Friday, July 29, 2011
Awesome Day of Therapy
Keenan had a stellar day at PT on Thursday. His therapist had music playing when he arrived, had brought a special guitar from home and was ready for Keenan to be a "rock star". Let me tell you, he was!!!!! He looked so strong and in control. It was awesome.
He even stood for 2 seconds without any help!!!! I did not get that part on video, but it was sweet to see, indeed. Here is some video of Keenan walking in the parallel bars. Sarah was encouraging him to take steps without holding on to them, and he did a nice job. Way to go Kee!!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Some Pictures and Video
Keenan enjoyed playing the games at Bible School. I think that was his favorite part, next to the music of course. This video shows a game of freeze tag.
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| Playing a little soccer at PT. Nice form buddy!!! |
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| Nothing better than swimming and finishing it with ice cream. I think he liked it. |
Steady Progress
Life in our house has been busy, but good. Keenan, sometimes Kaylee, and I head to Wesley five days a week for therapy and almost daily his therapist is pleased with a new thing he is able to do, or that he seems a bit stronger. What a praise!!!!!
Two weeks ago I really "turned up the heat" for Keenan. We had Bible School five evenings that week and I told Keenan he would not be able to use the stroller we were given after surgery to help him get from place to place. He would be walking. I did not meet with as much resistance as I originally thought and he had a GREAT time with his friends. He was tired each night, but I was so proud of how he progressed and gained more stamina each night. The week was a boost for me as well because Keenan had not seen too many people to that point and I had several comments about how different his steps looked. WOW!!!!! What encouragement those comments truly were.
Keenan is having a blast in the pool several times a week. He walks around and is building strength and does not even realize it. He has not had swimming lessons yet, but is doing things in the pool now that makes me feel confident that he is ready to learn. :-) Yea.
His new braces seem to be doing well for him. Every now and then he complains of some rubbing on his ankle, but this transition went more smoothly than I thought. His legs have had braces for so many years that muscle groups have not had the chance to work and become strong, but after a few days with his new ones, he looked strong and unaffected by the change.
I would say at this point he is back to his pre-op state. His confidence with the walker is 90%. His balance (especially when sitting) is beyond what he could do before surgery, as is his ability to freely move his legs separately. His stamina is not back yet, and that is a significant concern, with three weeks until he hits the 1st grade. The other place I have concern for him with his return to school is with some personal care issues. While I said his balance is strong while sitting, he still has some work to do to be able to get his pants up and down in the restroom. We are going to make that a major area of focus the next couple of weeks and see if we can get him a bit farther in that area.
Previous summers have tended to drag for me. I so love being a teacher that I almost feel a void when I am not fulfilling that part of my life. So, needless to say, I had some real anxiety at the beginning of this summer!!! The daily therapy sessions and strengthening and stretching at home, chasing a busy toddler and keeping up with the duties of the house seemed overwhelming and I was afraid the summer would drag!!! Well, that DID NOT happen!!! Now that my return to school is two weeks away, my anxiety increases almost daily. There are so many details to work through and keeping all the "balls in the air" looks like a huge task. I am trying to turn that worry and concern over to God and take it one day at a time. He already has every detail running through my mind, and even those that have yet to make it into my mind, under control. Thank goodness for that.
Therefore, prayers for the transition into fall would be appreciated. I need patience and peace as I work to get all the necessary details covered. We will be able to reduce his therapy sessions to 4 days a week when school begins, but working out that schedule with Keenan's school schedule and my school schedule will be tricky. Also pray for Keenan's stamina. I am sure he will we exhausted as he tries to balance all that will be on his plate.
I am so excited and thankful for the way God has worked in his body this summer. He truly does have a new set of legs and opportunities in his future Brad and I never thought possible. Keenan's spirit has not wavered through all of this. He has his days where he does not want to go through the regiment of stretches and strengthening exercises, but for the most part, he has been a real trooper.
That is all for now, and I will try to have some video or pictures next time. My iPhone and my computer don't always agree, so I am going to use another video camera and get some video of him walking soon....I hope. :-)
Blessings,
Tammy
Two weeks ago I really "turned up the heat" for Keenan. We had Bible School five evenings that week and I told Keenan he would not be able to use the stroller we were given after surgery to help him get from place to place. He would be walking. I did not meet with as much resistance as I originally thought and he had a GREAT time with his friends. He was tired each night, but I was so proud of how he progressed and gained more stamina each night. The week was a boost for me as well because Keenan had not seen too many people to that point and I had several comments about how different his steps looked. WOW!!!!! What encouragement those comments truly were.
Keenan is having a blast in the pool several times a week. He walks around and is building strength and does not even realize it. He has not had swimming lessons yet, but is doing things in the pool now that makes me feel confident that he is ready to learn. :-) Yea.
His new braces seem to be doing well for him. Every now and then he complains of some rubbing on his ankle, but this transition went more smoothly than I thought. His legs have had braces for so many years that muscle groups have not had the chance to work and become strong, but after a few days with his new ones, he looked strong and unaffected by the change.
