Project Walk . . . Week 8 and 9

Sorry I skipped a week in posting to the blog . . . I've been very busy and time slipped by. The good news is . . . the last couple of weeks have been very productive for Andrew.

The staff at Project Walk have been diligently working Andrew's body out 3 days per week for 2 hours each day. They continue to work both the upper and lower extremities and his arms and legs are getting stronger with every workout.

Earlier this month I posted some videos showing Andrew working out at Project Walk; one in particular showed him on a Total Gym sliding board and a trainer was using a spasm (involuntary movement) to try and elicit some voluntary movement. Well, today he actually got a little voluntary movement. Not only was he controlling this movement very nicely, but he was also able to feel the muscle working and stretching as he did this.

I have posted the video of the voluntary movement below . . . you can see that his trainer is just sitting in front of him relaxing and not even touching him as he does it. Andrew is very tired tonight and definitely feeling sore and fatigued from his workout today.

Even though time goes on and it seems like nothing is happening . . . it's days like today that we really feel God's blessings. Please join us in prayer and give thanks to God for so many blessings and miracles in Andrew's recovery. None of this would be possible without Him!

God Bless you all. Joye

Project Walk . . . Week 7

Another great week. A lot of the same, which I suppose is how it's going to be for a while as they continue to work Andrew's body out in order to build some muscle.

We are still working on decreasing medications . . . I believe we are finally at the 50% decrease mark. It is nice not having to constantly be giving Andrew meds all day long. He is feeling okay with the decrease . . . he spasms a lot more and feels pain more too; but he figures "feeling" is "feeling" whether it's pain or not, he'd rather be feeling. And, to all our surprise, the pain is really not as bad as we were anticipating . . . Andrew says it's more of an awareness of discomfort rather than actual piercing pain. I'm very thankful for that.

We are really enjoying Andrew's new bed the VA provided for him. It's quite a "smart" bed as it detects pressure and is able to put in or take out air in order to shift his weight enough, as to get him off a pressure area. I am able to set his timer on the bed so that it will automatically alternate his position during the night and I'm able to sleep more, which is truly a blessing for sure. It's also so quick and doesn't really disturb him during the weight shift so that Andrew is also able to sleep through the repositioning as well.

We are looking forward to another week of therapy and would like you to all pray with us for Andrew to begin to see some pay-off to all of his hard work. He's not becoming discouraged, but he did relate to me that he's anxious to see something happen soon. I have no doubt that God is going to show him something very soon.

God Bless, Joye

Project Walk . . . Week 6

Not too much to report from the past week as it was mostly a week of re-doing and getting Andrew's body used to the work-outs again, due to his 8-day stay at the VA. We are excited to learn that he is now considered a Project Walk In-House (permanent) client and he has a set weekly schedule of Monday, Wednesday, Friday (4-6pm). Scheduling is a challenge at Project Walk, so Andrew has definitely been blessed with this awesome schedule.

Andrew is focused and ready to dig his feet in deep and start moving his body. He is so much stronger now than when we first arrived and he just looks as though he could stand up and get out of his chair at any moment. It's amazing what a little exercise can do for the body.

Some more good news from the VA: Andrew will be re-evaluated in approximately a month for consideration in getting his tracheostomy reversed . . . decannulated (I believe it's called). His lungs and diaphragm are obviously getting stronger and he is getting better at coughing and keeping his lungs clear of secretions. Please keep him in prayer that the right decision is made with regard to this. I would love to see the tube in his throat removed, but only if it is the right thing for his health.

I have posted 3 videos below of some of the exercises Andrew is regularly doing during his work-outs. I wish they could be longer, but I take them with my phone and if they are any longer the file is too large for me to send. I will figure something better out soon so that I can take longer videos.

We are missing everyone in Yuma . . . and love to read your posts, so keep 'em coming. God blesses each and every moment and we give thanks for that daily.

Joye

Video (3) August 3rd

Andrew on the Elliptical Trainer (standing frame). This exercise does so much for Andrew's body: it has helped to basically rid his legs and ankles of swelling, it helps his bones stay dense as it is a weight bearing exercise, and the repetition in the movement promotes reorganization of his central nervous system. Plus . . . he loves it! You are watching a happy man doing what he loves.

Video (2) August 3rd

In this video, Andrew's trainer is helping Andrew to push against the board so that he will NOT bend his knees too much. This helps Andrew control leg movement and to not collapse on the downward motion of the board, but to instead control the downward motion on his own. Andrew feels this mostly in his gluteus maximus muscle area . . . yep, his butt!

Video (1) August 3rd

This is an exercise done to promote balance and core control. Andrew can actually feel this in his abdominal muscles; however, most of his feeling is in his back. He concentrates very hard to achieve a sitting position. His trainers are very encouraged he is already able to control as much as he is in his trunk area. You can see in the video that Andrew's trainer is barely helping him to balance with her fingertips . . . he's doing most of the work.