Friday September 23, 2005

Friday September 23, 2005 Zack is up early, has breakfast, showered and dressed. While we were waiting Dr Mook comes in with Sarah (our case worker) to discuss Zack’s release and surgery. Sarah explains that she needs me to hang around because someone from the Centre for Neuro Skills is coming to speak with me. This is a one of a kind facility in Dallas, Texas that incorporates independent living with intense therapy. Apparently Dr. Kraft has already told the Centre about Zack because when she arrives she knew all about him. He is the perfect candidate. A good student, no behavior issues, cooperative, actively participates in therapy and most important a high level of rehabilitative outcome. He has been referred and accepted now we have to get insurance to agree. Probably our biggest stumbling block but nothing is impossible with God. I was laughing in my car today thinking about how I was stressing out over getting the house ready for him to come home but all along God was on His throne saying, Eileen he’s not going home I’m sending him to Dallas. Now we wait and see if we get approval from the insurance company. It is difficult to talk about what Zack accomplished today but try to pay attention (we don’t have Cowboy tickets). In O.T. with Mary Beth he worked on the computer typing his name, date and what he did last night. He typed with few errors and she had him correct them. She asked him what he would like to type next and he said, “I don’t know all about this” and that is what he typed. He went to a different computer and played computer games. He played Solitaire with very little help and when the game was over he claimed, “I whipped that Lady”. Back in the room for a nap before lunch. Stacy, a student working with Dr. Calvery, came by to visit. She had him draw a picture and put his name on it. He drew a girl skateboarding and it was pretty good. Then he wanted to take a shower and change his clothes. I am thankful that Fraizer is paying the water bill right now. Afternoon speech with Kathy and he was given 4 letters and had to spell what was in the picture she showed him. He got fork, bed, rug, and cup but had a little difficulty with lamp. Overall he did very well. They played another game where he had to describe to her what was in the picture. For flowers he said they are colorful, you get them for a surprise and they smell good. I’m impressed.
P.T. with Amy and they work on balance and lifts weights. Back in the room he lays down to rest but doesn’t sleep. By 3:30 he is up and waiting to go to therapy. 4:00 O.T. with Mary Beth and he races her spider walking. He loves it. She has him to push-ups with his legs on the mat. It looks very hard but he does great. Goes to the Frazier grocery store and has a difficult time finding what is on his list. She gives him hints and once he finds them he is able to put everything back exactly where it goes. Back in his room and this time he is ready for a nap. He gets up for dinner at 5:30 and we go for a walk. We decide to check out Norton’s cafeteria and he gets a slushy. We walk to the parking garage and check out the roof (we are getting desperate for new paths to blaze). I ask Zack what he wants to be when he grows up and he says he isn’t sure. He says he has thought about it but hasn’t made up his mind. After some discussion we narrow it down to a doctor like Dr. Mooch or a preacher (he said he would preach the Word and the Word is God). We head back to the room and I convince him to play me in the card game Golf. We use to play it all the time and tonight he beats me. It requires strategy, planning and math skills. I give him no help and he beats me fair and square. At the end of our game my friend Teri, her little girl and her friend arrive. Zack says it’s time to go to McDonalds. He gets a cheeseburger and vanilla shake and we walk some more. Once back in the room he wants to take a shower (his third today) and he gets ready for bed. He is wore out and is asleep by 9:30. I am left to ponder the events of the day. Scott calls and we talk about Dallas and Zack coming home. We are ready to accept whatever the answer will be because we know that God has carefully orchestrated it from the beginning. We have learned that our plans can be changed in an instant or a day. We have to look ahead with hope regardless of our plans. The past should not be a place where we live but something that we learn from. We are to forget “those things which are behind” and reach “forward to those things which are ahead,” and we’re to “press toward the goal for the prize for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Please pray for an end to the aphasia. Pray that Gods will is working through our insurance issues. Pray that Zack will end up in the best place for him to recover completely.