Tuesday, June 20, 2006
New Digs
Dad and mom made the trip to Galveston yesterday. Dad traveled via ambulance, with mom following along. They made is safely amid all of the bad weather yesterday morning.
I spent the weekend in Corpus and was able to spend most of that time with dad. On Saturday, I was able to watch his physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions for the first time. He has some limited movement in his right leg and foot and much of the exercises are designed to expand his range of motion and increase his strength and stamina. He has been working hard during his therapy sessions and it has been paying off. On Sunday, he was moving his hand back and forth across a table. This was the first time he has been able to move his hand or arm. He is still having some trouble finding the words to say what he wants say. He has made a lot of improvement in this area, but it is still frustrating for him.
As I’ve previously mentioned, the Transitional Learning Center at Galveston (www.tlcrehab.org) is a residential facility which provides survivors of brain injuries, strokes, etc. with special rehabilitation services that will assist in reentry to normal daily living. The living facilities are essentially like a college dorm room and dad will have a roommate. Upon check-in yesterday, there were 28 residents, approximately half of which were younger and had been in some kind of accident. There were about seven men who are dad’s age and have had a stroke. We are hoping that he will be able to make some friends and find some inspiration among those people who are further along in their recovery.
On Thursday, it will have been four months since dad’s stroke. He has been in a hospital for the entire time. The TLC will be a completely new setting for him as it is a residential facility and not a hospital. As the TLC staff is experienced in providing rehabilitation services specifically designed for people in situations like dad’s, we’re hoping for a positive response to the new therapy methods and an overall rapid recovery. We are pleased with his progress so far, but we are obviously hoping that the change in scenery will spur further improvement.
Please pray that dad will do well in his new surroundings and respond positively to the therapy. As mom went back to Corpus last night, please pray that he will get along without her being there basically all the time. Mom will go to Galveston on the weekends and I am planning on going down there one evening a week and at least once each weekend.
My mom has been by my dad’s side through this entire experience and she is having a hard time being away from him during the week. She is working through the summer and will officially retire from the Education Service Center at the end of August. She begins her new job at ACU at the beginning of September. In addition to this, we are in the process of getting the house ready to sell. Please pray that she will know that we have made the best decision for dad, be able to complete her retirement paperwork, get the house ready to sell, be able to function at work and just be at peace.
If anyone would like to send cards, for the time being, dad’s new address is:
John Maxwell
Transitional Learning Center at Galveston
1528 Postoffice Street
Galveston, Texas 77550
I spent the weekend in Corpus and was able to spend most of that time with dad. On Saturday, I was able to watch his physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions for the first time. He has some limited movement in his right leg and foot and much of the exercises are designed to expand his range of motion and increase his strength and stamina. He has been working hard during his therapy sessions and it has been paying off. On Sunday, he was moving his hand back and forth across a table. This was the first time he has been able to move his hand or arm. He is still having some trouble finding the words to say what he wants say. He has made a lot of improvement in this area, but it is still frustrating for him.
As I’ve previously mentioned, the Transitional Learning Center at Galveston (www.tlcrehab.org) is a residential facility which provides survivors of brain injuries, strokes, etc. with special rehabilitation services that will assist in reentry to normal daily living. The living facilities are essentially like a college dorm room and dad will have a roommate. Upon check-in yesterday, there were 28 residents, approximately half of which were younger and had been in some kind of accident. There were about seven men who are dad’s age and have had a stroke. We are hoping that he will be able to make some friends and find some inspiration among those people who are further along in their recovery.
On Thursday, it will have been four months since dad’s stroke. He has been in a hospital for the entire time. The TLC will be a completely new setting for him as it is a residential facility and not a hospital. As the TLC staff is experienced in providing rehabilitation services specifically designed for people in situations like dad’s, we’re hoping for a positive response to the new therapy methods and an overall rapid recovery. We are pleased with his progress so far, but we are obviously hoping that the change in scenery will spur further improvement.
Please pray that dad will do well in his new surroundings and respond positively to the therapy. As mom went back to Corpus last night, please pray that he will get along without her being there basically all the time. Mom will go to Galveston on the weekends and I am planning on going down there one evening a week and at least once each weekend.
My mom has been by my dad’s side through this entire experience and she is having a hard time being away from him during the week. She is working through the summer and will officially retire from the Education Service Center at the end of August. She begins her new job at ACU at the beginning of September. In addition to this, we are in the process of getting the house ready to sell. Please pray that she will know that we have made the best decision for dad, be able to complete her retirement paperwork, get the house ready to sell, be able to function at work and just be at peace.
If anyone would like to send cards, for the time being, dad’s new address is:
John Maxwell
Transitional Learning Center at Galveston
1528 Postoffice Street
Galveston, Texas 77550
# posted by Marcus @ 3:00 PM 
