I've been waiting to send an update with the hope that I would have better news to share.
Dad has taken some few strange and baffling steps backwards. At his best - in his early days at Texas Neuro Rehab - he was responsive to questions and would try to talk, and could correctly answer basic questions. (eg. "What's your name?", "What's my name?", etc.) However, this does not seem to be the case anymore. He is often confused and most days does not speak or answer questions, and in the case that he does answer "yes" or "no" questions, oftentimes the answer is incorrect. Some days he is somewhat alert and will try to interact with us, other days he will not interact at all and acts as if no one is there.
He has also taken a step back with physical therapy. At his high point, a couple of weeks before Christmas, he was able to walk 60-70 steps with moderate assistance from the physical therapist... now, the expectation of that task would be incredibly unrealistic. His center-of-gravity seems to be off; he tends to lean to one direction or the other, and is very afraid if the therapists do try to correct the center of gravity. This makes it near impossible for him to sit up straight, much less stand up straight, on days where his balance is not centered. Even when his balance is centered, the best the physical therapist can get out of him is 5 or 6 steps in an hour-long session with maximum assistance.
He does seem to have some excess fluid where he has had tissue loss in his brain, so he will undergo a spinal tap next week. It was attempted at TNC this week but due to the arthritis in his back, he will have to have the procedure done at St. David's South Austin Hospital. He has had a bladder infection that shut the rehab process down for a bit, and still has a dislocated finger that needs to be surgically corrected (but the doctors want to wait on that, as anesthesia would not be the best idea at this point.)
We appreciate the continued prayers, and our prayer right now is that he does keep making some kind of progress in therapy. He is not meeting any goals in physical, occupational, or speech therapy and thus is at risk of not being able to stay at Texas Neuro Rehab much longer. I wish I had better news to share, but we will just have to wait and see. Again, I am so sorry I haven't written... I've been putting this off for quite some time because it is difficult to share bad news, when you're hoping for occasional improvement. Please pass on our thanks to everyone for your kindness and support, and for those of you who have written and sent pictures and memories - we are so very grateful.
Thank you again.
Please keep those prayers and cards coming.
Anyone who would like to send a card, please FReepmail me and I will send his address.
Please add “Update at Post 401” to the title. Thanks.
Prayers continued.
Prayers lifted.
Thanks for the update.
Prayers sent.
Prayers on the way. God bless.
My prayers continue. I pray that an improvement comes with the spinal tap. God bless our FRiend.
They mightiest of Prayers going up!
BTTT
Prayers up for our dear FReeper FRiend!
Thank you for the continued updates. I’ll keep praying.
Prayers continuing...
Thank you for the update, Kathy.
Fervent prayers continuing, for our dear FRiend Arrowhead1952.
Thanks Kathy,Wish it was better news.I’m going to pray a rosary for him tom.
Prayers up for your healing, Arrowhead.
Prayers being sent.
Thank you, Lisa and Kathy, for this update.
We share the disappointment about the seeming lack of progress in the rehab process.
Then, we remember, just how fortunate we are to have John still with us.
Lisa, you and your family are not giving up, so neither can we.
I am sure John would love to receive cards and letters from his Freeper friends.
Freepmail to Kathy in Alaska will get you his address.
Lisa, we pray for your dad, and for you, your Mom and your whole family as you go through this ordeal.
Sounds to me like you are doing a terrific job in a very stressful situation. Keep up the great work.
Your dad will pull through this. And a big part of the reason he will is because he has you and his family pulling for him. A man cannot ask for more than that.
God bless all of you.
Prayers up.
Mega-sigh. More prayers for our friend to continue improving. God, hold his hand and make him strong......