Mark’s last week at Generose Rehabilitation Facility at Rochester Mayo showed continued progress, enough for all to agree that it was time for him to come home on Friday, April 17 as last planned! Eight days after my last journal entry, I spent the day with Mark at his therapies before his discharge. We are forever grateful to all those at Mayo who helped him get to this point. 

It has been 2 months since my last journal entry and Mark has been home now just shy of 8 weeks. It was definitely time for this next step and it is so great to have him home! Though not easy, we are getting into the routine of things and adjusting to our new way of life.

We are so grateful that despite the pandemic, Mark has been able to continue outpatient therapies here in Le Sueur at Ridgeview, 5 days a week since he has been home. He goes to 3 one-hour sessions each of speech, occupational, and physical therapies per week. These 9 hours are spread over the weekday mornings. Mark continues to work hard, as expected, and progress in all areas slowly continues.  

The modifications we had made to our home in preparation for Mark’s return proved to be sufficient and he is able to get around quite well as needed with some assistance. He has been gaining more and more independence over the past few weeks and now makes his way around, primarily with a cane and someone nearby. Walking still takes some concentration but not nearly as much as when he first came home. He goes without his gait belt now the majority of the time. Walking is more fluid and efficient. We also see improvement in balance, stability, and endurance. That being said, lower right leg movement is limited. Mark continues to work to gain meaningful and deliberate right ankle/foot/toe movements. He does not walk without his AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) aka brace and continues to use his wheelchair for longer distances and as otherwise needed.

Despite improved range of motion and coordination, Mark still has no functional movement of his right arm/wrist/hand/fingers. Though this greatly concerns us, we are assured he is still progressing. We remain hopeful. Next Tuesday Mark will be receiving a trial of Botox in his right upper extremity and various arm musculatures in hopes of improving function.

Mark’s speech and communication skills are progressing some as well, though his volume and physical ease seem to have decreased a bit as of late. Coincidently, we had a scheduled follow-up with otorhinolaryngology (ENT) in Rochester today (I guess yesterday at this point). This proved to be great timing with our recent throat concerns. The scope found large exophytic lesions on both vocal cords, most likely either granulomas or hypertrophic scar formation, as suspected, from the damage caused by the life-saving intubation procedure in the emergency room back in February. Surgery i.e. direct laryngoscopy with excision of these lesions is recommended and will likely be scheduled soon upon approval of his medical team.

Being home again brings with it much joy…. and so many wonderful things. And we find much humor and laugh a lot daily. But being home again also brings with it constant reminders of what you no longer are able to do…from the mundane daily tasks and simple movements we all take for granted…to the chores, duties, and responsibilities you were happy to call yours…to driving…to going to work….to participating in the hobbies and pastimes you love. 

Our kids continue to be such blessings. The girls check in often and provide daily support, mainly from afar during the “Stay at Home” order and around their work schedules and other responsibilities. We so appreciate that we have been able to get together in person more recently. Due to his current circumstances, living so close in St Peter, and just finishing up his senior year via distance learning at Gustavus, Mason has been a godsend since we have been back home. He is here daily and serves as our personal shopper and errand runner. Mason has been an invaluable help around the house, in particular with outdoor tasks and upkeep. Mark is able to help out by advising and guiding the two of us on what to do to complete the duties that were formerly his, including cooking. At the end of the day we are exhausted as things are no longer quick and easy.

We continue to be grateful for your incredible generosity and support that has taken on so many different, wonderful forms. You...our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and even ones we barely know.

We humbly ask for your continued prayers, specifically for:

*deliberate and functional movement of his right arm, wrist, hand, and fingers

*efficient right leg movement from his hip all the way to his toes

*increased, consistent, deliberate, and on command functional movement (full recovery) on all of his right side

*increased and continued rehabilitation of his apraxia and aphasia

*improved speech and writing

*successful throat surgery (removal of scar tissue resulting in improved vocals, breathing, and swallowing)

*continued strength, endurance, and faith for all of us as this is still a long and difficult journey

Ann, from the heart, on my family’s behalf