Thursday July 17 10 weeks post accident
17 July 08 - 06:24
Yesterday was wonderful! I went in the morning, Jim was up in the motorized chair with no collar! He looked so good & was so happy to have that awful thing off for good! The PT Assistant was making adjustments to the chair so Jim could "drive". And drive he did! Backed up, turned, drove down the long hall, around the corner, back up the other side & into his room! He did all this using his head - the back & sides .Different "taps" with either the back or the sides are different commands. Just to clarify, there is an extension, half-moon shaped, that cups near the back & sides of his head. Where he taps & how many taps tell the chair what to do. There is a little screen on his left side near the arm that allows him to see what mode he is in. He uses the same tapping commands to tilt back to relieve and shift pressure. This chair is amazing.
Next we went to the hospital proper - thru a tunnel, nonetheless - for the swallow test. I was able to sit in an adjoining room & watch on a computer screen as Jim swallowed different substances. She began with water & progressed thru jello, pudding, graham cracker & a pill. He passed with flying colors! In fact, the pill went down so fast we could not even see it! It only took a sip of water to completely clear the cracker. This means they can begin feeding Jim by mouth, pureed foods first & progress his diet until he can sustain his nutritional needs & get the PEG tube in his stomach removed. Thie is huge! This is a definite answer to prayer! Praise God!
Three wonderful things yesterday! How great & mighty is our God!
On another sad note, as we were waiting to go into the testing room, we heard someone crying, sobbing actually. It was one of the X-ray employees at the desk. SHe was called & told her son had been killed at work when the cherry picker fell. I do not know her name, but please lift this woman & her family up in prayer. We felt so sorry for her & her family.
God is working in Jim's life. We are seeing the evidence of God's actions in answered prayer. But God is working in other ways also, to show us ourselves, to mold & shape us into His vessel. So many things we thought of some measure of importance do not really matter anymore. Possessions do not matter; "good deeds" do not matter; being "happy" does not matter; What matters is our relationship with Jesus, our dependence on Him, our life in Him. We know God will provide.
Marilyn
three comments:
Amen, sister! God WILL provide. He is faithful and just! Remember that always! Praise God for such wonderful progress! I remain in prayer for you and Jim.
Susie
Susie Pontious Wellborn () - 17 07 08 - 07:14
Praise the LORD!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so glad that my Dad is doing better. I was concerned about the swallow test and am delighted that he passed!!!!!!!!!!! This is great news. Please continue to pray for God to to what he knows is best.
Give Dad a kiss for me and know that I think of you both everyday all day long.
Love,
Joey
Joey Merritt () - 17 07 08 - 07:48
Praise the Lord. We continue to pray for Jim daily. The words of wisdom that God is providing for both of you is amazing. As we read your heart felt words we taste of the molding and shaping God is doing in your lives. It inspires us.
In Him,
Jim Green () - 17 07 08 - 10:18
