June 26, 2007 Update

Hello everyone this is Susan. Luke is finally home after almost 9 weeks in the hospital. It's so good to have him home and feel like our family life is now returning somewhat back to normal. He goes back to Mercy Hospital on Tuesdays and Thursday for outpatient therapy. When at home, he is very busy doing all kinds of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. He told me today that he wanted to go the whole day without using the wheelchair, but just use the walker. He did it! Since he doesn't have balance yet, we need to assist him with the walker, acting as spotters. At home he is also riding a recumbant exercise bike, doing a variety of core strengthening exercises on the floor and on an exercise ball, hand exercises, facial exercises, speech exercises, vision exercises, and pool therapy. The pool is a great place to relearn to walk because he can't fall and get hurt. He still has the numbness on the left side, although he thinks he is starting to be able to feel deep pressure and some tingling at times. His left hand is still difficult to use, he still has the double vision, ringing in his ears, not much hearing in one ear, and the right side of his mouth and face are numb and not yet working. Also his lack of balance is a big issue. These are definitely some big challenges still to be overcome, but he is truly making good progress! When we remember what his initial deficits were and how much he has overcome since April 14th, we are so thankful -- he has come incredibly far since then. Just a month ago he could barely sit up in bed for a minute or two. We are so proud of his efforts to recover from this!

His history teacher Nolan Dunkly has volunteered to come to the house twice a week this summer to help Luke finish chemistry class -- a tall order for a history teacher! Another example of someone who cares about Luke and is going out of his way to help. We are so thankful to have such good friends.

Thank you also to Steve's Pizza for their terrific fund raising event, and to the Sacramento Men's Senior Baseball League for theirs too. So many great people worked to put these events on to benefit Luke and help in his recovery needs. Thank you all so very much.

Thank you everyone for the dinners that continue to come to our home 3 evenings a week, you don't know how much this helps me! Thank you to those who have helped me so much with Abbie, Clay and Nic. Thanks to so many friends who continue to come visit Luke. A very special thank you also to some friends who have been incredibly generous to Luke and our family -- Joe and Lynn Havorka, Tim and Bonnie Cavanaugh, Mike and Kathy Nelson, Brad Harlow and SPC Distributors. You went way above and beyond. We are grateful to have friends like you.

Lastly, thank you all for your continued prayers during this time. God is answering! Luke is making great progress! Please keep them up!

God bless,
Susan and Tom