.  He started doing his crunches where he would lean back as far as he could and sit back up.  He hasn't been up much else, but they will get him in the chair tomorrow.    Dr. Bevering said on Monday to get ready for boot camp to start back up!

He has been doing some occupational and speech therapy today.  They would have him open his mouth as wide as he could, smile, count on his fingers.  And after he would do an exercise, he would say, "well good."  He hasn't been able to say anything else yet, but it's there.  He's just got to figure out how to get it out.  She can see the frustration as he tries to say more or communicate, but it will come with time. 

He has come so far and his recovery can be measured in larger steps now for sure than at the beginning!  God is working and answering our prayers.  Thanks be to God! 


"⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

February 2, 2012

Johanna sent word about Bro. Dale:

"I thought you might like to have a picture to post on the blog. They have put in a smaller trach tube today, and they will cap it off later to simulate it not being there. If he tolerates that well, they will remove it completely, although I am not sure when that will be. We also found out that he will be going back to Baldwyn tomorrow! We praise God that he is doing so well!!" 

Bro. Dale is in Rm #4425.

"²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

February 1, 2012

Mrs. Doug called this morning and said that Bro. Dale was sitting up and alert when she went in to see him.  She said he looked so good.  He's not had any pain medications since 2pm yesterday and his oxygen levels have stayed good without him needing any oxygen.  He should be moved to a room later today.  She will call once he is moved and let us know what the room number is.  They are hoping to take the drain tube out tomorrow.  The pulmunary doctor will come by at some point to talk to her about his trach.  It's looking like he will be able to have it removed soon.  They expect that he will back in Baldwyn by Monday. 

While Mrs. Doug was in there with him this morning, he motioned for her to stand back a little and he covered his left eye and was testing his vision with his right eye.  She asked him if he could see her out of the right eye and he nodded that he could. 

She quoted to him some scriptures.  She quoted Psalm 23:

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

However, when she got to the end of it, she mixed up the words a little and he was looking at her like she wasn't saying it right.  She said, "I didn't quite get that right, did I?"  He shook his head no. 

She also quoted to him John 3:16: 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

As she quoted that one, his lip quivered. 

And then she quoted Phil 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.

When she quoted him that one, he just smiled and nodded. 

Thanks be to the Lord that God has answered our prayers and strengthens us for all that life brings us!