September 11 - Day 89
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. -Psalm 138:8
Dean has a passion for life and he works on perfecting anything of interest. This past winter, Dean and I started the process of becoming instructors at Whitetail Ski Resort where we first met. He participated in the seminars and even took a clinic on ski techniques. He also spent time instructing me how to ski properly since my childhood memory of skiing was better left to be forgotten. (I prefer snowboarding.) He was so patient, knew how to build the confidence I lacked, and great at explaining the proper form. Even though he skied for years, he desired to perfect his own form so he could ski with less effort and more pleasure. He once told me that he mentally visualizes everything he does before he performs it. He was always using his brain to think of the most efficient way to do a task with the goal of saving valuable time rather than exhausting unnecessary energy.
Today we had a family meeting with the doctors, therapists, and staff at Kessler to discuss Dean’s progress and future goals. Dean is making some progress and they say the journey will be long. The doctor still considers him to be in a vegetative state. We are looking for continued nursing care facilities closer to home where Dean can have more time to heal and become medically stable. My desire is to bring him home but currently he needs total care. I’ll receive more training and be involved with all of his care for the remainder of our time at Kessler.
While his family was visiting, his brother asked him to say “ahh.” A few seconds later, Dean opened his mouth and said “ahh!” This is a sound that the speech therapists have been working on. However, today was the first time I heard him respond with "ahh". He also turned his head towards the sound of his brother's voice. The staff notice how Dean responds more readily to family. In the evening, I gave him a click pen and he clicked it a dozen times! A click pen has a direct cause and effect in that the action is followed by sound. This could be used as a simple form of communication with one click for “yes” and two clicks for “no.” It's also a simple form to see if he will follow commands.
Other Entries
- 2 years later... Love perseveres
- Neurofeedback
- One Life, One Race
- To love and to cherish...
- 5k Run/Walk & Bake Sale
- Love Endures... 2 years later!
- Praying & sitting through the night!
- New Day, New Beginnings!
- Going Home!
- Undeveloped film
- Prayer Chain - 11/30/2012
- A corridor of hope
- One Step Closer to Home
- A Heart of Praise
- Names, Pickles & Hot Dogs
- Tube Removed, On the cheek, & whistles
- Prayer, Husbands & Yellow
- October 14 - Family Time
- October 11 - Brief Update
- Believe, Birthdays & Bananas
- Tubes, Wars, Straws, Keys & Tools
- Swallowing and Standing
- The Awakening Phase - Day 97- 101
- September 18 - Day 96
- September 17 - Day 95
- September 16 -Day 94
- September 15 - Day 93
- September 14 - Day 91/92
- September 12 -Day 90
- September 10 - Day 88
- September 9 - Day 87
- September 8 - Day 86
- September 3 - Day 79-81
- August 31 - Day 78
- August 30 - Day 75-77
- August 27 - Day 73/74
- August 25 - Day 71/ 72
- August 23 - Day 70
- August 20 - Day 67
- August 19 - Day 66
- August 18 - Day 65
- August 17 - Day 64
- August 16 - Day 63
- August 15 - Day 62
- August 14 - Day 61
- August 13 - Day 60
- August 12 - Day 59
- August 11 - Day 58
- August 10 - Day 57
- August 9 - Day 56
- After Surgery update
- Surgery Update -Phase 1
- August 8 - Day 55
- August 5 - Day 52
- August 4 - Day 51
- Prayer and Fast Day
- August 3 - Day 50
- August 2 - Day 49
- July 31 -Day 47
- July 31 - Late report
- July 31, 3:45 p.m.
- July 30 - Day 46
- July 29 - Day 45
- July 28 - Day 44
- July 27 - Day 43
- July 26 - Day 42
- July 25 - Day 41
- July 24 - Day 40
- July 23 - Day 39
- July 22 - Day 38
- July 21 - Day 37
- July 20 - Day 36
- July 19 - Day 35
- July 18 - Day 34
- July 17 - Day 33
- July 16 - Day 32
- July 15 - Day 31
- July 14 - Day 30
- July 13 -Day 29
- July 12 -Day 28
- July 11 -Day 27
- July 10 - Day 26
- July 9 - Day 25
- July 8 - Day 24
- July 7 - Day 23
- July 6 - Day 22
- July 5 - Day 21
- July 4 - Day 20
- July 3 - Day 19
- July 2 - Day 18
- July 1 -Day 17
- June 29 -Day 15
- June 28 -Day 14
- June 27 -Day 13: Prayer Needed
- June 26 -Day 12
- June 25 -Day 11: Praises & Prayers
- A Heart of Gratitude
- June 24 -Day 10
- June 23 -Day 9
- June 22 -Day 8
- June 21 -Day 7
- June 20 -Day 6
- June 19 -Day 5
- June 18 - Day 4
- Initial Developments -Day 2
- The Accident -Day 1