Hello Friends,

I've been going to my new program, “Fighting Back” for three weeks now, and I've been really enjoying it. It's all physical work, on balance, walking, and stretching. My energy level has improved, and been fine throughout.

I also got approved by the insurance company for 12 more weeks at Bryn Mawr Rehab for therapy. They gave me this because of my updated goals, which are to learn to use an electric wheelchair. I feel very negative about this, as I've said before, and this is because of the image it projects to people. My therapists have said that it will just be a temporary thing to gain more independence while my walking improves, but that doesn't change how I feel.

On a lighter note, my 21^st birthday is quickly approaching. I will be spending that time down on Hilton Head Island, SC, with my parents, and my aunt and uncle. I expect that this will be lots of fun.

My sister, Rose, is touring with her circus troupe across the country. Go see her if you have a chance.

She has been in Milwaukee, Chicago, New York and Detroit so far.

Josh

I have concluded my communications therapy program at Bryn Mawr Rehab and enrolled in the Fighting Back program in Malvern. Below is an interview I conducted with my CT therapist, Laura, on my last day.

What was my memory like when I first came to the Day Treatment program?

It was “severely impaired”. It was difficult for you to remember names, events, even after a short time. For example, when asked to remember three items after three minutes, you would only be able to remember one. Today you remembered all three without any problem.

You also had difficulty with orientation in time, unable to remember or keep track of the date, day of the week, year or time of day. Today you know all of that without having to refer to anything.

I know that my memory has improved since then.  How do you as a Communication Therapist measure that? 

We use standardized tests, we therapy activities, observation, and patient/family information.             

On the first day at the day treatment program, your immediate memory was in the fiftieth percentile and your recent memory was in the sixteenth percentile.

Today, your immediate memory is in the ninety-fifth percentile and recent memory is somewhere between the seventy-fifth and eighty-fourth percentile.  These tests evaluate my memory over a couple of minutes. As more time passes, I may have more difficulty.

What challenges and improvements in my memory do you see in my future?

I think that your memory will continue to improve gradually over time. I believe the more responsibility and initiation you take in your daily routine, the better your memory will become. Look for opportunities that have a routine to give your brain multiple opportunities to remember as it needs repetition right now for things to become ingrained. You must challenge yourself, really dig into your memory, going step by step if are trying to recall something.

I will be doing Fighting Back 2 days a week and waiting to hear from the insurance company regarding future therapy at Bryn Mawr.

Regards,

Josh

Hello people, it’s Josh here again, writing another entry from Speech Therapy at BMR, this time about my challenges. I’ve been thinking it over, and it doesn’t take long to figure that the most difficult part of my recovery has been my lack of a decent memory now. I’ve been told that it is tremendously better, but to me, it won’t have healed at all until its back to how it was. Right now, only 45 minutes later, I barely remember eating lunch at all. Intellectually, I know that I must have taken in some form of food, but I don’t remember doing it at all.

Along with that is remembering to use my right hand so I gain more movement with it has been very difficult for me. I've had to resort to using a glove to remind myself, and even that doesn't work sometimes.

My Long-term memory has some deficits as well, such as not being able to remember my last few years of high school or anything but some names of people from college.

If I see you, I’ll recognize who you are, the names rarely elude me. I have been thinking a lot about our yearly trips to the Farm Show lately. I’m remembering the horse pulls, and the livestock exhibitions.

Well, take care friends. I’ll be in touch.

Sincerely; Joshua

Hi. It's Josh here!

Hello everyone, this is Josh, the subject of the blog. I’ll be updating the blog from time to time..

How are you guys doing?

Please input your feeling on this, or any other matters in the comment area!

I’ve been going twice a week to rehab for therapy, which seems to be going well in my view. I’m still doing Communication Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and I do a Psychological check-up every month.

In CT, I do logical activities, and work on my memory. We are talking about taking a class online or volunteering at the rehab center, doing some computer work.

In OT, we usually play a board game or work on my right hand, regaining strength or control in it.

In PT, I work on my balance, so I can walk again on my own!

On my off days, I ride a recumbant bike, lift weights and use gaming to improve my hand / eye

coordination.

It is great to be writing my blog now. Check in from time to time and see how things are going.

Sincerely,

Josh Bonjo

August 6th, 2012

Last week, Josh was approved for 8 more weeks of therapy. This was
after the insurance company had us wait 2 weeks for a decision. While
we were waiting, Josh and Darling worked every day at home, and
actually made significant progress with his walker.

Week after week, he always shows improvement. It is hard to believe
how far he has come.

Hit Josh up on email or Facebook.  When he is not exercising, he is
guaranteed to be on some form of technology or another.

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Love,

The Bonjos

Josh made the journey to Alabama and back last week. It was a long trip, 2 hours by plane and 6 hours by car, but we made it. It's about as far south and west as you can go in Alabama. It was the first time that Josh had seen his maternal grandparents since his accident.

Luckily, we missed the floods in Pensacola that had occurred a few days earlier. The weather was warm and the sea breeze made it comfortable.

We left the wheel chair in the car most of the visit, letting Josh walk with assistance into and out of the house. Josh cleaned up winning both mega family Scrabble tournaments.

The airlines and airports were very accomodating. Everything went very smoothly.

We hope you are having a great summer. Josh would love to hear from you or see you. He is also
on Facebook daily, when he is not at day treatment.

The Bonjos

Post #105 Today is the one year anniversary of Josh's homecoming from Bryn Mawr Hospital. It is hard to believe! We wanted to say goodbye and good luck to Michele, Josh's physical therapist, who has left Bryn Mawr and moved with her husband and children to New Jersey. You will be sorely missed Michele. Michele has been an integral part of Josh's recovery in the day treatment program. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rose graduated from the Professional Training program at NECCA last weekend. Darling, Josh and I made the trek to Vermont to see her performances, which were amazing. This was also significant as it was Josh's first road trip away from home since his accident. Everything went very smoothly. In 3 weeks, we are flying with Josh down to visit his grandparents in Alabama for the first time in several years. We'll let you know how that goes. Enjoy your summer! The Bonjos