10-7 (TGIF - in more ways than just one)

NO MORE Seraquel !!!! We are Ritalin only, with a multi-vitamin in the morning.

Today was the day for our first big meeting with the teams at CNS. To the best of my ability, here are their reports:

PT (Physical Therapy) - Physically good, but balance under the norm for his age. Seems uneasy up and down steps. Right side seems to respond slightly slower than the left. That is a starting point for working, since there is an opportunity to re-learn.

OT (Occupational Therapy) - TESTS NOT COMPLETE. Multi-tasks are difficult and severely deficient. Motor control and initiation are slightly under normal.  Fine motor skills are improving, but also severely deficient. He is improving drastically in his dexterity, but prefers to use a vise-style grip rather than a fist grip with his right hand when doing things with it abstractly.

He does not distinguish between sharp and dull in his lower extremities, but both are considered pain. This hypersensitivity is a positive, because he can be desensitized to the point of realizing the difference. Having no feeling would be worse, because without feeling there can be no goal.

He cannot identify hazards in a picture, but when asked why the object is a hazard can explain it. This shows that connections to learned responses are present, just not accessible through visual identification. Here is another opportunity for re-learning. 

Assistance in prompting produces progress in his ADL (autonomic daily life) tasks, but we reported that his morning routine is inconsistent between aides. CNS is going to help us by creating an AM checklist so that all our aides will approach Isaac with a more independent-oriented goal in the mornings.

NP/SP (Neuropsych/Speech) - TESTS NOT COMPLETE. He has the vocabulary of an 18 year old, but his writing is very slow. (but chooses to be near perfect in what is written) Math ability appropriate, so far. Definite intelligence in the thoughts behind the core academic abilities, but the opportunity is to help him become comfortable enough to start evoking the memories of the learned academic areas, rather than reacting to prompts for information. Little funny story. He is slow at math, but the teacher said it was because he doesn't do the problems on the sheet......he does them in his head!

Warning Sign - Isaac is learning to use the "blank stare" as a crutch when he thinks he can bend the rules and get away with it. Smart boy!

Speculative Conclusions
How long yet?
Isaac is just past the first month of recovery, and has come mostly back in body and soul. The mind is still progressing. We are anticipating he will continue on this path for the next two months, and that he will be in-patient at CNS for those two months. Over that time we hope to begin reintegrating him to the family routine, using longer and longer outings, until it is time for him to transition back to the house for out-patient therapy.

What goals does CNS have for him?
They want to ensure he gets as much recovery as possible in the first three months of post traumatic care. This is due to the curve starting to plateau after that time in many of the cases. They would like to reintegrate him into his same grade, with his same abilities, and with as much opportunity as his peers as possible. They are optimistic that this progress is an indication that "could" happen, but as practitioners are prevented from actually saying it will happen because we never know.

What do we want before Isaac transitions home?
We want to make sure Isaac is self aware to the point of understanding what is a danger to him, and what dangers he must look out for in his daily life. We must put his understanding of safety above the rest, because he will have times when he will need to be self-sufficient. Dad and Mom will probably have breakdowns forcing ourselves to back off and let him prove he can do it, but that is our desire.

Secondly, we want to increase his mental functions as close to normal as possible. He already shows he is intelligent inside there, and we are waiting for him to find the proper key to unlock those functions and process faster.  If so, Isaac can then learn how not to be a danger to himself accidentally.


This evening
Cousins of both Isaac's age and their parents (close to our age) came in from Oklahoma to see him. We played and showed them around while Mom and Dad had discussions with the adults. Great conversation with them and his parents. (my wife's aunt and uncle) We haven't seen them in awhile, and it was great to get to sit and talk with their family. They are blessed, and we love them dearly.

Jackie's mom came in to relieve us so we could both attend the homecoming game for our senior. That is one of the most important things I see during this crazy time. We HAVE to maintain our bonds with all the family members, if not more so, to remain a coordinated team effort moving forward together.


Isn't love great???

Overall, we think (from the progress already realized) we will have another couple months of inpatient, then several months of outpatient (but during this time would return to school on a limited basis). The figure that kept popping up is about 9 months of rehab in one form or another to get all the Isaac ism's covered, intact, and Isaac back in business again.

Forgive the optimism, but that glass is MORE THAN half full, IMHO!!

Ok, lights are going out behind my eyelids. Good night!

May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious to us. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon us,and give us peace! Amen!