Wednesday (day 97)

Good evening all. Shawna had a very good day today. Deb practiced with Shawna last night to help her to be ready for the assesment from Chedoke today. The physio therapist came in just before the assesment to work with Shawna. She impressed them all. She moved her right leg consistently when she was in sitting position, also a little bit on her left leg. She showed a very strong right arm. The most impressive feat though was when she was sitting on the edge of the bed without a neck brace. She maintained that position unsupported for over one minute. This was a huge improvement from last week when she could only maintain that position for 5 seconds. When she sits like that her eyes are open wide in concentration. She has very strong back, leg, and abdominal muscles(even after the incision). After the assesment there was a conference in which Deb was told Shawna would be going to Chedoke mid-May depending on if other patients do not become infection free who are ahead of Shawna in line. Shawna continues to swallow small amounts of water from ice chips successfully without choking. She has also been able to make very loud noises when her throat is wet. She's been practicing that quite a bit. We pray for the day she can finally talk to us as she's been trying for some time now.
The ramp into the house and interior door widening will be started soon as a quote has been accepted. We have been again so richly blessed to be able to prepare for Shawna's eventual homecoming. God is a gracious and compassionate Father, providing for the needs of his children in his time. We remain thankful and patient as we watch His plan unfold. Thank you again for your prayers, poems and writing. They are comforting and strenthening. Yours in Christ. Al and Deb

Sunday (day94)

Good morning all. Shawnas gone for a bath, and I finally have a few moments to post a blog. Shawna is very alert now. The physiotherapist is very pleased with her progress. He can definitely see improvements week to week. This week shawna stayed siting up unsupported for quite a few seconds. She also moved her right leg/knee on command. Just a few seconds ago when the nurse gave her a needle, she jerked with pain. That hasnt happened in quite a while. We thought she blocked out that pain as she's had so many needles. Now she's resting peacefully as I comb out the tangles in her hair. That's almost a full days work in itself. We hope to celebrate Deb's birthday in the sunroom with Shawna this afternoon. Preparations are ongoing at the house to make sure we are ready for her at the earliest possible time. Shawna is still doing well without any antibiotics. She's definitely getting stronger and her white blood count is still progressively going down. While reading with Shawna this morning we were strengthened by the words of Romans 8: 18ff. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us". Many times we get caught up in the day to day things and loose focus on our goals. We must run the race with the conviction that nothing will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We wish you a blessed Lord's Day of praise and worship. Al and Deb

Wednesday (day 90)

Good evening all. Shawna continues to improve. The improvements may be almost imperceptible but they are mostly small differences in either response times or strength. She is definitely becoming stronger and faster with working her individual fingers on her right hand. She also moves a couple of fingers on her left hand and moves her left leg now. On Sunday one of the nurses brought in a very special visitor. A cocker spaniel puppy. Shawnas smile was almost instantaneous as we brought the puppy within her vision. We tried to open her hand to touch the puppy but she was too excited and trying to grab it and could only brush against it. This type of therapy is the very thing Shawna volunteered for doing with elderly patients last year. She really enjoyed bringing some joy into their lives with these visits. I guess the volunteering is returned with equal results. Shawna had a cold and a fever last monday and as a result a barage of tests and chest exray were ordered. She seems to have fought it off and is not coughing any more. To date she is still infection free and not receiving antibiotics. This is a very good developement and now an assesment has been arranged by a doctor at Chedoke for April 30. We continue to be upheld by the loving arms of our Father and strenghthened by His Holy Spirit through the communion of Saints as many continue to pray for Shawna and our family. We continue to be thankfull for the many gifts of meals and assistance for renovations and all the wonderful friends and family who have donated their time in watching over Shawna while we can't be there. May God graciously continue to bless Shawna with his healing mercies. Al and Deb

Sunday (day 87)

