Quick update:
I went by to see George yesterday afternoon and timed it right and also got to spend time with his brothers Sam and Dean. They were returning with George from PT and showed me a hilarious video they took of George as he was:
1) playing stickball with a both hands and large balloons the PT was throwing at him
2) using the stick for defensive like moves with him moving his feet in a “Linebacker” type stance
3) incredibly, George was DANCING a Saturday Night Fever like movement complete with “The Bump” and other disco award winning moves to music with his female PT.
We showed him the video of himself when he returned to the room and it immediately became the stage for a wheelchair bound repeat performance, complete with loud singing and laughing and a little Michael Jackson wheelchair moonwalk. The loud racket in the room brought nurses to check on him and they died laughing at the live dance and singing performance that would make Fred Astaire proud.
Needless to say, today held much physical movement improvement and his double speech therapy session seemed to improve his vocal efforts with him singing octave warmup “do-re-me” sounds. His smiling and loud laughter and clown-like “old George cutting up” was a terrific surprise to the brothers and me and the nurses. It was quite the show and gave hope to all that prayers are being answered and “baby steps” were more like leaps and bounds this day.
Thought everyone would enjoy some good news. Keep those prayers going.
Bob
UPDATE on George
I have been asked several times recently about the latest info on George and his recovery progress. His brother Sam sees daily progress, small baby steps as they may be, but progress none the less. But, old Nake still has a long road ahead, mainly in the talking or communication mode.
He was moved to Spain Rehab Center at UAB several weeks ago and goes thru over 4 hours of different rehab daily- occupational, physical and speech. George still “talks” in a hacking cough scratchy throat sound (no clear words), tho he does piece the sounds together in a sentence mode. He is very physically active, can walk, paddles a wheelchair (picture a duck paddling his feet underwater) all over the floor (and is very fast on those wheels), began eating soft foods with a helper but he is working hard on developing his own hands to handle a spoon. He can handle a sippy cup on his own and knows the layout of his floor and where is room is as he explores the floor in his wheelchair. He can hum music and laughs a big belly laugh occasionally and seems to have a great attitude and work determination but the speech skill is the biggest challenge for him…… and of ALL people to have that challenge!!!
There has been talk of moving him to the next facility along the process and his brother has been researching possible landing spots but no firm timeframe or location has been finalized. Spain has a strict 2 visitors/day policy so hopefully the next facility will allow more visitors.
Please keep George and his family in your prayers, specifically for a good next facility match, continued rehab improvement especially his speech/voice, and continued strengthening of his right hand and arm.
Bob
I went by to see George yesterday afternoon and timed it right and also got to spend time with his brothers Sam and Dean. They were returning with George from PT and showed me a hilarious video they took of George as he was:
1) playing stickball with a both hands and large balloons the PT was throwing at him
2) using the stick for defensive like moves with him moving his feet in a “Linebacker” type stance
3) incredibly, George was DANCING a Saturday Night Fever like movement complete with “The Bump” and other disco award winning moves to music with his female PT.
We showed him the video of himself when he returned to the room and it immediately became the stage for a wheelchair bound repeat performance, complete with loud singing and laughing and a little Michael Jackson wheelchair moonwalk. The loud racket in the room brought nurses to check on him and they died laughing at the live dance and singing performance that would make Fred Astaire proud.
Needless to say, today held much physical movement improvement and his double speech therapy session seemed to improve his vocal efforts with him singing octave warmup “do-re-me” sounds. His smiling and loud laughter and clown-like “old George cutting up” was a terrific surprise to the brothers and me and the nurses. It was quite the show and gave hope to all that prayers are being answered and “baby steps” were more like leaps and bounds this day.
Thought everyone would enjoy some good news. Keep those prayers going.
Bob