April 27, 2012

Mrs. Doug emailed me this last night, so this update is from the 27th even though I'm posting it on the 28th!
I know everyone is still thinking of them and praying for Bro. Dale and Mrs. Doug, so don't forget to leave a word of encouragement and remind them of that! 

Here's her update:

"Hey, we've had a good week.  Went to see the Cardiologist today and got a real good report there.  He was taken off of one of the medicines he was taking and Joe said everything looked good and we wouldn't have to come back for 6 mo. which is great news. 

 

In OT this week they worked on showering and dressing himself and working the right arm.  The right arm is still giving him a lot of pain..Please, pray with us about this.

 

In PT he was able to walk earlier this week and I walked him over the weekend and one day this week.  On Thursday when Braxton the PT came it was really hard to get the brace on and when they tried to walk it hurt where the brace was pressing in on his leg.  So, they were not able to walk that day.  We have an appointment in Jackson on Wed. and I plan to carry the brace and have it adjusted.  He is doing really good with his walking and standing.  His balance is getting much better

 

In speech he is saying more words each time.  It's so hard for him because you can see it on his face that he knows what he wants to say but just can't make it come out.  I'm always picking at him and saying something crazy to him when he get frustrated because I can't figure out what he's trying to say.  Most of the time after speech he is proud of all he has been able to say.  The speech is what is going to take the longest..  Not being able to understand him is the hardest part of it all for me.  If I could just know what he is trying to say would be wonderful.

 

Thank you, to each of you for all you've done and for your support and prayers.

We love you,

Doug & Dale"

 

²⁴ “‘“The LORD bless you
   and keep you;
²⁵ the LORD make his face shine upon you
   and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the LORD turn his face toward you
   and give you peace.”’   Numbers 6:24-26

April 20, 2012

Mrs. Doug and I had the opportunity to walk and talk together this afternoon.  She said that they had a good week.  She feels like Bro. Dale has really adjusted to their schedule well and seems to feel good about everything.  She said that even though she gets tired sometimes, she's always glad to come home.  They like to sit and have a cup of coffee together when she first gets in from work and talk about their day.  She feels like Bro. Dale is getting better at communicating and she's getting better at understanding what he's trying to say. Part of their routine every night before bed is she tells him that he has to say a certain number of words to her before she will help him out of his wheelchair into the bed.  She said he usually looks at her as if to say, "you've got to be kidding me" but he does it! One day this week, when he was on the phone with Joan, he said, "alright."  Every time the speech therapist comes, the amount of words he's saying is going up.  Yesterday he was able to say 16 words. 

The physical therapist showed her how to get the brace on his leg and she's been able to help him walk now.  He's doing really well with it, she says.  This morning he got her attention and was really proud of himself because he was standing straight and tall without holding onto anything.  He was balancing himself really well.  She said he's come such a long way with that and was very proud of him. Glenda has noticed how much better his balance is getting just in a week.  He's getting so much stronger over all.  They brought a lift chair for him, but it was kinda small and he didn't fit it so well.  But he's gotten so good at lifting himself that all she has to do is get him started and he can do the rest.  She said it's not a strain on her at all anymore.  And once he's up, he is able to turn himself and take a step to get into the wheelchair.  And when he's walking, his legs are not crossing over anymore.  He's just made so many improvements. 

This past Sunday, Mrs. Doug felt that the time was right to let him know that his father passed away 2 weeks after his stroke.  She said that of course he got upset to hear that, but he pointed up as if to heaven and nodded.  They know for certain that he put his faith in Jesus and is in heaven.  That is something I recall Bro. Dale mentioning on Wednesday nights as we'd come to his father's name on the prayer list.  That hope and assurance means everything.  She said that she could tell he was surprised to hear about his father's passing, but she explained to him why she hadn't told him prior to now and he indicated that he understood.  Mrs. Doug said that later in the week, they had to run some errands over in Bruce and as they passed the nursing home in Bruce, Bro. Dale pointed to it and then smiled and nodded as he pointed to heaven. 

Today they went to Calhoun City.  She said that before she'd take him anywhere he had to shave himself because he looked like a goat.  He is able to shave and brush his teeth and everything by himself now.  She's not having to help him at all.  And he does all of it with just one hand.  He's not using the right hand at all still.  It's still really stiff.  Mrs. Doug said that she tries to exercise it everyday but it's gotten to where it's really hurting him when they do that.  They have an appointment May 2 in Jackson to see about his arm and what options they have with it.  

It's so encouraging to hear such good reports with Bro. Dale's improvements.  We thank God for all he has done!  I can't help but think of the verse in Colossians 1 that Bro. Dale quoted so often:

²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.  Colossians 1:27-29

April 14, 2012

Update from Mrs. Doug:

 

"We have had a very good week.  Had a wonderful visit with our daughter Janice last weekend, she left early Tues. morning.  I went back to work on Tuesday and was able to work all week.  It felt so good to be back at work.  We both are adjusting well I think.