Good Morning all. We've been enjoying some beautiful spring days. Shawna as well has been able to be outside during her times in her wheelchair. Once she actually had too much sun and got a wee burn on her hand. She is continuing to move her arm and fingers. Grandma Bethlehem has been coming in regularly in the mornings to help Shawna with using the mini keyboard she paractices using fingers one by one to press the keys. Sometimes we think she is sleeping but she's deep in concentration to move her fingers individually. She has to move them off the keyboard to facilitate the next note so it is quite a bit of excercise for her hand. Her other fingers on her left hand move when she tries hard to move the ones individually on her right hand. There is some action going on within her brain mapping how to use her left side. Right now she is listening to a sermon from a couple of weeks ago. It is beautiful to see her reaction to congregational singing and the message of Rev Mulder. She is at peace and listening intently. There is another good development that Shawna no longer gets any antibiotics and from all her test results is at present infection free. That is an important step in getting into the rehab facility at Chedoke. Some small renovations are underway at our home to accommodate her homecoming. We had to shuffle all of our children from one room to another to facilitate Mom and Dad to be in the room on the main floor next to Shawnas proposed room. I don't know if I'm liking it too much going from a room 20' x 14' to a room 11' x 12'. I'll have to get rid of a lot "stuff" but that may be a good thing! Quotes are being received to build a ramp and widen two interior doors and renovate our bathroom into a wheelchair bathroom. It is a beautiful that our Father has so richly blessed us that we can begin to prepare for Shawna to come home. Even if its only for a couple hours a week at first and then weekends while she is in therapy at Chedoke. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Have a blessed day of praise and worship. Al and Deb

Wednesday (day 83)

Good evening all. Shawna continues to have small improvements. On Sunday she was able to participate in a bridal shower for one of her friends. They socialized and sang around the piano for quite some time. Shawna was very stimulated by the comradery and singing. The next day she had to trip to the General for a CT scan which showed that most of the swelling is gone which can be seen by a layer of water on the outside of the brain within the skull walls. The central ventricles are still quite large but seem to be shrinking as well. It was determined that no further operation would be required except for the skull flap reinsertion. Shawna has been moving her right arm a lot up and down and away from her torso. These movements are completely voluntary and easily done on command. She also can move her right leg on command. The left side seems to be a lot slower. I have seen her move her left leg tonight but not the same amount as the right. This is due to the fact that her upper right side of the brain was badly damaged. All her extremities moved perfectly and in unison when she stretched though which is a good sign that all the muscles are connected to the brain. Shawna just has to remap their location. My mom thought it would be a good idea to bring in a mini keyboard for shawna to try for exercising her fingers. It worked marvelously. She enjoyed pressing the keys. Apparently she was quite good with her index and pinky fingers of her right hand. The other fingers are not quite as dextrous but should be able to develope over time. Again we have been richly blessed by our Father. Tonite when reading sciptures I was reminded of Job who lost all he owned even his children. If that wasn't bad enough his wife and friends wanted him to turn away from God. Some friends! We are assured that even though our friends may fail and leave us God will never fail us. Although we miss the normal relationship we had with our darling Shawna and her infectious spirit we have been strengthened by God's Word and Spirit and supported by His Communion of Saints. He has never left us and shows us the path marked out by His Son. Thankyou for your prayers and messages. Al and Deb

Sunday (day 80)

Ps. Thanks to the violinist and bassist who gave Shawna a beautifull afternoon concert on Friday. It was most appreciated

Sunday (day 80)

Good morning all. It was a rather tiring day yesterday as Deb has a cold and I'm pulling the double duty. I waited for posting till this morning. Shawna continues to improve albiet slowly. We've had contact from the Community Intervention Co-ordinator at Chedoke who asked us to call back in a couple of weeks on how Shawna is doing. This is especially concerning infections and whether she is clear of them. Although Shawna is not at the top of the list when a bed becomes available and she is free of infections they will come to Dunnville to asses her. The coordinater told us to go ahead with the house modifications because everthing has to be in place since they will teach us how to take complete care of Shawna for the weekends as they would like to see her go home on weekends. People have been down to measure,design and quote on various alterations so there is some movement in that respect. Shawnas blood was tested again on Friday and her white blood count has decreased significantly. She is moving her legs more and more and moves her right arm up and down when asked. Its slow but there is movement and wait time for responses is decreasing. She mouthed and swallowed succesfully her first two teaspons of chocolate milk yesterday at lunch and her smile was instantaneous...she's a huge chocolate fan! Shawna is having an easier time sleeping with her head turned left which is a very good sign about brain swelling. She will be away to Hamilton most of this coming Monday to get a new CT scan and appointments with Drs. Wells, Sne, and Saddler. She also has an easier time sleeping with her feet casts on for 24 hrs now as there have been no pressure points detected and her ankles forms are being maintained. In two weeks she will go for the next set at Chedoke. These are all small blessings but blessings none the less as our Father continues to provide for Shawna. We are so thankful that we can see some light now in the tunnel towards getting Shawna home. We continue to be thankfulk and upheld by your prayers, cards, giftn and messages. God bless you all and may he give you a blessed day of praise and worship. Al and Deb

Wednesday (day 76)

