Alot’s happened over the month of May. First started with Matt’s Birthday celebrated on Sunday the 2nd. Matt’s actual birthday is the 3rd. We had a nice dinner, just immediate family. We had cake and ice cream, sang Happy Birthday to Matt that really lit him up, he then blew out the candles on the cake. We read birthday cards to him and he opened presents with some help but he did it. I will be posting pictures of the event for all to see. Lindsey came over on his Birthday the 3rd. That made Matt very happy we all could see and that makes us all happy for Matt and Lindsey. Pictures to follow once again for all to see.
The second week in May I went to check out the water program at Sharpe Hospital in La Mesa. Sounds and looks like a great program. I just have to set a schedule a time to get Matt there when I’m available. The program is mid day twice a week and they would like me to get in the pool with Matt for instruction on what works best for him. Hopefully we can work that in over the next month. The reason that’s tuff now is I also went to check out a place called Medical Rehabilitation Kinematics Lab in San Diego. What an amazing place. I guess the best way to describe it is very active and interactive therapy designed for all types of protocols including Traumatic Brain Injury. What they do is tailor therapy specific to you situation. It’s run by a Dr. Bradley Marcus D.O., F.A.A.P.M.R. The Doctor is hands on and all about advancing the patient. No insurance which translates into a No Bull Program. Like I said, it’s all about tailoring treatment specifically to the patients needs to get results. Lots of very expensive equipment, computers so every activity is closely monitored and recorded so there is a continual adjustment or tweaking of the activity to accommodate the progress as it’s made. The other big thing with this is there is a doctor that can prescribe drugs appropriate for what ever may be necessary to help Matt and because the doctor is right there directly involved in the therapy along with the rest of the staff, the doctor can see if and when a drug or drugs may be appropriate and can closely monitor the results and adjust accordingly. We’ve never had that in the Kaiser system. No one in that system knows how to even do that even though they pretend to know but nothing positive ever happens. We’ve spoken to Spencer and Jon about what’s happening and they are even interested in visiting to see for themselves. That will probably happen in the coming weeks as we settle into a program. Matt’s only had to sessions and the doctor and therapist are excited about Matt’s interaction already. He’s on a machine called a GIGER that has Matt on his back peddling with both legs and both arms all together as he is watching on a monitor directly over head a graph with his measured participation and currently watching the movie Avatar. They can program the machine to play the movie as Matt actively participates and when he stops or slows down, the movie stops. Matt’s is figuring that out as he is being coached along. The other thing happening is they are working on Matt’s head and core strength like we have all been, and it’s coming along. With that they have equipment they can get Matt up into for standing and actively walking while they program active support and assistance as needed. Really trick stuff and you almost have to see it to understand the process. I will attach pictures of these activities as we move along through the process.
With this new program along with Spencer and Jon, Janet and Leslie, Matt is busy all day every day 6 days a week. Lots of travel up anddown the hill, Lisa’s the one managing it all when I’m not around and that’s becoming more and more as I’m cranking up my deal to try and keep up with expenses but we are seeing the results, more and more each week. We have developed some active games at home we play with Matt like Nerf sword fighting to develop more of his hand eye and reflex coordination. That’s stuff is fun because Matt’s really getting into it. I get that boy worked up and really swinging at me. That’s progressed tremendously in the past couple of weeks to where we all get a kick out of it. Pictures to follow and we are now working on getting on video for some of the other therapist to see. What they do with something like that is continually develop more complicated activities.
We also are having orthotic supports made to help Matt better support his ankles when he stands and walks. He was casted 2 weeks ago and will be going in to have them fitted next week.
The other big thing that’s happened in our lives this month is Brittney move out. She move to Rancho Bernardo with a couple of co-workers from TGI Fridays. She is now about 10 minutes or less from both of her jobs and is not driving up and down that nasty Hwy 67 everyday and that’s a huge relief.
I will get the pictures I mentioned above posted hopefully in the next week, something to look forward to. I think you will all be pleasantly surprised.
Link for Kinematics Lab: www.MRKLAB.com
Posted in Matt's Progress | Comments (0)
