Wednesday
(This is from Rob Baker who lives in the Salt Lake Valley.)
So how is Steve doing? The answer is “yes”. I know that seems a little vague…as intended.
This is the beginning of his rehab. The therapists are establishing a “baseline” for Steve. As rehab continues, we will have this baseline to compare and see Steve’s progress. Let me give you a baseline from watching Steve yesterday.
Steve had physical therapy. They had 5 people helping him to stand, Yep, stand. One of the therapists helped hold his head up from behind and was holding his eyelids open so that Steve could see himself in a mirror. It is still difficult for Steve to open his eyes without help. Actually he used his own right hand to reach up and lift up his own eyelid so he could see who was in the room. Haha.
Good News… Steve got on an exercise machine that moved his arms and legs and he did it. Yes, slow and his left arm would come off the handle but he did it. The therapist let him work on the machine for about 7 minutes.
They suction out his mouth and throat regularly. It is like when you go to the dentist and they stick the tube in your mouth. Actually, Steve likes to do that. We give him the suction tube and he clears everything out. Good News…he can hold the suction tube himself with his right hand.
With his right hand, he can give us basic signs like thumbs up or down. Communication is still frustrating for him and us. I know he would love to tell us more about everything. Hopefully he will be better able to use his vocal cords and depend less and less on the trachea tube.
He still has a trachea tube in. It will be there for a while. A while probably means close to a month before it is completely removed (per the respiratory specialist). The respiratory therapists said Steve is being slowly weaned off the tube. They are going to let him do more of his own breathing as he gets stronger. Good news they say he is doing great. They spent 90 minutes today helping him whisper some words and breathing exercises.
Moving forward, it will be easier to give updates as we all know the baselines or in this case from where he started on this journey. He is doing better, just ask any of the people with whom Steve is working. They will tell you that he is doing great. I just wish their idea of great was my idea of great. My idea of great would be Steve singing, riding, dancing, and playing next week.
So, how is Steve doing? Yes. Progress. Positive direction, it’s just a long path back. Your love and support are felt by Steve and those around him. Please keep him in your prayers and meditations. And most of all, stay engaged with Steve and his progress for as long as it may take.
