Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tuesday March 29th, 2011


Hello Dear Friends,

Mike was away on business in San Fransisco the past week. Sorry for a much delayed written update.

Josh has continued his positive progress, labeled as "the hardest working man in rehab" by his therapists. He is still working on standing, sitting, stretching, and bending. He is playing memory games, bingo, and trivia. It is paying off! His memory improves daily, but it is still drastically dependent on his energy level. He is beginning to recall important things more reliably and refers to a journal, his memory log, many times during the day to remember the more mundane happenings.

Today, when we were trying to remember the actor from Cocoon that resembles his doctor, Dr. Long, Josh was the first to remember "Wilford Brimley"! He also knew the Flinstones address in Bedrock during a game of trivia. He has created some sand art in Recreational Therapy and is practicing some newly learned jokes with everyone here.

He and his wonderful speech therapist, Jessica, did a survey project about the seasons last week to practice conversation and interaction. Now everyone in this complex knows him by name and greets him wherever we go.

Josh has begun to move his right hand and wrist! At first it was just the thumb, now he is squeezing an exercise ball, rotating his wrist and elbow very well, and completely nonplussed by our excitement about it all. "I don't see why it is so exciting." This is a fantastic improvement and means that his right arm, so slow to wake up, has begun to recover!

Josh has begun to talk about his dreams, to show signs of his signature wit, and to initiate conversational topics. But Josh still has some questions that he asks repetitively, "How old am I?" "What year is it?" "What happened to me?" Sometimes he knows the answers already and sometimes he wings it. He has told us twice he was in a snowmobile accident and today he asked if he had been in a plane crash. Luckily, when we remind him that he has asked these questions five times in the last few minutes, he thinks it is funny.

Josh also told us today he had a dream in which "He was almost addicted to grapes!"

We are so thankful for his positive attitude and sense of humor. It is a blessing
to see him shift in one week from his first Facebook status update of "Unhappy and at Rehab" to his second, "I am remembering everything"!

A heartfelt thank you to all the extra support this last week while Mike was away. It made the week do-able for Darling, Rose, and Josh. As always, a sincere thank you to all the blog followers, comments or no comments. Just knowing that you are thinking of Josh makes us so happy!

Josh will be at Bryn Mawr Rehab at least through the end of April.

Peace Out,
The Bonjos

11 comments:

  1. Wow! Josh is amazing! Sounds like he has a wonderful support system and from the great pictures, he sure looks like he has a wonderful group of friends! That is such great news about his right arm! Keeping the prayers coming and hoping for a great outcome with his surgery on his leg.
    Shelli

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  2. Dear Mike, Darling, Josh & Rose - We continue to pray for Josh's recovery & are so thankful for the tremendous medical staff. Thank you for keeping us all posted through these wonderful updates. All our love & prayers - the Hunters

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  3. The grape part made me laugh.
    love you all!
    love,
    tara

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  4. What a great update, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to write such detail. I saw Josh's FB page and just added mine to the dozens of comments there - how lovely for FB friends to be able to interact that way as well, and send their messages so quickly. Love from all the Knapps, and talk to you guys soon!

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  5. So glad to hear the great news :) I pray daily for Josh to have a complete recovery, and he is doing it :) Gooooo Josh. Thanks for all the updates, I look forward to reading about his progress. Love to all, Judy & Kimmy

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  6. Reading this post has put a huge warm sunny light into an otherwise gloomy Pittsburgh day! I love Josh's picture - he looks so great and I think it is a very big deal, too, that he is beginning to manipulate his right hand and arm! I wish I could bring him a big basket of grapes!
    I am sending bunches of love, however! Aunt Denise

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  7. Josh addicted to grapes actually seems like a normal thing for him! He is so funny!
    Love and all good thoughts!
    Susan, John and Toshi

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  8. We are so pleased to watch Josh's continuing improvement. We keep you all in our prayers and vision of the highest good. We look forward to seeing you again,

    Blessings.

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  9. such heartwarming, wonderful & fascinating news! thank you, darling! you guys are an inspiration, truly.

    love,
    susan

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  10. omg...this is such wonderful news guys!!! sit back and be amazed...the miraculous brain. Next...ankles..it'll all work out. Thinking of you all today and everyday. A true miracle.

    cousin Dyan and the Derobas

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