Pictures of Steve

Here are a few pictures of Steve.

Progress Update - 7/18/08

Quick update for everyone...

Today Steve took 117 steps!! He does as much of the work as he can and the therapists help move his right leg, but he's even moving that a little most of the time too. Last week he only took 50 steps. So he's more than doubled that in a week.

Everyone says he is so happy and laughs all the time. He's trying and working so hard.

I'm hoping to have pictures to post soon. If not, then I will be posting some for sure after his first grandson is born. I can't wait to get a picture of them together!

Thanks for the continued prayers and support. And I will post more soon!

7/10/08 Progress

Well, Steve is having another great week. He is making progress a little each day, but today has been a big day.

This morning, mom went to put his socks on and he held up his left foot like always, then when she went to put them on his right foot, he had lifted his foot about an inch. Mom asked if he was doing it, or if it was involuntary and he was doing it. She even got him to lift it again. When PT came in, he was still able to do it. They also got him to do somethings with his right hand/fingers/arm. And when they were walking with him on the parallel bars, he was actually doing a little lifting of his right leg, like he was gonna walk. Of course, it is only a little bit, but it's a huge advance for him.

The therapists said it's completley normal for him to get voluntary movement on some days but not ever day in a row. But this is the most he's had in one day so far. So that's great.

The speech therapist had a treat ready for mom when she came back at the end of that therapy today. Steve said, "Hi Bella". :) Mom was ecstatic. While she was telling me about it on the phone he said it again, and said what sounded like, "I love you." He's trying so hard.

I got to hear him laugh out loud the other day. Mom held the phone up so I could hear him. The sound brought tears to my eyes.

They did his sleep study this week and it is official that he has sleep apnea - pretty bad. So I guess they will be getting him a machine to help him ASAP. They also got him a new wheelchair - supposed to be the Cadillac of wheel chairs. So far, they haven't gotten the size right, but they are working on it.

That's all for now. God is doing amazing things with Steve. We are so blessed.

7/2/08 - Progress Update

I just talked to Danny and Steve had a good day.

While working with the speech therapist Steve started laughing out loud. Danny said it was just like his old laugh. A great sound after two months of basically nothing! The therapist was also able to get him to say "one, two, three" and make other random noises as practice for more to come. He also got to have ice chips, water, and apple sauce today. But, he doesn't like apple sauce, so he only had a few bites. But he was able to swallow it correctly and not choke. So awesome.

When leaving for physical therapy, he sat himself up in his chair and used his left leg to roll himself down the hall. The therapists had him do that going and coming back. So he is getting stronger, slowly, but surely!

Since he no longer has the trach, he can practice the talking part anytime, so hopefully he'll really get his voice back soon. :)

Message from Danny...

Danny was talking to his youth paster (i think that's what he said) today to tell him about Steve removing the trach, etc. Danny told him he felt like God must have just told his dad to take it out, it was time.

So, his pastor told him that when he was there on Saturday he had said an extra prayer over Steve that God would help him get that trach out ASAP so he could get better even faster.

It's amazing how God works - but He is the reason Steve is doing as well as he is. :)

Oopsie!!

Well - Steve decided to take things into his own hands last night and made the decision that it was time for his Trach to come out. So he took it out!

Mom and the nurse talked to the doctor last night. He said to put it back in, but when mom went to do it, she realized that the hole for it was closed up and that he wasn't even really using it anyway. So the doctor gave the ok for it to just be bandaged for now.

As of now, Steve is happier and coughing less. He is swallowing and breathing fine on his own without it.

Please pray that this stays the case. As long as it's out, he should progress faster. His speech therapist is already happier and is excited to work with him even more now!!