Ken is Home!

   Ken has come such a long way. His last three days at the rehab hospital his walk totals were 60 feet, 101 feet, and 60 feet, plus stairs. He's been practicing using his arm, had his face, arm, and leg electrified, gotten in and out of the fake car, all in preparation for going home. Friday he rang the bell, signifying he had finished his therapy. We headed home Saturday morning. He'll continue with out patient therapy.

It was VERY hot today, and due to be so hot that the heat advisory will last until Monday. I should have ordered that air conditioner, I guess. But the only rewired spot to plug it in is in the kitchen, and Ken, due to not being able to climb the stairs, is living out of the dining room. Fuzz worked very hard setting the dining room up to be a bedroom, and had the bed waiting when we got home. I had to go out and get the mattress then though, because Fuzz doesn't drive. Luckily, Ken was taken care of at his place of work, where he sat in the air conditioning and was fussed over by his workmates. They even got him a 'Welcome Home Ken' cake, which I let him cheat and have a couple of inches of.

A guy has to have a piece of his own welcome home cake...but not much!

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Ken's Doing Great and Staying For Another Week!

   Ken is doing so well that he has been approved for another week at the rehab hospital. More info below the pictures.

He just wants to ho home, and sees it as punishment. What it really means is that he is making such good progress that both the facility and the insurance are bothering to keep him here.  And he is improving so much. He can stand for short periods with only something to hold onto. He is getting more movement in his hand. Today he mamaged to roll himself onto his side. He is working so hard. I'm proud of him. Tomorrow Fuzz and I have a class on helping him. But with another week of therapy, he may not need as much help by then. Thanks for all your continued wishes, thoughts, prayers, etc. Keep it up! The bottom two pictures arefrom today. 

Ken is Doing Well

   Yes, Ken is doing well. He is walking with help from the therapist, but not ready to go with a cane or walker just yet. He has to get the strength up in that left leg. He can lift it and bend and unbend the knee now, so that's a start. His arm is starting to be able to move a little, and he can clench my fingers with his pinky and the two next to it. He's starting to get some movement back in his thumb. His vision is still missing the peripheral in the left eye. He has to learn to compensate. Yesterday we had a visit from a volunteer who had a stroke ten years ago, at age 59. He lost all speech, the use of his right arm and leg, and all vision in one eye. He was at the same rehab place Ken is. He was there for a month, I think, and after that in out patient therapy for a month or so. He got the use of his leg back, with the help of a brace he uses, all his vision, and his speech. He still has some  trouble enunciating, an no use of his right arm, but he is going strong and probably drove himself to the rehab hospital, where he comes once a week to talk to patients and encourage them. He also goes to another rehab hospital once a week. His story was very inspiring. Let's hope Ken can do as well. He's starting out a bit ahead of the other guy, as Ken only lost his peripheral vision in his left eye, and can still speak. Please keep cheering Ken on in your hearts, sending healing thoughts, good wishes, positive vibes, and prayers, He can use it all, and we appreciate it. The positive energy will come his way. I read him all your words of encouragement from the comments, and the blog's Facebook page, where I post regular updates and photos. You can fine the link to the Facebook page in the sidebar. Thanks again.

Ken"s Moving His Leg!

   Just for those who are interested and not following the updates on the blog's Facebook page: Ken is moving his left leg now! He has been able to push with his foot, but he is now bending and unbending hi knee, crossing his legs in bed, and generally moving that leg all over the bed now! He has two more weeks at the rehab hospital, so hopefully he can get much farther before he comes home. Of course, Fuzz and I will be continuing to work with him when he comes home. He can also squeeze my fingers with three fingers. His shoulder has been tremoring too, which they say is possibly a sign that his arm is waking up. Let's hope so! He is still missing peripheral vision in that left eye, but doing well and tested average memory for men his age, and he beat me at Connect Four the last time we played! He's doing so well, but really hates balloon volley ball! Please continue your good wishes, prayers, positive vibes and thoughts.