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!!