Dad is slowly getting stronger. So hard to see (and hear) him in such a weakened state, but he's improving every so-slightly. They're getting to know him at Brookstone (for some of the wrong reasons - like getting up in the middle of the night on his own, and then being too tired to get back into bed). They've learned that the bed alarm needs to be "ON" for it to alert them when he's trying to get going on his own.
They're doing all kinds of rehab therapy for him to help him with his balance, strength on the left side (and his right), and just overall endurance. He very much needs the verbal cues to focus on keeping his leg straight on the left side -- without it buckling -- and when he is doing the balance bar, which consists of holding a long pole horizontally and the idea is to keep it level -- he needs to be reminded to keep the left side up.
The therapists are also starting to work with him more in the morning hours, instead of afternoon, as he's stronger in the morning and able to do more than when the afternoon hours hit. He still keeps his eyes closed most of the time -- and he says he can't really help that. He had that before surgery also. . .but that improved about a month after rehab started the first time. Hoping that recovers this time as well.
The best news around his endurance is that he's able to walk a distance of 85ft (with assistance), and only has to stop once to rest. Let's not forget that he couldn't walk on his own without two or three helping him just a few weeks ago.
It's going to be a long haul, but progress is being made. Slowly but surely.
And the latest update from Joanne down in Arizona is that over $1020 has been raised for the "Blockin' for Butch" campaign! Sincere thanks to Joanne and to all of the donors for helping raise money for cancer research!
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