It has been quite a long day for Phil today. To start the day we got up at 7:50. We got up LATE! We were going to get up at 6:30. I switched alarm clocks with Phil because mine is smaller and with all the equipment he needs to keep on his night stand it was just the logical thing to do. Except, his alarm clock does not like me, and it won’t wake me up when I tell it to. So we started the day off running with only 20 minutes to get all our morning essentials taken care of. I was sure Phil would be a mess before we even got to our first appointment. Somehow we were able to leave on time with me pulling my curlers out at the stop lights it was a bit comical around here, Phil enjoys seeing me freak out. Poor guy only got a handful of pills and a yogurt for breakfast. Phil was just fine.
Our first appointment was with the Speech Therapist. She was impressed with Phil and said his comprehension retelling a story she read to him was the best anyone had ever done for her before. She tested him on several things and only found one area that he needs to work on. Then the occupational therapist was also very impressed with his progress (She is one of the ones who almost sent him on his way to heaven in the I.C.U.) I wasn't too thrilled when I saw that she was his therapist. Anyway she was impressed with him too and thinks he will only need a month or less with her. I worked it out so that Phil will be seeing her partner next week. She is a very nice lady but she talks sooooo slow and dramatic, that it makes one crazy to be talked to that way, when their brain is working well. She wants to work with him on his kitchen skills bending over in the refrigerator and reaching shelves and the like. He is doing pretty much everything for himself that they usually help with I think she should help him with driving nails and using power tools.
Our third appointment was with Dr Ordonez. He is the man, who with Gods help saved Phil’s life. He is the Dr. I couldn't’t bear to talk with the weeks after Phil’s surgery because he was so blunt about how Phil would have a whole different life and not be able to do much if he survived the brain swelling. Well today he was a human Doctor! He was so excited to see Phil that our scheduled 15 minute appointment turned into an hour long appointment. He couldn't’t believe his eyes. He again told Phil that usually with this type of surgery one usually dies. That he only sees this kind of stroke once every 3-4 years, therefore he has only done this surgery a few times, and usually the patient dies or is badly handicap. He told Phil he was a miracle. I told Dr. Ordonez how we prayed for him all night as he worked on Phil and how he and God saved his life. He looked at me and said it was ALL GOD! That surprised me that he would say that. Although he is not the karma Dr., that doctor is Dr. Brown, we’ll see him next week or so. Dr. Ordonez reached down to help Phil get out of the wheelchair and was shocked that Phil could get out on his own and walk. He turned to me and asked how long he had been walking on his own. I told him for 3-4 weeks with someone guarding him just in case he lost his balance (which he still does some), he just beamed he was so happy. He is still very guarded in what he says about how fast and much he will recover but is looking forward to getting a new MRI scan next month. He said the first scan showed that 60%of Phil’s cerebellum was dead. And now the last one he looked at showed that now only 40% is dead it will be fun to find out what next months reveals. He told me to get Phil driving around parking lots to get some driving practice. (I’m not ready for that YET!) We will wait a little on that one, for my sanity. It will be different with a husband behind the wheel, reminding him that the break is his friend, than it was with the kids. Dr. Ordonez wants me to try to get some more protein in Phil, so if you all have any suggestions for bland protein please feel free to share your ideas with me. Phil so far today, has been able to keep the little bit of food he has eaten down. Last night after I sent the e-mail he proved me wrong about having a pretty good day that way he was pretty sick for a while. We are thankful for the great improvement he has experienced in that area the past week. We weighed him this morning, he has maintained his weight this week, no loss or gain. Well if I forgot to mention something important tonight I will tell you tomorrow.
Those of you who are praying thank you for your part in this miracle. I am overwhelmed with God’s answer to yours and our prayers. I know God answers prayers in his way and in his time. I know his answers are not always what we want to hear. That prayer is not magic. And there may be a time God chooses to answer in a different way. If he does, he promises to give us what we need for that day, not any more, not any less. Please continue to pray for us. God has a plan for Phil and our family we don’t know what that is quite yet. Phil has a long way to go. He is farther along than the Doctors dreamed he would ever be the day after his surgery. Praise God for his faithfulness to us!
Love Donna Phil Josh, Laura, Sam, Meaghan, and Matthew.