Mega-Marathon Man...

Kevin has become known as the Mega-Marathon Man.

"Do you want to rest?" No.

"Ready to go again?" Yes.

"Can you do more?" Yes.

The resistance is up to 10, this is to build endurance and cardio.

Strengthening those walking muscles. 

A Real President Miyasaki Handshake...

A real President Miyasaki handshake❤️

His homework is to shake hands only with the right now.

Working That Right Arm..

Tuesday's controlled practice with right hand and a therapy fork. Kevin's been a lefty at mealtimes since the stroke, but doing a magnificent job with it.

He's not crazy about the light lemonade but his first time with a drink in the affected hand is a start.

3/29...

We had a very successful OT session working Kevin's right arm. He is putting Everything he has into regaining strength in his right arm and fingers. Daily my thoughts are on the countless, selfless ways he has always used his arms and hands. I'm so grateful for the knowledge and skill of therapists. Walking with the PT today, Kevin's steps are becoming steadily more even, natural, with almost no assistance just two or three interventions in the lap at around our floor. He is retrieving more language daily. The speech therapists and I tend to council and give each other ideas on best ways to help Kevin. He maintains this amazing, inspiring, attitude that lifts me and helps me to continue to have hope and faith. Thank you for sharing your words of encouragement, love, support but especially your prayers. Love, Cindy

 Powering up the right tricep

When I Can't Speak...

When I Can’t Speak

Julie Yardley
 

Sometimes I can't say the words

Even when I desperately need to be heard

Sometimes its fear, sometimes its doubt

I feel it inside but the words won't come out

And when my emotions, get in the way

Of all of the things I'm longing to say,

God is near me.

I know He hears me

Even when I can't speak

When there isn't a voice for the blessings I seek

When it's all I can do just to whisper His name

He hears every word that I can't seem to say

He hears me, and He answers every heartfelt plea

Even when I can't speak.            

Finding the words can be hard
Saying out loud what I feel in my heart
Feelings of things, disappointment and pain
A million emotions that I can't explain
When the yearning to tell Him, burns in my chest
When it's something I just cant seem to express
God is near me
And I know He hears me
Even when I can't speak
When there isn't a voice for the blessings I seek
When it's all I can do just to whisper His name
He hears every word that I can't seem to say
He hears me, and He answers every heartfelt plea
Even when I can't speak.

He hears the sound of my voice when I have the strength
But in the quiet moments when the words aren't there
I know He hears every silent prayer,
Even when I can't speak
When there isn't a voice for the blessings I seek
When it's all I can do just to whisper His name
He hears every word that I can't seem to say
He hears me, and He answers every heartfelt plea
Even when I can't speak.
     

3/27-3/28...

Easter Sunday, we felt so happy to be in a Sacrament meeting, enjoy the spirit there and ponder on our blessings. We wept together during the opening song, the spirit was strong. On our way back to our room Kevin commented, it had been a long time . We enjoyed lots of family visits and a ham dinner by Jared. The excitement in OT was some right hand finger movement in the right hand! The therapist began with using a vibrator on the forearm but then without and his movement was on his own! He is giving it all he has. No speech therapy on Sundays so he was anxious for us to work on our own. Always an inspiration! Last night we watched the General women's broadcast. Looking forward to General conference next week.

 Above is our Sunday walk. 

The bandage wrap is to keep that right foot from dragging...

however, this is what happened Monday...

Monday we graduated to a cane!!!

Working the right hand with electrical stimulation.

The stimulation can also send a message to the brain to use those muscles again.

We're getting some movement in the right hand with no neuro electrical stimulation!

Working on knee flexion on the right side. 

He's working like a champ and we feel very blessed!!!

Rehab Day Seven...

It's Friday, a full week here in rehab. Our OT has been working hard on Kevin's right arm. There is strength and movement in the shoulder and A little in the bicep with tiny showing in the tricep. He gave it all he had and we saw a tiny twinge of movement in his right thumb. It all comes back through the shoulder so it is exciting. The PT wants his steps to be slower and more perfect and he is doing great on that. Alex gave him very little support on one side he used a side walker on the left/strong side. He can get a little discouraged after speech therapy but it doesn't last. Instead of a walk outdoors he wanted to stay in our room and practice speech activities from the therapists. Also I'm practicing his verbalizing with Rosetta Stone on the iPad, reading and singing. It's essential that we use what energy he has to fire up those neurons and challenge his brain to make new connections. He is seeing/feeling progress in himself and the rest of us our seeing milestones.❤️Reading scriptures together, singing hymns and reading the ensign together has become even more of a sweetened spiritual experience now. I feel deeply grateful for the divine strength we feel that allows to do those things we couldn't do on our own. Thank you for your many prayers in our behalf. LOVE, Cindy