It’s hard to believe there is only about a month left of summer! Although our weeks are pretty routine running back and forth to therapy still three times each week and then trying to fill in the gaps at home, we have still managed to get out and enjoy the beautiful Adirondack weather as much as possible!
With the improvements on Nathan’s leg and foot, walking is getting easier and easier. He did have a Botox shot (and may continue every three months) in June and has improved to the point where he doesn’t seem to need the AFO brace that was made for him before we left Sunnyview – SO exciting! He had gotten to the point wearing it only when walking a lot or on uneven ground, like at the Island, but he got so used to not wearing it that when he did, it actually made it more difficult for him to walk! For the past two weeks Nathan has actually worn NO BRACE most of the time and just a small supportive ankle brace when walking in more difficult places or when it gets sore.
We have not seen a lot more movement in Nathan’s fingers at this point, but an overall improvement in his upper arm, forearm and range of motion (apparently it is normal for the movement to make it’s way down the arm). Many of you may have seen the short video I posted of Nathan playing his guitar at therapy! One of the next goals they have for him is be able to play a song and sing it. He still doesn’t have a lot of control with his wrist and fingers, but was still able to strum a little bit! The fact that the therapists are integrating speech into the other therapies is very exciting as Nathan is advancing in his recovery. However, the speech is still very difficult and so to try to do that while doing something else is obviously quite challenging as well.
Speech and communication continue to be one of the most difficult aspects of Nathan’s recovery. He has gained back many, many words and is able to recall new ones all the time. Putting the words together in sentences is very time consuming and difficult as is reading them, but this is where speech therapy is focusing right now. As you can imagine, not having a complete conversation with your spouse for eight months can take it’s toll especially on a woman, ahh!
Nathan has continued to have a few more seizures. He has switched seizure medication to something with less side effects, but still he struggles a great deal because all four of the medications required at this time make Nathan very tired.
The children have adjusted pretty well (as children usually do) to our life and changes that have been made. They recognize their Daddy as the authority and leader in our home (but reminders now and then are still needed.) They love on Nathan and play with him much like they always have. We are always trying to incorporate the children into various things that help with Nathan’s recovery like recalling words, playing card games, reading, crosswords and even walking to the park. The kids are usually pretty eager to help in any way, which is super sweet to see! As he always had been so involved with the children (totally the fun one of the two us) Nathan loves to play games and goof around with the kids. He has pretty much mastered being able to get up and down off the floor with no help at all!
Nathan’s parents are coming back to be with us during the month of September and we are planning a family vacation! We’ll be driving to South Carolina and Florida to visit family, also spending a short time in NC for a wedding. We are looking forward to a super special time! Nathan’s grandmother and aunts and uncles have not actually seen Nathan since a while before his stroke so this is a much, anticipated time together! Please pray with us as we figure out how to continue Nathan’s therapy while away.
To people who are just passing us by, some might not even notice there is anything different about our family. But to those who know Nathan or try to engage him in conversation, you can see that there is still so much recovery left to take place, particularly with his communication. Nathan’s work and ministry passions and gifts have included leading and teaching, preaching, helping people, playing and singing, reading and learning all of which require the skills of reading and communicating. And of course these are all areas that have been majorly affected by his stroke. Some of the special characteristics of Nathan that myself and I think others have really appreciated about him in the past are his wisdom, helpfulness and ability to present information in a super simple and clear way. He also would normally have umpteen ideas formulating in his brain at any given moment and was constantly on the go. I still refer sometimes to what he would “normally” do, say, think or act like… in a given situation, but naturally wonder if any of those things will ever be a normal part of my sweet husband’s life again. Oh how I miss hearing him!
There are obviously so many things we’ve been learning on this journey and perhaps this will be a lifelong process to try to regain the things lost or disconnected from the stroke. It is a daily struggle to try to comprehend where our diligence and hard work should end and our trust in the Lord’s healing and sovereignty begins. Or are they supposed to just blur together? Perhaps you have thought or prayed at some point “Dear God, please help that poor family and also, PLEASE don’t ever let anything like this happen to my husband or my family!” I can admit I have prayed similarly when hearing about awful, scary things that happen to people. I think however, the more appropriate or beneficial request would be for God to protect us and our loved ones – Yes, but to strengthen and prepare us for WHATEVER He has planned because we can trust that His way is far better than anything we could dream up by ourselves – even during the tough times.
I was reminded recently about the toll “fretting” takes on a person (and those around them) and what an undesirable characteristic it is (ie. Crabby woman = Drippy faucet, better to live alone in an attic or desert than with a complaining wife!) Unfortunately fretting is something I have always struggled with so these past months have been perhaps even harder for me in this area. It’s so difficult to keep my mind focused on what is true and actually going on right this moment, today, rather than worrying about what “might or might not” happen tomorrow, next week or next year! The last thing I want to do is be a discouragement to Nathan and a negative influence on my children because I am not choosing to live out moment to moment the trust I proclaim to have in my God and His plan for me and my family. I do struggle with this daily, but am SO thankful for the reminder to CHOOSE to live out what I say I believe. OH how I daily (momentarily!!) need for my heart to be “settled down,” grounded in my Savior’s peace and faithfulness. I just love the way this passage of scripture is written here, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7
PRAISES
- Nathna has moved beyond needing the bigger, restrictive leg brace!
- Continued improvement with Nathan’s arm
- Continued slow, but steady improvement with reading and speech
- Children have been adjusting well
- Nathan’s parents will be back soon to spend some time with us!
- So grateful for many, many encouraging people in our lives!
PLEASE PRAY WITH US
- Continued improvement with walking, right ankle and foot control
- Continued improvement with arm/wrist/hand/fingers (particularly being able to bend wrist and grasp with fingers – hold a guitar pick!!!)
- Continued and even accelerated improvement with speech and reading
- Travel plans and “on the road” school and therapy for the kids and Nathan during our vacation
- For spiritual growth and encouragement for Nathan during this time of difficulty communicating.
“Suffering is not punishment; it is a work of grace meant to produce eternal fruit. God is preparing us for eternity.” – Joey Johnson
“God will never lead you where His strength cannot keep you.” – Barbara Johnson
Beth Shoultz
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vRTMoYVC6lw
