We have been at this facility now for two weeks and a lot of good progress has been made. I have drawn up a weekly list of milestones that Darryl has achieved and week one was on one page, but week two took up two pages. Both in terms of what extra things he is able to do and the importance of those things, Darryl is doing very well.
Today he went up to the gym and performed a number of tasked aimed at not only establishing his range of movement but also his mental capacity to process the commands given. For example, with your left hand touch your right shoulder then your left knee then your stomach. He also did some weights! Mind you its the first time he’s ever used a 1kg dumbbell but, you have to start somewhere. While being supported in a seated position with me standing in front of him with my hand as a target he pushed the dumbbell in a punching motion. He did this 10 times.
For a lot of the gym session he had his eyes open of his own volition and we noticed that the direction of the eyes is starting to line up more with each other. Until now his eyes have been looking in quite different directions which again is due to the damage to the nerves that control eye function.
He again did some leg raises with his left leg and he was even able to put his hand down on his thigh to feel his muscles working as he did so. This was all followed up by some good stretches of his torso and lower back which he seemed to enjoy.
I showed the physio (like a proud father would of milestone achievements) how he could put the dog whistle in his mouth. He didn’t disappoint and repeated his efforts from Sunday.
The physio was overall very pleased with the progress seen. I was not so much surprised as relieved that what I know in my heart Darryl is capable of, he is now slowly achieving.
It is exhausting for him, but then that what bother him either. What will bother him is not moving fast enough the challenge moving forward will be a very familiar one to me, to get him do be patient for the result.
Who am I trying to kid! He got himself in this place because of his character and a he’ll get himself out the same way. I’ll just try and ensure that if he ‘falls’ I’m here to catch him this time.
Darryl, remember that the mountain you are removing has started with carrying away small stones, but it is still a mountain. The key is to take it one pile of stones at a time and when it gets heavy remember we are here to share in that load.
Keep strong mate.
Dad
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