Wednesday, July 23

The message that I'm getting from the therapists--who are, on the whole, really good--is that Tommy makes a little bit of progress every day and that it's obvious he's also increasing in his effort and in his ability to concentrate on the task at hand (this latter has been a big problem--his eyes used to wander around the room all the time and he would "zone out"). His eyes even look more connected. And, also in line with this, I am finding just since the weekend that Tommy is asking me questions! As I was getting ready to leave last night, for example, I told him that I would get there later today because I was going to do my volunteer gig at the thrift shop from 12 to 3, my usual stint. And he asked, "What time will you get here?" His brain is actually plugging in to what he's hearing and doing something more with that information than saying the automatic "Mm-hm". I am now explaining things to him in more detail. For example, yesterday I said, "Tommy, you're only going to be with these people another week before you go to Millsboro, and I know you really like some of them and you're going to miss them, so think about that...you might want to let them know somehow that you appreciate all the help they've given you...right?" "That's for sure," he said haltingly. It's interesting that he's carrying on longer phone conversations, too--yesterday when Janis called and I gave him the phone, he said, "It sounds like my good friend, Janis." He held the phone himself and answered her for a couple of minutes with phrases that, she told me later, were all responsive to what she'd been saying to him.

And, yesterday afternoon, Tommy actually walked for the first time. His inability to control his "grasping" right hand and largely unresponsive right leg are, of course, huge limitations. Catherine, the therapist, was in front of him on a rolling stool (which all the therapists zip around on--it's funny to watch); and Catherine had both her hands against him and used both her feet to push herself back and then to cup Tommy's right foot and move it forward--quite an impressive bit of gymnastics on her part. Another therapist was outside the right-hand rail, walking alongside and moving his right hand along with each step. I was in back of him, moving the wheelchair close behind him and holding the back of his pants, so that in case he started to fall he'd go backward into his wheelchair rather than forward over Catherine. So, he wasn't really able to "use" his right side, except, as Catherine emphasized, he was shifting his weight to the right and left with each step--that is what the exercise was all about--and she said he did very well on that score. Three times during the half-hour session he walked the full length of the bars, earning him the congratulations of all the therapists in the gym.