Just for the record...

Hey everyone! I want to thank all of you for reading about us and our crazy life. As I look back at this, I kind of have to chuckle because I find myself realizing that we started out so optimistic and pie-eyed and then reality hit! Things weren't happening and we couldn't figure out how to MAKE them happen. Now, we have kind of found ourselves trying to go with the flow and pushing when we can.

It is very frustrating that the project is 6-8 weeks behind the original schedule. I HOPE Mark will get home by the end of October. I ALSO hope that we don't have to endure 'home health' (which means he can't go ANYWHERE except a physician's appt. for however long it lasts-- so--no Milestone, no workouts, no Bellarmine, no swimming--not good). This is a Medicare thing and we may HAVE to bite our tongues and deal with it. I am praying that someone with some sense (which won't be Medicare) will intervene on our behalf and let Mark come home and start our new life.

Meanwhile, I want you all to understand that Mark is doing this blog a la voice recognition. I am so proud of him for his perseverance and determination. He has to write and then use a grid created by the mouse and then narrow each movement down until the computer finds the correct area and then add or subtract or edit the text. It is time consuming and patience wearing. I am not sure that I could ever do that...but he just jumps in and does it. So, each of these posts is a demonstration of his "yes I can" attitude.

Because he won't tell you, I will...he is really doing very well in his structured therapy at Oaklawn and Bellarmine. The Bellarmine program is really testing his metal and making him "do tricks" that he didn't know he could do. I wish these clinical sessions were daily...he makes more progress in 3 hours a week there than he does in 5 at Oaklawn. Don't misunderstand--his therapy at Oaklawn is NOT a cakewalk....he works very hard in those sessions. They are just not set up to get him where he needs to be at this juncture in the game (and why we are finding ourselves ready to "move on"). He needs more work with his shoulders and upper arms and he isn't getting a lot of that anymore at Oaklawn, unfortunately. Alas...this too shall pass. Hopefully, moving home will allow him to receive more intense therapy that is tailored a little more toward his particular needs and move him closer to the goals at hand--feeding himself and walking! Big steps...one step at a time.

Thanks for the prayers and love and caring. We feel ourselves surrounded by all of them.
Laura