#48 Update, July 27th

Sorry for not getting this posted earlier, Mom here has had a few health issues, I'm fine. Sean is beginning to toss a ball overhanded with both his right and left hands which is great. Dr. Patrick is really working on strengthening those arms & hands. He has 1 lb weights on each arm as well to help strengthen those muscles. As a treat each day Paul has been taking him out in his Hummer for rides. It is hard to think about turning it in since the lease is up the 22nd of August, that will be a very sad day indeed. He had talked to us before surgery about turning it in instead of purchasing it and getting another truck. It is just hard to deal with right now. The other day I asked him while he was in the bathroom if he needed any help, or was it alright if I went back to the kitchen. He said "Who are you talking to?" back to me which is a good indicator that the brain is processing more and more with real time situations which is GREAT! He is working on coordination and getting the right body part to work when needed. Crossing his arms to the opposite side of the person in front of him is hard but getting better. He is able to put his socks and shoes on next comes tying them. He can take his shirt off and on as well. We are reminded constantly what miracles our bodies are and how they work especially when relearning comes into play. He always works hard and still loves to nap. :o) He and Delaney play ball a lot more now and she will cuddle him as well as pull on his shorts to follow her and do what she wants done. All of his therapist are pleased with his hard work and continued progress. He will laugh at "Two and a half men" and occasionally at other things, he doesn't comment on items often. I asked him what he wanted for lunch, he looked at me and said "What are my choices?" I told him I wasn't giving him any choices. I just wanted to know what he wanted, I normally would give him 2 or 3 choices. Of course he said "BBQ", which we didn't have available; but we did get him BBQ for dinner that night. Progress for sure. Thank you as always for your prayers and warm thoughts we feel them and as always appreciate them. All our warmth, love and prayers.

#47 Update, July 11th

Sean has improved a lot this week with the new physical therapist. They have been working on the strength in is right hand, right arm and shoulder especially. He is able to pull up his socks, put on his shoe and needs help to tie them but he has come a long way. He is working on dressing himself which is a nice step to see him make. It will still be a little while until he can completely feed himself, that will come with strengthening his hands and arms. He is talking more in sentences instead of just yes and no which is encouraging. His memory is coming back bit by bit. Thank you to those of you that have sent him cards, he looks at them and I think it helps to stimulate his brain to remember who you are and how he knows you. This week is the first week he has looked at his scars with any interest. We have talked about them several times and may talk about them even more but that is ok. He has the long vertical one from the heart surgery with 2 small circles where the drain tubes came out then the stomach tube circle and the horizontal scar on his left side from when they took the fluid off the back of his heart and the circle below it from the drain. Everyday he gets stronger slow but sure.

#46 Update, July 3rd

This is a 2 week update, sorry I got behind. Life happens while we are making other plans. Sean is reading more, writing more and actually drew a picture the other day, it is on the refrigerator. The new physical therapist doctor came to evaluate him Thursday. He is getting stronger everyday but the muscles in his right shoulder, arm and hand are weak. This new therapist is going to work specifically on those weak muscles and his coordination 3 times a week instead of the twice a week he was getting. He may be reintroduced to a computer soon. The goal is to introduce him to things that he can successfully achieve. Challenging him is fine but frustrating him too much is counter productive. He is beginning to engage in a conversation sometimes rather than just answering questions asked of him. We went to a Deli and grocery store the other day and asked if he wanted to go and he did. The outing was very nice for him not too long as his endurance is still not up to speed. He is staying up more and more but when he wants to sleep in or take a nap it is good for him to do so. He is beginning to feel more comfortable being out in public which is great, he said he would like to see the cousins up in Denver. We are working on some plans for him to see the cousins soon.

