Mark's first cinema visit after hospital

Here are some pictures of Mark's first visit to the movies, plus eating some greek food (mainly a gyro).

 

Mark is home!!!

We have two months of pictures to share from Mark's acute rehab at sharp. We have many ideas to share too, but right now we are still just enjoying the fact that he is home. After one year and four months, he is here.

We still have many more challenges to overcome, more gains to have, but the fact that our life is not dictated by a hospital policy, a nursing home or someone else, is just incredible.

Mark is In Sharp Memorial!

We have been here 3 days, we are still not sure what to hope for. Mark was doing so well in Las Palmas, I am trying very hard to keep our routine going until we have a true routine here.

Any way here are some pictures of this new place:

The first here is Mark helping me pack!

We love the one with the fat plush cat... after a shower and a looooong day he was ready to sleep.... the cat was our idea, Mark just smiled and took it for a little bit. After the pictures he was living on the nightstand.

Next you can see him getting out of the ambulance that took him to Sharp.

Then there he is in his new room (kinda ugly! but we are not here for a long time)

 

Mark with some of the Nursing team of Villa Las Palmas

I want to put proper comments to this pictures but for now I feel happy that you can see them!

Please note that Mark is trying to give his tumb-up with the right hand in some of the pictures... in others he just used the left. The yellow thing around his head is a thing-of-a-yig that Rebecca Elias (Our super, dedicated and loving OT in Villa Las Palmas) came up with so Mark would not drop his eye glasses during Therapy!

Big side Note: EVA!!! Mark really misses your cooking.... the food at Sharp is terrible.

Picture of Mark in The standing frame!

It took a couple of days for Mark to be a little more secure when on the frame. As soon as this happend I asked if I could take a picture...He gave a tumbs-up and here we are!.

This is it!!! Acute Rehab a reality!!!

On Monday April 24, 2004 at 12:00 Mark will take the trip up to Sharp Memorial (one freeway exit from our home!!! vs the 45 minute right I do each day both ways)

He has worked hard to get to this point, his workout routine will be expanded and who knows how far will Mark get during the next few weeks. He already gives me something new to smile about every day.

As soon as I have room info I will let you know.

Here is some information on what acute rehab is, and about Sharp Rehab:

http://www.sharp.com/services/index.cfm?id=686

 This is an artist rendition of the hospitals new image, right now there is all this construction going on. But it is still a nice place.

Standing Frame!!!

Well this day has been busy and full as always, but it had a little extra:

Mark was put on the Standing Frame for the first time!!

It was hard and painful, but he did it. But he wants another go at it. He did need assitance from three rehab ladies (we love ya' all), plus one overachiving wife.

This is what a standing frame looks like:

I want to take a picture of Mark in it I will try tomorrow. If he lets me...

 

The frame is good for:

Natural sit-to-stand transition allows user to stop at any position.

User is fully supported from sitting to standing.

It works well with people who have limited range of motion.

Ease of use increases compliance with standing programs.

Helps with adnormal tone

Before this he was using a Tilting table. It did all the work for him, but helped with balance issues. It look a like this:

A great example of recovery!!

In Villa Las Palmas, we got the opportuny to meet a young man (only 18 years old) who like Mark suffered a brain injury. His recovery is  recorded with much love in a website that his mom has dedicated to him.

Please share the joy of another BI troupper that is going back home, to regain his life and to show the world that their is life after an injury of this magnitud!

Here is the address to the site: ( This site is currently under construction, we are sending an e-mail to his parents Jan/15/2008)

http://ayersmedicalconsulting.com/index.htm

Acute rehab!!!!

Well after months of stimulation, tears and pain, Mark is ready to go to acute rehab. After that is home. We could be talking about as soon as 6 to 8 weeks. Tomorrow is the one year aniversay of his accident, we desided not to call him victim or survivor.... He is a dedicated, hardheaded (in more ways then one), but most of all he is simply our Mark. He is a fighter! This is his comeback!

I love you Mark, I will always hold your hand...

 

Now for some updates:

Mark no longer has a feeding tube. He is almost eating like his old self.

Mark can read very good now, so please let the e-mails rain on him : )

He has started to regain use of his right hand (about three days ago he started to slowly take food with it).

His right leg has almost reach the abilities of the left one.

His voice is still lost, but we try every day to find it. He is working very hard to make it possible for me to fall in love with that voice one more time! Not that I am not in love with the "big-log" in general. : )

He kisses and hugs me and Vidia, he enjoys the little things we were hopping he could still have. He still gets very pround of our kid's merits. He is here, just alittle crack here and there. For us this is our personal miracle.

We have so many new things to tell you!

Sorry, sorry to all of you who check this site for Mark's updates.

Forgive me, but Mark has been very busy with occupational therapy and rehab! These activities mean I am busy too.

Plus we had a scary set back last week, and Mark had to go to Alvarado Hospital for a week. But we are back and we are re-starting the feeding program (we are doing little tastings now hoping to get the OK for full feedings).

Mark's right side is more active now, and I have many things to write about it and what this means to his communication rehab.

Plus we have one new member in our home a soon to be one-year-old kittty! His name is Franky (he came with this name) and Mark likes him ( he likes cats in general).

Here is a pic of this little guy who we hope will help Mark in the "pet therapy" area

 

 

Rosie