7/20/10 - Day 78

Hi All,

I know it's been 2 weeks since I posted. I was out of town. I do have some things to write about at least.

Last Wednesday Steven went to therapy. His physical and occupational therapists both said that he will probably only need therapy for 2-4 more weeks! They both said there is not much more that they can do for him. Amazing...simply amazing.

The speech therapy is going to go a little longer...this is the one we thought he didn't need because he speaks just fine to us. He does use some of his own words sometimes but for the most part we thought he was doing great. However, according to his speech therapist, he says Steven has a one track mind and that he needs to expand his horizons...so that's what they will be working on. And I thought speech therapy was just that...learning to speak! The things I have learned in the last month and a half.

Last Thursday, Patrick took him for a follow up appt at ECMC with Dr. Wang, the rehab doctor. According to Dr. Wang, he can start to do volunteer work. We are looking into volunteering at either DeGraff (because it's close), ECMC (because Steven said he needs to give back, but it's pretty far away) or Meals on Wheels. We haven't decided just yet what he should do.

The doctor also said he could take a driving course so that he can start driving again. Holy cow!! Still can't believe it! Last night he drove for the first time! We asked him to move my car out of the driveway and his Aunt Brenda went with him. The next thing I know he's going for a ride around the block! Aunt Brenda said he did great! Went nice and slow...which I didn't think was ever possible! Lol.

Today, we had an appt at ECMC for his left ear(side with the injury) because he keeps saying that it's plugged. The doctors have looked in his ear to see if there was any thing blocking it, but nothing. So we think he may have some hearing loss. However, it was an absolute mad house at the ENT clinic at ECMC today. I didn't know it was just a clinic. I thought it was an actual doctor that we were seeing. I bet we would have been there about 4 hours...so we left! Lol. I made him an appt with an ENT here in town.

So because we were at the hospital, I decided to take him on a tour of where he stayed with in there. First we went to visit the rehab floor. The nurses were thrilled to see him. He did remember that floor. He was very sweet when talking to all of the nurses. He told them thank you for saving him.

We also went to ICU. It was very serene. The nurses were just thrilled that we came through there. They said it gives them reason to continue doing what they do. Steven was in awe of what it was like in there. He was staring at the patients and noticed that one patient had a trach in his throat. He said he was so glad he never had to have one of those. The nurse also showed him an empty room...she said it was like a space ship...which is sooo true.

When we left he told me that it was very inspirational for him to see the ICU and how bad it was. It will keep him fighting to stay healthy!!!!

All in all, it's been a great couple of weeks. Very, very happy that he is home.

Again, thanks for all the prayers.