First off, Rachael has been working so hard. Anyone involved with Rachael at the Shepherd Center is encouraged and motivated by Rachael’s desire to work. There are times where she is near tears working out some of the activities in occupational and physical rehab. The first time she supported weight on her arms, holding her torso up at a table, YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT she could only do it for 10 minutes. By week’s end now she did it for almost an hour! Not only that, things like how she should place her feet, one day it takes her a few minutes, within the week it is nearly instantaneous! She is standing even taller now with the aid of gear but holding the weight on her foot! Look how tall she is now!
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Rachael, sitting up at the table, head up and supported by her arms.[/caption]Today she had a speech therapist review her for communications gear. Rachael is not yet able to form many words. She works very hard to do so but the words don’t make it from her head to her mouth. She is always VERY patient with us figuring out what she says. Sometimes she just makes a noise to mess with me as I run down a list of questions only to find out from her guffaw that there was nothing said in the first place. She did this at night when she was not ready to go to bed. Upon her return home we will be contacting a company about her gear for communications
Nancy is doing great. She made it home for the weekend to take Hanna to Secret Keeper Girls http://secretkeepergirl.com/ at Sarasota Baptist. It was great for Nancy and Hanna. On this night they dispelled many of the lies young girls buy into. They talked about modest attire, how Hollywood makeup fakes such a huge difference by showing stars with and without makeup. They demonstrated the Photoshop modifications done on pictures of celebrities to remove wrinkles, weight and other things. Hanna came back so enthused. It really reinforced what we have been training her up on and provided encouragement to her that we are not “uptight parents” but really care that she continues to present herself as a child of God and not a victim of fashion. Now if Walmart would sell modest clothes instead of summer shorts that might as well be underwear! Pay more for less at Walmart.
Thanks to Mary and Mark for endevouoring to take care of Rachael for the time Nancy was gone. I know she enjoyed her fudge icecream brownie thing from Chille's.
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Rachael standing with the aide of gear. She does not yet have the 'core strength' to support herself standing.[/caption]Hanna and I will leave Thursday and head out to Atlanta with Aunt Mary’s car. ROAD TRIP!! Mary lives in NC and we are saving her the trip back down here just to go back up there. Nancy, Rachael, Hanna and I will travel back to Venice.
So to all of you that have prayed, to all of you that have donated, your care is being demonstrated in Rachael’s opportunity to go to Shepherd and the amazing results! Thank you ever so much for being the vessel God used to be glorified through Rachael!
Burt
4 comments:
Who is that lady wearing shoes and standing up? Could it beeeee, Yes, its Rachael. I am so proud of you Rachael. You told me that you were going to work hard and not get discouraged and you kept your promise. Keep up the great work and I will see you soon.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine worm upon your face,
The rains fall softly upon your fields.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the heart that loves you,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen
Reading this post has brought very happy tears to my eyes. I am so proud of you Rachael. You and I had so much fun together at Word of Life and you were always encouraging me and telling me I can do it. Well Rach, it is my turn. You can and you are doing so well and I am so proud of you. I love you roommate.
I've been thinking of you today, Rachael! I am so happy to read about the progress you are making and how hard you are trying! You are an inspiration to so many people. I am thankful for the time I got to know you at Word of Life. Lots of love and hugs,
Jenn
Wow! Just read your post for the first time in wuit sometime. Surprised as a family member that I did not know of these post before. Glad to know all went well and you looked and were in good spirits lastg we saw you on July 4th. Keep up the good work.
Think of you and all your family as they go through all this together.
Love Aunt Yvonne
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