Good evening all. Shawna continues to improve by God's grace. The improvements don't seem to be as noticeable. We have to concentrate real hard now as to what she hasn't done. She seems to swallow quite well now its almost back to the point where it is a reflex action. I've only been giving her small amounts of water and ice chips. Shes been bribed that if she gets good at it the next thing is choclate pudding. Our nurse is currently trying to contact a music therapist who was recommended by a blog reader (thanks a bunch). Shawna went on tuesday(rather unexpectedly for us) to get her first serial casts which are removable. Its a bit of a pain at first because they are on for an hour off for a half untill they are sure there is no pressure points and then they stay on for 24 hour stretches. The physiotherapist continues to work with her here and is getting good results. He is very pleased with her right arm strength and asked us to now keep working with her left arm to get it to the same condition. Shawna has moved her thigh muscles and calves and feet voluntarily. We have also seen her stretch which moved almost all her muslcles including lifting her arms off the bed. That was very exciting! One of the physiotherapists at Chedoke spoke with Deb about Shawnas possible stay at chedoke and explained the various ways they would stimulate her. When she spoke about strapping Shawna on a bycicle which would at first turn the pedals for her till her reflexes took over, Shawna was wide awake staring at the lady as she was explaining the proceedure. Deb says Shawna smiled after being told that. I know she's put many miles on her bike in the past even going several times from dunnville to Hamilton for school. Getting the house ready to have her home may have taken on a new angle if she goes to Chedoke as they have said they would teach us to how to take care of her on the weekends and would like to send her home on the weekends. This was beautiful news to us. It may still be quite a while but Chedoke said they would rather see her sooner than later as she is starting to connect with her muscles. We continue to pray that all the infections will be gone as that is the thing that will stop her from going there. What blessings we receive from God's hand each day. We continue to be amazed by His work in Shawna and we continue to stand by her supporting and nuturing her as she continues to improve. Thankyou for your continued prayers and messages. Al and Deb

Saturday (day72)

Good evening all. Again we are able to tell you Shawna is improving. Although her appointments were cancelled on Thursday due to transportation issues we continue to do physio with her ankles to keep their form without the benefit of casting splints. They were going to make molds of her feet so they could make half casts which could be removed for certain durations. The appointments will be rescheduled. Shawna moves her right arm quite well now and her physiotherapist asked her and received 90 degrees of movement not once but six times yesterday. He was very excited about her responses. Shawna's case file has been transfered to another doctor and now she has been placed in the "slow to recover" program. Apparently there is some movement in the program and they will come to asses Shawna when a bed comes available to see if she can go to Chedoke. We are hoping she will be quite alert by that time so she can get the most out of her stay there. Shawna has been very stimulated by music especially the piano playing by Johnathan Kingma and Deanna Oosterhoff. She moves her mouth and smiles and seems like she's chewing gum the whole time. This is a sign she is stimulated by music. Our nurse is hiring a music therapist to work further with her to see what can be further enhanced. Through massage and heat we have managed to get most of the knot out of her neck muscle and thereby assist her to be able to sleep with her head leaning left. Our insurance has assesed our home with the view to being able to have Shawna home for a couple of hours a week in the future (could be a month or so yet). These are all beautiful bessings we continue to receive from God's hand. We continue to pray for His healing of Shawna and also ask for strength to continue to care for our family. Thankyou for your prayers and caring words. God bless you all and give you a blessed Sunday of praise and worship. Al and Deb

Wednesday (day 69)

Good evening all. Sorry for the late post. I got caught up reading a novel after reading with Shawna this evening. She continues to improve steadily. Not speedily but steadily. No new infections have shown up as a result of some testing. That is a blessing as her body continues to heal. The nurses have now been able to treat the thrush in her mouth as she relaxes her jaw muscles quite a bit now. She has also been able to disolve ice chips in her mouth and swallow the water residue. She enjoys this quite a bit and smiles a lot when she swallows succesfully. Shawna has been resting her head in one position for the past 9 weeks and as a result has quite a bunched neck muscle which we are now massaging to encourage her to rest on the other side. She continues to rest on her right side as that is the side of the brain which still showed some swelling several weeks ago. It gives her less pressure to rest on that side. Shawna goes to Chedoke Orthodics tommorrow to start the serial casting for her feet and we hope the visit may be combined with an ABI assesment. Shawna is well tended to by her loving nurses who call her their princess. We also have a tremendous amount of family and freinds support to watch her in the late hours of the night. Thankyou all. Above all we remain thankfull to our heavenly father for his continued care over Shawna and our family as we continue on the path he has chosen for us. Al and Deb