Good Morning to all.

Jim’s progress since the last Sunday’s update has changed bigger than big.

No Reason to go into many details so I will bring you the high lights. Last Monday after a very trying weekend Jim started his big changes. Jim learned to set himself up in bed, set himself on the edge of the bed, transfer himself to the wheelchair, use the restroom by himself, us a manual wheelchair ( Yepper no longer on the battery powered chair). They have moved Him out of his luxury sweet at the hospital that have a view in three different directions to a room on the second floor that he has shared now with two different patients. Yes Jim has a new room on the recovery floor.

Jim has gone from spending his day watching TV and giving the nurses a hard time to being busy from approx. 9 am  to 4 pm. This includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, lunch and several other things that keeps him active. This schedule has been good as by night time he is ready for a normal sleep like the rest of us. Jim is back to the norm of sleeping in the night rather than the day. Because of this schedule his stamina has gotten much better. Yesterday I spent from approx. 9 30 am to 7 pm with him at the hospital. He did his PT and OT, took a break, had lunch of a great looking cheese burger off the kids menu. After spending a short time watching the Olympics Jim took a shower and cleaned up. More Olympics and visit from some friends afterwards he helped me with some computer problems, what a special gift he has for that. He took something I had spent already several hours and made it happen in about an hour. After than a short break he wanted to order one of his favorite meals from Chili’s, Jenny, Sherry and I sat at a round table having dinner. This was not like normal to me, it was a very special moment and shows how far Jim has come in a very short time. Jim did very well and only showed at a couple times a shortness of breath.

With already what you have read you would think that is enough for a action packed week. Nope would be my response. Sometime Tuesday or Wednesday the PT gal asked Jim to set himself up in bed, get in the wheel chair and visit the Phy. Therapy gym area. While there she asked him to pull himself up at the walking bars. He did that so well she asked him to take a step with support around him. That continued to taking several at the walking bars with a couple rests. When he was finished at the second pass of the bars she asked if he wanted to try the walker. Heck why stop there when you have that momentum. e H He started and after some time he had walked approx. 100ft. Hip Hip hurray!  What a day that was for Jim and Jenny. The next morning he did what might be his best feeling. He took a shower for the first time since Dec. 31st.  He shared thou sitting down while taking it what a good feeling. For some of us with the water running down our back side, well all I can say is does not get any better than this. Ha Ha.

Jim and Jenny have taken a couple trips the last two days back up to ICU to see those special caregivers. What a site they shared with us as they all had big smiles on there faces. One of them was so happy to see Jim she ran down the hall with arms open and the biggest smile on her face. If that does not make your heart race nothing will.

The goal set since mid week from the Physical Therapist was to send Jim home, ( doesn’t that sound unbelievable ) home by this Friday Feb. 24th. When I heard that mid week I thought are you kidding me. But when I seen yesterday where he is at, I believe. Believe and Succeed would be the word’s of the week. If we all Believe he will go home then he will.

Can’t say it enough, God is Great!

John

Pictures are proof!

My Story - Episode #1