Wednesday August 10, 2005

Wednesday August 10, 2005 Zack is again at the nurse’s station when I arrive. Shirley tells me that he helped get dressed this morning (pulled his own pants on). I got him started and then he brushed his teeth using his right hand. He was grinning a lot more this morning and when my niece Sherry left to go to work he waved good-bye to her. In the gym this morning Amy (P.T.) asked, “How are you doing today” and he answered, “I’m fine”. They have a model car in the therapy area and asked Zack to help them wash it. With a bucket of water and some washcloths he helps Mary Beth (O.T.) wash the car. At times he has to stop and look inside. When they are through they have him carry the bucket of water in his left hand and walk to the bathroom. He bends down to dump the water into the bathtub with his right hand. He gets a little frustrated when he can’t make his right hand work the way he wants. Mary Beth asks if Zack wants to play her in thumb wars. Of course Zack wins and when she ask, “Do you always win”, he nods “yes”. When we return to his room he takes a nap and I prepare to move to our new room. It is only 2’ bigger in width but every little bit helps now that Zack is wheeling himself around in his chair. Our new room number is 419 on the opposite side of the nurse’s station. 1:30 speech therapy with Kathy. She tells me in group rounds this morning they discussed decreasing Zack’s Baclofin (muscle tone inhibitor) since he seems to be much looser in his right arm. Baclofin also makes you sleepy. They also want to increase his Bromocryptine (arousal, brain stimulant) because it helps with speech. Zack grabbed Kathy’s hand and kept putting it up to his mouth. When we told him not to bite her nails he looked at us tearfully and said, “I won’t”. This was the first time Kathy had heard him talk. She treated him to some Graeters ice cream cake and a Nutrigrain Bar. She wanted to see if he could handle eating thicker stuff besides applesauce since his swallow test is tomorrow. If he passes he will get a lunch tray. Our afternoon session in the gym was tiring. Zack squatted and picked up a beanbag and then had to stand up and put it in as basket over his head. He did this 15 times plus he shots some hoops. Then we went for walks but I could tell Zack was very tired. After we return to our new room Zack takes another nap and Dr. Mook stops by to check on him. He said that his head wound was looking good in spite of the fact that Zack keeps picking at it. We talk about the Rancho Levels and he says Zack is a strong 4. They are going to get him into speech therapy in the morning (as well as the afternoon) even though he is still listed as a sub acute patient. We talk about the changes in the drugs they are giving Zack and Dr. Mook explains that the drawback to Bromocryptine is he could hallucinate. He said we would know pretty quickly especially if Zack started swatting at bugs or talked about monkeys (this should be interesting). Kaitlyn, her Mom and another friend come to visit and Zack is still very tired. He finally gets up into his wheelchair and we get him some ice to chew on. Before long he switches the cup to his left hand and the spoon to his right. Then he decides to forgo the spoon and just shake the ice into his mouth. He is acting very much like a typical teenager. Kaitlyn asks him a question and he shrugs his shoulders. We take a little ride downstairs before they leave and then return to watch a baseball game. As I look over at him he is leaning back in his chair asleep. He worked very hard today in the gym and he is just worn out. It looks like I might leave by 10:00 P.M. As we move him from his chair to his bed he snaps his fingers. I ask him to do it again and he does. His fine motor skills in his left hand are perfect. He gets his bath and I decide to leave him listening to the Vine C.D. “In the Beauty of His Holiness”. I see beauty when I look at him now. Those eyes with the intent gaze. Our son is in there somewhere and we are waiting on Gods perfect timing to give him back to us. We are so thankful for each new skill Zack masters and praise God for his gentle mercy. He could have chosen to take Zack from us completely but instead will glorify Himself through Zack’s recovery. I miss my family and the life we had before this happened but one day Zack will come home, go back to school and eventually leave us and we will hold these memories precious. Please pray for time that all of us can be a family together again. Pray that Zack will have enough energy to work just as hard in therapy tomorrow.
Pray!