January 28 - Lisa is still doing therapy--speech, OT, and PT usually 1 hour for each day. The schedule had been interrupted since we went to PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for 2 nights. Lisa had a cap put over her trach on Monday, 1/23 and had it taken out Tuesday, 1/24. She did great with both procedures. She is now breathing through mouth and nose. The coughing was a little strange for her at first since it didn't go through a hole in her throat.

She is now talking!! She says some words very clear and others not so clear. But when we (she and Jean) called Dave she clearly said, "I love you" to him. She still gets frustrated with us, herself, the situation, all the above.

She had her first shower the day after the trach was removed (Wednesday). She wasn't crazy about it. She also played Uno that day will some of the nurses. She is getting better with fine hand coordination and was able to hold the cards and pick them up etc. She is walking to the bathroom and going--staying dry all day and night.

Lisa has become a lot more mobile. She can now sit up and get out of bed and walk around the room on mostly her own power!

We have so much to be thankful for. She is improving so much and we see the small steps each day. See the Prayer Requests section for specific prayer concerns.

January 20 - Today she had an x-ray--showed NO neck injury so she was able to get the neck collar off for good; and now she nods her head yes/ no instead of using arm movement. This is good because her arms are moving all the time to reposition herself in bed. She has discovered she can roll side to side on her own! She is now sleeping better these days and it is always on her side. She is lifting her arms high enough to scratch her nose, wipe drool from her face (don't tell her I said that) and move her helmet (which she has to wear when she is out of bed to protect the "soft" spot in her head). She is also lifting her upper torso up on her right elbow when she is in bed to look over the side-rail to see where I am if I'm not right beside her.

In therapy she has pointed to letters on a paper. She is using her hand mostly--not able to get fine movement such as only using one finger to point--YET. She has been sitting on the edge of the bed and a bench during therapy to gain strength in her upper body and neck (since she had a collar on for 6 weeks her neck muscles are week). She is getting better and better sitting on her own each day--but it really tires her out. And she even took steps to the chair from her bed. The first trip was weak kneed and small steps but now she can stand with two people and she is doing most of the work.

She had a taste of a grape popsicle. They just rubbed it on her lips and tongue to make sure she could swallow the saliva it made. She did wonderful. She really wanted more but they are going slow to be sure. During the one of her therapy sessions, the therapist gave her a script board (where you write on it and then can erase it) and she asked her to draw a line. Well she didn't follow directions well because she printed her name instead!

Today she had a MRI to see what’s in her head; and she had a bronchoscopy enabling her trach to be downsized, which is the first step to getting it out! She still can't talk because of the trach but I know she is ready.

How God is working!! Can you tell how proud I am of her progress? We are so blessed to see the progress she is making. Your prayers are making it all happening so keep them going up. God is getting all the praise for each step every day, and Lisa is working hard to do her part. She does get frustrated at times; pray for her to do her best and take one day at a time. Pray that she will soon get the trach out, and pray that she will continue to heal completely.

January 16 - Lisa started the week by answering yes/no questions with hand movements (up for yes and down for no). She is usually up in the wheelchair 2-3 hours a day. She still has to be lifted to the chair. She is also sleeping very little each night.

January 14 - This is an overview of what Lisa has been doing during her first week and a half at Philadelphia.

Lisa still has a trach and feeding tube That's all! She also gained a splint for each arm to keep her hands/arms in proper alignment and lower leg boots to keep her feet in position.

She is getting Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Music Therapy so far. Each has their special area they work on, but they also work together some times.

OT works with arms. The exciting new thing is that she is moving her left arm up and down to answer questions as yes and no. She moves up for yes and down for no. Its communication at the basic level, but at least we can find out what she is feeling and wants.

PT works with larger muscles groups. They have had her out in the wheelchair each day which she seems to really like. They did a "pivot transfer" with her one day in which she stood with them holding on to her and turned to sit in the chair. Usually they just lift her to the chair.

ST works with communication and thinking skills. They have her looking at pictures trying to jog her memory and to get a response from her. They have her look at two pictures and then look at one specific one when told. She does this with one eye as she turns her eye toward the correct picture.

Music Therapy played songs on the keyboard and sang to her to also jog her memory and give her some enjoyment.

CT Scan of her facial bones show good healing of the entire face.

God is so good; we can see small steps each day. Even though Lisa is not talking, she sure is communicating. One day the therapist said kick your left foot. She did and it hit the therapist's leg. The therapist said ouch and Lisa Laughed! Everyone thought it was so great they continued to do this routine. It is so good to see her personality come out.

January 5 - Lisa was transferred to the Children's Seashore House, which is part of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. We can confirm that Lisa is  truly laughing at our jokes and funny stories. She makes no sound, but all the other signs are there.

January 4 - We are beginning to notice that Lisa is trying to laugh at our jokes, this is a good sign.

January 28
Please pray for the frustration she has--that it will come easier for her to understand, talk, do etc. She doesn't want to go out of her room for anything. We don't know if it is because she has security in the room, its too noisy with too much stimulation outside the room, or there is just too much space out there. Please pray that for whatever the reason she will accept the outside world so she can enjoy going to the PT and OT Gym.

Thank you for your prayers for Lisa. We are praying for her total recovery of mind, speech, vision, and movement. We are always seeing new signs of improvement. We take this acknowledgement that God is present and at work.