#45 Update, June 20th

Long week with slow and steady progress. Sean was evaluated by the speech therapist team on Monday and had his first session on Friday. There are a lot of positive areas and several areas that need work. He can read a newspaper but doesn't always comprehend everything. They will begin to work with him 3 times a week in addition to the physical therapist and occupational therapist, which each come twice a week. He continues to amaze us with what he can do, remember and strives to do. His hands are getting much stronger, he works extra hard to get more control of his right one. He can't write yet but he is able to make marks on a page which is a start. He went to the barber with Paul last Saturday and got his hair cut but still has a full beard, we took photographs just in case he wanted it shaved. His blood is back where it should be for thickness since he was off of his medicine when his peg tube was taken out. He fell for the first time and scared the daylights out of us. He was getting up to go to the bathroom on his own and lost his balance. His hands were red and he was sitting on the floor when I got to him but no blood which I was VERY thankful. We walk several times a day still to add stamina and go out on various short errands in the car. Sean and Delaney are still very tuned in to one another and share each other's activities. He has started to wear his own underwear for which he is very proud and enjoys.

#44 Update, June 12th

Smiles, strength, tears of joy and laughter were all part of this week. Those of you that we have had the privilege to share a meal with you know we hold hands, say grace and then everyone from the youngest to the oldest has the opportunity to say what they are grateful for each day (good haircut etc). Delaney has been know to chatter a little during this time as well. Sean surprised us by saying grace with us and then he added "Thank you for today, thank you for this meal, thank you for everyone" pure joyful tears and lots of praise. He is getting stronger everyday, we walk several times a day up and down the street. He likes taking car rides to various places besides going to see the doctor. He will start with a new speech therapist on Monday. He is making great strides; he is reading more, doing some math, exercising using his right hand more and more. His short term memory is tough some days, he is beginning to remember more about his past. Certain foods he used to like or didn't like are changing so we are having fun trying new recipes as well as some old ones. He and Delaney play catch and she will sit with Sean more now. I think his having the peg tube out has encouraged that connection again. Each day is a blessing and we all grow more and more with each other.

#43 Update, June 5th

Another week of progress, Sean read Are You My Mother by Dr Seuss. He read it slowly but surely. He continues to strengthen his grasp in both hands and his core muscles for balance and walking. He always takes the harder choice whenever we ask him which challenge he'd like to accomplish and works hard at accomplishing whatever is given to him to do. He stamina needs work so we will need to walk him twice a day and a little longer each time. He has a full beard and mustache; you'd hardly recognize him. I think he looks quite handsome but I am prejudiced. When he agrees, and we are hoping that will be very soon, we will post some recent photographs on line. He colorizes all the parts and puts the items together when working with them. When given a task he starts it pretty quickly now, so the processing time is a lot shorter which is very encouraging. He misses playing with his peg tube, it is almost completely healed. For those of you that have sent him cards & words of encouragement; we read them with him as soon as they come in. I'll ask him if he remembers you and he'll say "yes", sometimes he says "no" but that is not to say he won't remember later. Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers, warm thoughts, words of encouragement and being our as well as his friend. It means the world to us and helps those long days we have sometimes. He is a joy and very up, he hasn't gotten upset or angry since he came home which is wonderful. Somehow that lets me know that I am doing my job correctly with respect and love.

#42 Update, May 28th

Sean's latest step is the removal of his feeding "PEG" tube this morning. We went back to the Medical Center of Aurora for the procedure. As an update for those of you who have been here, especially when Sean was in the Critical Care Unit, the remodeling has proceeded to the point where the main entrance of the hospital is now open, and what seemed to be miles to walking is now down to a few yards. The first night, when Sean spent so long in surgery, the Berger clan came to stay with us while we wondered what was happening and then if he'd survive. That waiting area is now part of Admissions. We pulled up, Sean and Andrea went in, and Delaney and I parked the car and met them in their same-day surgery clinic. A nurse came in and removed the feeding tube, put some gauze on the wound, and sent us home. We were in the house before noon. Prognosis is excellent. Evidently the stomach lining heals within two or three hours of removal.
His therapy continues. Balance and strength are returning, and his vocabulary is expanding, although 90% of his replies are "Yes" or "No."
We'll update this blog as things happen. As always, thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts.