When Shannon was little, she used to use a butter knife to pull the outlet covers off the outlets. She once stuck the knife into the outlet after removing the cover, but only one time. She didn't really like the feeling of electricity. We stopped putting covers on, because they were less appealing to her without them. When she was a teen, she would stick her tongue on a 9 volt battery for a little shock action. Weirdo. Neither experience with electricity was something her parents approved of. We just don't think people and electricity mix well. This week, that thinking changed. Shannon has been having electrical impulse therapy for her muscles, in part to avoid atrophy of her muscles, and in part to help wake them up- so to speak. It's been a regular part of her therapy. Today, Shannon took a bike ride. :)
The way I understand how the "bike" works, is that it begins peddling, and Shannon's muscles receive impulses from the electrodes hooked to her legs. As her muscles respond to the impulses, they begin moving on their own and the machine does less peddling work since her muscles are taking over. The hope is to help keep the atrophy from happening, and also to awaken her muscle's own electrical impulses. We are praying that they do awaken, and that connections are made and that someday she will be able to use her legs again. Meanwhile, it's good to keep her muscles working! She rode 1.4 miles today, not sure where she went...but I'm glad she was the one driving that bike!
We talked with Shannon's case manager today and she had some fantastic news! Next week they want to start having family come in for training on Shannon's care and therapies. I drew the winning straw! Well, actually; she started out by saying we can come for training, then clarified that we'd have to choose one of us, then said that I was coming in. Lancer thanked her for univiting him. :D She said "Lancer, I love you too, you just can't come THIS time, next time you can. Wait, not the next time, Kim needs to come for that one too. But the NEXT one....." The type of training they are doing will decide who needs to come in, and the first two are things I will be helping her with.
The other fantastic news for the day is that next week when Shannon goes to her follow up appointment with her spine surgeon, Lancer and I BOTH get to go with her to that appointment. Twice in one week is feeling like a dream come true!
And......Shannon is also already on a no restrictions diet! She can eat whatever she wants, they are just hoping that her appetite increases. Right now, she just isn't that hungry. She will still get tube feeding until she is back to a normal intake of food, and for added protein she needs to stay healthy.
We are so happy with the progress that Shannon is making and that she is feeling more upbeat. She has been really excited about the cards etc that she's been receiving, so thank you for that! Keeping her spirits up makes such a difference in her whole outlook on her time in rehab.
We have seen so many blessings and miracles happening in Shannon's life as well as our own lives. Thank you for keeping her in your prayers. Please pray for Shannon's spinal cord to heal, for her to have the endurance for her therapies, for her appetite to increase, for her to be free of infections, and to continue making progress with her breathing and speech. Thank you for your love and friendship.
Today's Meme-
And the Disney Quote-
Little John: Who's driving this flying umbrella?!! Disney- Robin Hood
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