5/16/14 (Rachel Hanson) This has been a big week for making appointments and going to appointments. The name of the game of brain injuries is WAIT, WAIT, and more Waiting! Time to heal, time to get in for important appointments, time to wait for important equipment... You name it, nothing happens immediately. We waited over a month to even get scheduled for a neuro psychology appointment, let alone see the whites of the man's eyes in August. Even more waiting for the endocrinologist...September is first available for him! We are finally getting some adaptive technology for David after waiting almost 3 months since his assessment. Yesterday, David went to a neuro ophthalmologist. She confirmed everyone's suspicions of optic nerve damage. He has no pupillary reflex in both eyes which means he is unable to control his depth of focus. This makes it impossible to see small print or anything far away and difficult to focus on large print. Although, this visit gave us bad news, it provided the opportunity for David and I to get away for a night all by ourselves! It was great! No care giver, no baby, just us! Today we went to David's physiatrist. He signed him up for occupational and speech therapy again. We also discussed a visit with the endocrinologist because of some behavioral and sleep problems that are possibly caused by hormonal imbalances. Unfortunately, there is only ONE very busy dude that does this specialty here! Today was encouraging. David goes to ride horses and a man and his wife about our age work with him on the horse. David gave the guy one of his CDs last time and he made a point to talk to David about it today. He seems like a bright christian who loves the Lord. We rarely get such a bright response so it was so encouraging to talk to someone that seeks the Lord and loves Him. Things to pray for: sooner appointments with the neuro psychologist and endocrinologist, an improvement in sleep and insistEnt, disinhibited behavior, and spiritual encouragement/Christ-ward focus in our hearts.
5/24/14 (Rachel Hanson) We are back at it again...PT, OT, ST and ET (equine therapy) plus WT (wifey therapy). David does better and better at his walking. The left leg muscles are starting to kick in a little, at least his quads help straighten his leg a little. It's encouraging even though it's small steps...but in the right direction. You can see for yourself in the latest video. I've noticed a few new things lately. David is doing better at being able to have a conversation where he can think about what the other person said a little more critically and comment from a previous memory that correlates with what the person said or add depth to the conversation. Tonight he was able to sing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" with his mom pretty much on tune and then surprised us with a real whistle when I asked him if he needed to "wet his whistle" after singing! Sleep is still an ongoing issue. But God is giving me more grace when I'm awakened to my husband sleep talking about his wild dreams at 3 am! Thank you for praying. The Lord has been teaching me about the power of prayer lately. Admission: Sometimes I have secretly scoffed in my heart at those who ask for prayer for, it seems, every tiny little ailment or problem. But God has been teaching me that He delights in hearing our dumb little requests. His Word says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7 and "CONTINUE in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" Colossians 4:2 He delights in having the opportunity to change our hearts and lives. Prayer is the opportunity to give pieces of our life to Him, if not the whole, and see Him work His will. David and I were having a really rough night of sleeping (or lack thereof) a little while ago. I was getting really irritated because he was waking up about every 10 minutes from midnight to 5 am, insistently wanting to speak with me about dreams or plans for tomorrow or food he wanted... He was getting irritated at me because I wasn't wanting to listen to him. We went back and forth, the heat between us escalating until I went out on the couch. He just spoke louder and louder. I went back in and flipped the light on. I'd never seen so much anger in his eyes and he's probably never seen so much in mine! The look stopped me dead in my tracks...this wasn't about us, this was a power coming between us, trying to drive us away from each other and from the Lord. We decided to pray. Both of us had peace and calm and we slept after that. We are so slow to learn, the willingness to help and lovingkindness of God to creatures like us is so high.
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