Day 43.1

Hello guys,

Today was an excellent day for Phil.  Early in the day his speech therapists Tristen re-evaluated Phil on the JFK Scale.  She said Phil jumped up to a 14 on the scale while last week he was at a 10.  This is great news.  Tristen talked to us later in the day and told us the reason he jumped up because he responded to sound more, meaning he would turn his head to a voice or a sound out in the hall.  Of course there are other things, but this is a very important part of recovery.  The JFK scale goes to a 23 and Phil needs to reach about a 20 before they can start regular rehab with him.  When he got here he was a 6, so he has jumped 8 steps in three weeks, and he has four weeks left if the PREP program.  On the Rancho scale Phil is a 3 and needs to be a 4 for regular rehab.

As you heard Phil had some apple sauce in Speech therapy and drank some water from a cup.  The drinking was good because it showed us he had the muscle to close his lips around the cup to drink.  He still needs to build those muscles more, so practice is good.  Tristen told us tomorrow he will be served breakfast, pureed style.   In OT Phil was set up on a mat and Vanessa worked on getting him to look up with his head, and talk a bit.  Phil has been doing better holding his head up and is working on getting it higher.  He did get some words out, though not all of them are clear.  I was glad to see Vanessa working with him because she was working hard and loved doing a little extra work with him.  She said afterward, “This is the fun part, when they get better.”  I can tell she really enjoys her job and loves her patients.

Other than that, Phil has become a bit agitated recently, which is hard to watch, but it is a sign that he is waking up more, which is a great sign.  We are happy for that and ask that you continue to pray for peace for Phil along with a full recovery.  Other news is that the family is starting to look for other places to stay for the weeks that we will be here without an apartment provided for us.  Pray for guidance for our decision and that God provides a good place for us.

Thanks you all for praying and loving us in our time of need.  Keep loving Jesus, he’s coming for our souls.

Day 43.0

This text just in from my momma who is with Phil in Speech Therapy. “Phil just are 2 bites of applesauce! He also swallowed 3 sips of water with the ST.”

Celebrate with us friends, Phil is back to his favorite activity….eating.

His therapist ordered him breakfast tomorrow morning. Pureed Meat, Eggs, Yogurt, and more Applesauce.

Phil will still have his feeding tube. This is just step one. As mentioned before, pray for Phil’s lip muscles. He needs to strengthen them in order to progress forward with talking.

God is so good. The Victory belongs to Jesus. Emmanuel has come. Jesus is risen. Worship  with us.

All praise to our Father, the creator of joy and good food.