I would say at this point he is back to his pre-op state. His confidence with the walker is 90%. His balance (especially when sitting) is beyond what he could do before surgery, as is his ability to freely move his legs separately. His stamina is not back yet, and that is a significant concern, with three weeks until he hits the 1st grade. The other place I have concern for him with his return to school is with some personal care issues. While I said his balance is strong while sitting, he still has some work to do to be able to get his pants up and down in the restroom. We are going to make that a major area of focus the next couple of weeks and see if we can get him a bit farther in that area.
Previous summers have tended to drag for me. I so love being a teacher that I almost feel a void when I am not fulfilling that part of my life. So, needless to say, I had some real anxiety at the beginning of this summer!!! The daily therapy sessions and strengthening and stretching at home, chasing a busy toddler and keeping up with the duties of the house seemed overwhelming and I was afraid the summer would drag!!! Well, that DID NOT happen!!! Now that my return to school is two weeks away, my anxiety increases almost daily. There are so many details to work through and keeping all the "balls in the air" looks like a huge task. I am trying to turn that worry and concern over to God and take it one day at a time. He already has every detail running through my mind, and even those that have yet to make it into my mind, under control. Thank goodness for that.
Therefore, prayers for the transition into fall would be appreciated. I need patience and peace as I work to get all the necessary details covered. We will be able to reduce his therapy sessions to 4 days a week when school begins, but working out that schedule with Keenan's school schedule and my school schedule will be tricky. Also pray for Keenan's stamina. I am sure he will we exhausted as he tries to balance all that will be on his plate.
I am so excited and thankful for the way God has worked in his body this summer. He truly does have a new set of legs and opportunities in his future Brad and I never thought possible. Keenan's spirit has not wavered through all of this. He has his days where he does not want to go through the regiment of stretches and strengthening exercises, but for the most part, he has been a real trooper.
That is all for now, and I will try to have some video or pictures next time. My iPhone and my computer don't always agree, so I am going to use another video camera and get some video of him walking soon....I hope. :-)
Blessings,
Tammy
Saturday, July 2, 2011
No News Really Does Mean Good News
I am so sorry it has been a long spell with no updates. I have been so busy every day, and by the time I have a few, quiet minutes for some thought, it is 9:30 and I am tired. But, rest assured, the lapse in communication means things are going well.
The back has FINALLY healed. It took some time, but the incision looks good. Keenan was released to get in the pool on Thursday and wasted no time getting in the water. He had Brad and my dad in our community pool that evening. It was so nice to watch him do something fun. He had a good time. (Kaylee, on the other hand, was another story.)
His physical therapy sessions are going well. Almost daily we get to see him do something he could not do the day before, or see his strength and stamina for walking increase a bit. That is so exciting and the reward we all need to keep us on the path to full recovery on those days we don't feel like staying the course. Keenan, for the most part has a good attitude about the therapy. He does try to get Sarah off task a bit, but he is a little boy, after all.
The daily stretching and strengthening we do at home poses more of a battle of wills. He and I do not see eye to eye on doing those some days. I don't blame him one bit for getting tired of it. It is hard enough as an adult to maintain what he know is best for our bodies, (at least I do) let alone a 7 year old little boy. Over the years I have noticed that I have become more "tough" as a person. Life experiences, first born nature, or just personality, who knows. But, I think I know the reason for a "tougher skin". It is so I can go to battle with this STRONG willed little boy when necessary. There are days I don't want to fight with him to go through the whole routine, but it is vital right now, so stern mom enters the scene and almost always we work as a team to get it done.
Keenan is back in his walker (for the most part). He is using it around the house to get from place to place and I also have him do at least one "longer" walk daily. At first we had to hold on to his arms as he walked because his legs could give out at any moment, but we are less fearful of that happening now. He has much better control of his legs and they are definitely stronger.
He had a milestone moment on Friday. Keenan got a new pair of braces that go right above his ankles. This was a BIG step toward becoming more independent. The reason for the new braces is so Keenan's calf muscles can have the opportunity to really work and become strong. With the taller braces, they don't really get to work and without strong calf muscles, he won't be able to walk independently. We are so excited about this step and hope it is a sign of more great things yet to come.
So now what??? Well, we will travel back to St. Louis in September for one more procedure. This one is MUCH less evasive and will require just one night in the hospital. Kee still has some stiffness in his hamstrings and heels. An orthopedic doctor there has refined the procedure of lengthening these muscles. The more traditional method requires kids to be in casts for a period of time, and the risk of over lengthening is more prevalent. If Keenan were put into casts, it would slow his overall progress, losing some of the ground that would have been gained. This procedure will be September 13th. He knows about it and does not seem worried in the least bit right now.
