Sunday ( day 251)

Good morning all. Shawna continues to improve at home. She is more alert during the day especially when she recieves therapy. For speech and language, Shawna was intensely trying to point to the yes/no cards during the session. It got to the point she was concentrating using her right arm so intensely that she was moving her left arm as well. The Speech and Language therapists(SLP) are very excited to elicit that kind of response from Shawna. It shows she is intent on trying to communicate. The occupational therapists(OT) also is very excited to work with Shawna as she tries to use her hands in small exercises used to promote agility in her hands. One small detail but also a very significant development is that the OT hired a new assistant to work with her who would be attending to Shawna's case. This assistant is one of Shawna's close friends, Rachel Vandenbos who competed with Shawna a couple of years ago in the SOSA Badminton tournament. They were quite a formidable pair. We look forward to working with her. Shawna's music therapist also continues to gain ground with her using music for non musical goals. Shawna tries to sing along with the familiar songs and tries to strum her fingers on a small tambourine. The physio therapist (PT) also has seen some gains which make him reasses the equipment he has ordered for her to use. He was in on Wednesday to asses and train family on the finer aspects of Shawnas requirements for physio. When he was showing us how to use the stand up table he loaned us, he showed me how to position shawna standing against her bedroom door. She stood so beautifully on her own and had great side to side balance and strength that he thinks the standing frame he ordered for her will be obsolete for her soon. He will look into another machine to facilitate better strengthening exercises. Its a good thing I'm a tall and fairly strong person to lift Shawna from her wheelchair and gently support her during this exercise. She holds her knees and hips very rigid and I have to watch closely for fatigue as she stands this way for 10 to 15 mins. We will post some pictures of her standing against her door soon. It was truly a beautiful and happy occasion. One small step to walking again. Another important development at home is her ability to use the moto-bike that came for her on Friday. We tried it on Saturday and she continues to cycle as she did at Chedoke, but she now can hold on and use the arm training cycle. This was something she could not do two weeks ago and now she can do it by herself without the motor assistance. It was amazing to see her arms cycling in good form with the wrists and hands bending properly and perfect 50/50 symmetry. She almost does it better than cycling with her feet! We continue to receive these blessings with thanks to our Heavenly Father and look to him for our daily needs. Shawna was able yesterday to attend her sister, Jessica's graduation from Guido. Although we sat quite far back we had a great view of the event and Shawna enjoyed it immensely. When we got home today she was full of smiles and laughter. It was also beautiful that she could be out and among so many of our brothers and sisters who constantly were amazed at how beautiful she looked and commented on how much she has improved. For Shawna that is very stimulating to hear and helps her continue to persevere. We thank you for those comments. We also continue to thank the readers for their prayers and support for we know we have received many blessings from those prayers. Al, Deb, Shawna and family