Dale has had a very good week also.  He is getting better at walking and moving around.  I plan to meet with PT this week and learn how to put the brace on and walk him myself so we can start walking every day.  He is having a lot of soreness with his right arm and I think it is from the exercises the OT is doing with him.  All the therapists are coming twice a week now instead of three times. 

In speech he is learning to say more words.  He says 2 or 3 new words each time she comes.  He really tries hard.  I laughed and told him this week if he kept me around he would learn to talk.  We were sitting outside and he kept pointing towards the east to the back of our place and we sat there and I guessed Paul Edmondson's field, his field road, and Dale nodded yes.  Now, the part I missed in that conversation was the word road.  After playing 20 questions for awhile he put his head down and shook it and said "Shoot".  Then looked at me and laughed.  So,what he was talking about through this 30 min. conversation was the road to Vardaman!!  I didn't dare ask what about Vardaman. HA!

He seems to be content and happy with Glenda.  She is very good with him. 

Larry, Dale's brother came by today and visited for awhile.  He really enjoyed that.  We got out this morning and went to Spencer Parker's Birthday party, Fred's and the grocery store.  There's one thing about it now he has to go where I go.  Janice and I carried him to Walmart with us last Saturday and got tomato plants.  All of you that know Dale know how much he is probably enjoying this.  Well, at least it gets him out for a little while:)

Thank you, for the prayers and keep them coming.  Let's pray for speech and movement in the right arm."

 

 

 

 

^"22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
I will praise You in the congregation.
²³ You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
All you descendants of Israel, revere Him!
²⁴ For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted.
He did not hide His face from him but listened when he cried to Him for help.   

²⁵ I will give praise in the great congregation because of You;
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
²⁶ The humble will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise Him.
May your hearts live forever!"   Psalm 22:22-26

April 7, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said they've had a good but busy week.  Janice is in town.  She came in Wednesday and will be here until Tuesday.  Today they took Bro. Dale to Walmart to get tomato plants.  This afternoon they planted the tomato plants and he sat in his wheelchair and pointed to exactly where he wanted the plants.  He wanted to put them in the same place he had them last year.

Janice and Mrs. Doug walked him today by themselves up and down the hallway.  He did really well.  They couldn't figure out how to get his brace on, so he walked without it and did really well.  Mrs. Doug is going to go back to work next week, but she's going to try to come home when the physical therapist is there so she can talk to him about exercises they can do at home.  Next week OT & PT will only come twice a week, so they will have to start doing more of the work themselves to keep him on track.  Glenda, the lady that will be sitting with him, is going to help him with his exercises too.   Mrs. Doug said that she is such a blessing.  Bro. Dale seems to have adjusted to the idea that she's going to be coming and she's so good with him.  She's also really thorough about keeping notes on what any of the therapists say and what all he's done each day so Mrs. Doug can stay informed.  She also knows all of his traditional food preferences (pineapple sandwich and such) that he likes to eat everyday, so he's enjoying eating. 

Mrs. Doug said that Bro. Dale is learning more and more words.  Yesterday in speech the speech therapist got him to say 10 new words.  He works hard with the therapist, but he doesn't really try to initiate words in chatting. 

He and Janice are playing checkers tonight.  He won a set and she has won a set.  He knows what he's doing.    

Keep praying for Mrs. Doug to have the strength to face each day.  I could tell she was tired tonight.  Pray that at night when she gets in bed, she will be able to go to sleep and get good rest.  She admits that this has been hard, but she remains hopeful and trusts God to get them through this.  As they get into their routine and find their groove, we'll probably just do updates here on the blog about once a week unless there's anything in particular that they want to report otherwise.  Please keep them in your prayers each day though. 

"³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:30-31

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9

April 4, 2012

Mrs. Doug emailed me this update last night but I just got it this morning.  So she's going back to school today.

"Just wanted to give everyone a quick update.  The lady we are getting to come help and stay with Dale is Glenda and she is going to be great.  She came yesterday and I stayed here with her to get her use to Dale and him to her.  It was a kind of stressful day.  She came back today and I had errands to run and things went a lot smoother today.  He took his first shower yesterday, not that he hasn't been bathing.HA!

The OT had him helping with dressing and undressing and getting in the shower  and he was able to transfer from the wheelchair to the shower really well  (with help).  Today he walked and had speech.  He is much more encouraged today.  Thank you for your prayers they are working. 

I will go back to school tomorrow.  So, keep the prayers coming as we make this transition. 

Going to church Sunday was so special for both of us.  The choir did an awesome job with the musical.  It was such a blessing to be there.

We love you,

Doug & Dale"

 

 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10