Update on progress. May 23rd. 3 months post ASCT.
Kenneth continues to show progress. Nothing big at this point. Cognitive, fine motor and tone have shown the most improvement. Cognitively he just continues to amaze us with his skills. Although those skills could be acquired from learning in kindergarten but you never can tell. He always has done well with vocabulary and reading and is currently reading at a first grade level. He still has opportunities with a few letters like “S” and “Z”. He continues to talk, talk, and talk. Fine motor skills continue to improve. He uses his pinchers more and more when tasking with small objects instead of “palming”. He is getting better control of bicycling with his legs. Tone, huge improvement. He has not been on baclofen since February. No sign of putting him back on it either. A few weeks ago his tone seemed tighter but then loosened up again. Therapists are all very happy with Kenneth’s improvements. All in all, very pleased thus far with what and where he is in his progress.
Reyna continues to show some progress. Not as quick or as much as I would like, but some is better than none. I think her improvement is mostly cognitive. Focus, thought processing, organizational skills and balance have shown improvement. Nothing significant or perhaps very significant depending on how you look at it. From my readings, it looks like TBI patients will show slower progress if any. She believes that she has had no changes but I can see changes. She is like the energizer bunny; she just keeps going and going, from one project to the next. Pre ASCT she would not complete the projects. She would have 5 projects going on at the same time, not completing them and being frustrated. Post ASCT, she completes her projects then goes on to the next. We have seen very, very little physical improvement. I.e. use of her right hand and tone. Phone texting continues as earlier noted. Understanding that she had a great deal of damage and injury to her brain affecting those abilities, it may need more time. We are pleased with her progress thus far and hoping for continued improvement.
Like many situations, 5 steps forward – 2 back then 5 forward. Post ASCT, the forward steps are just more significant. 10 forward, 3 back then 10 forward.
What we all do, what we all strive for, why we do all the things we do can be summed up in a story told by Zig Ziglar in “How to Get What You Want”. Zig talks of a boy named David Latzy(spelling) who had CP. I find it an appropriate story for why we are all here. Finally found it…
David
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