Long term outlook???? I have had a few people ask. Here is what we know, or have been told at this point. Dr. Park said the surgery was a success and any one who has felt his legs before and after the surgery would have to agree. They are not the same!!!!! We don't really know how long it will take until he has reached the optimum point in his recovery. I would think it may take a year, since he is having the other surgery, but perhaps by that point we will have a better idea. He will certainly continue to get stronger and gain confidence and strength for years to come, but I think a year from now will shed a great deal of light on what the future my look like for Kee. I know one thing for sure, it is going to be a future neither Brad or I EVER thought possible for our miracle son. HOW EXCITING!!!! To God be the glory.
I know there will be more, but one thing I have learned from this experience thus far is not to live in fear. There was, for a time, fear about moving forward with this procedure. Looking back now I can see that fear could have kept me from opening a new door for Keenan. How often do we live in fear and allow that lack of trust to overcome what God has told us to do? (I hate to think how many times I have blown it.) But, for those times I did choose to trust, He is bigger than anything our minds can conjure up to believe--and my mind has come up with some pretty big scenarios to fear. He has always been faithful and taken care of me. Even though every outcome was not what I would have chosen, I am still thankful I chose Him and not the fear. There were blessings I could not have imagined on the other side every time.
Well, enough on this one. Guess that is what happens when I wait a month to post. I will post some pictures of his new braces after the weekend of fun.
Blessings to all,
Tammy
The back has FINALLY healed. It took some time, but the incision looks good. Keenan was released to get in the pool on Thursday and wasted no time getting in the water. He had Brad and my dad in our community pool that evening. It was so nice to watch him do something fun. He had a good time. (Kaylee, on the other hand, was another story.)
His physical therapy sessions are going well. Almost daily we get to see him do something he could not do the day before, or see his strength and stamina for walking increase a bit. That is so exciting and the reward we all need to keep us on the path to full recovery on those days we don't feel like staying the course. Keenan, for the most part has a good attitude about the therapy. He does try to get Sarah off task a bit, but he is a little boy, after all.
The daily stretching and strengthening we do at home poses more of a battle of wills. He and I do not see eye to eye on doing those some days. I don't blame him one bit for getting tired of it. It is hard enough as an adult to maintain what he know is best for our bodies, (at least I do) let alone a 7 year old little boy. Over the years I have noticed that I have become more "tough" as a person. Life experiences, first born nature, or just personality, who knows. But, I think I know the reason for a "tougher skin". It is so I can go to battle with this STRONG willed little boy when necessary. There are days I don't want to fight with him to go through the whole routine, but it is vital right now, so stern mom enters the scene and almost always we work as a team to get it done.
Keenan is back in his walker (for the most part). He is using it around the house to get from place to place and I also have him do at least one "longer" walk daily. At first we had to hold on to his arms as he walked because his legs could give out at any moment, but we are less fearful of that happening now. He has much better control of his legs and they are definitely stronger.
He had a milestone moment on Friday. Keenan got a new pair of braces that go right above his ankles. This was a BIG step toward becoming more independent. The reason for the new braces is so Keenan's calf muscles can have the opportunity to really work and become strong. With the taller braces, they don't really get to work and without strong calf muscles, he won't be able to walk independently. We are so excited about this step and hope it is a sign of more great things yet to come.
So now what??? Well, we will travel back to St. Louis in September for one more procedure. This one is MUCH less evasive and will require just one night in the hospital. Kee still has some stiffness in his hamstrings and heels. An orthopedic doctor there has refined the procedure of lengthening these muscles. The more traditional method requires kids to be in casts for a period of time, and the risk of over lengthening is more prevalent. If Keenan were put into casts, it would slow his overall progress, losing some of the ground that would have been gained. This procedure will be September 13th. He knows about it and does not seem worried in the least bit right now.
Long term outlook???? I have had a few people ask. Here is what we know, or have been told at this point. Dr. Park said the surgery was a success and any one who has felt his legs before and after the surgery would have to agree. They are not the same!!!!! We don't really know how long it will take until he has reached the optimum point in his recovery. I would think it may take a year, since he is having the other surgery, but perhaps by that point we will have a better idea. He will certainly continue to get stronger and gain confidence and strength for years to come, but I think a year from now will shed a great deal of light on what the future my look like for Kee. I know one thing for sure, it is going to be a future neither Brad or I EVER thought possible for our miracle son. HOW EXCITING!!!! To God be the glory.
I know there will be more, but one thing I have learned from this experience thus far is not to live in fear. There was, for a time, fear about moving forward with this procedure. Looking back now I can see that fear could have kept me from opening a new door for Keenan. How often do we live in fear and allow that lack of trust to overcome what God has told us to do? (I hate to think how many times I have blown it.) But, for those times I did choose to trust, He is bigger than anything our minds can conjure up to believe--and my mind has come up with some pretty big scenarios to fear. He has always been faithful and taken care of me. Even though every outcome was not what I would have chosen, I am still thankful I chose Him and not the fear. There were blessings I could not have imagined on the other side every time.
Well, enough on this one. Guess that is what happens when I wait a month to post. I will post some pictures of his new braces after the weekend of fun.
Blessings to all,
Tammy
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