A Very Good Week

Hello Everyone,

Gabe is making gains. His brain is clicking together like the LEGO structures he created as a kid. Now two short red pieces, now two more red middle sized pieces, now the long green piece. Looks like a popsicle to me!

Gabe is so awake now. His eyes are open when I walk into his room and he will keep them open longer (all the better for looking and learning). He is often alert when we leave in the evening.

Mike was here from Maine this week and here are some of the images I will remember from his trip.

Mike leaning over Gabe’s face teaching Kierie how to use an electric shaver on Gabe. They are both intently watching Gabe make those expressions men do with their faces when shaving. Gabe takes a mirror with a handle from Kierie and brings it up to his face so he can see what they were doing and watch his own face. Later they guide his hand to hold the shaver.

Kierie and Gabe playing ball with a tennis ball sized, bright yellow rubber prongy ball. “Throw the ball Gabe” elicits Gabe dropping it into her out stretched hand. Then “Catch the ball Gabe”. His right hand fingers close quickly over the ball when it drops in his hand.

Gabe sitting on his bed, feet dangling, being held upright by two PT staff. They lean him to his right and support him on his right elbow and he balances in place for the first time without starting to fall. Later he holds his head erect for 10 seconds.

Kierie, Mike and I counting number of “swallows” while Gabe works with Speech Therapy. Gabe takes the offered frozen lemon swab and tucks it in his right or left cheek. This is supposed to create saliva to swallow, a necessary prerequisite to getting rid of the trach. Ten minutes and fourteen swallows later we are happy for all the popsicles Gabe downed lo these many years to prepare for this day. Later in the day Kierie replicates the activity with even more swallows.

Gabe’s finger response using his right hand “Raise one finger for Yes, two for No” is getting more reliable and smoother when the therapists speak slowly and give him plenty of time to respond.

Gabe answers his first sequential questions by first touching his chin and then his right ear as asked. Then touching his nose followed by his chin when asked.

Gabe is getting more expression in his face. The hints of smiles are showing up. Mike, Kierie and I model all kinds of smiles for him. His raised eyebrows and puzzled expressions have us wonder what he is thinking. Yesterday both the Dr., Kierie, and I thought we saw the first attempt to move his lips to form a word when he was asked a question.

On October 9th we had a family conference with the Dr. in charge of his recovery here. She is thrilled with his progress and wants to keep him here 8-12 more weeks. Then he will be really ready to transfer to a rehab center for up to 8 weeks. If you do the math this will be March before we get home to Maine at the longest and end of December as the earliest. When Gabe leaves here he probably will not have the trach but he will still have the PEG stomach feeding line to make sure he gets enough calories. His follow up hip x-rays are today, October 13. Soon after he will be cleared for wheel chair for rides to PT and get started on weight bearing exercises to start building up the strength lost while at bed rest. California sun awaits him outside his bedroom on rides later this week. It is pouring out now, 3 to 4 inches expected today. A true waterfall outside my window.

How many connections has Gabe made in his brain while you were reading this post?

You are wonderful, Hugs to you all. Popsicles all around.

Donna