Addesa Family Update, February 2008
The weather has been a blessing recently with temps in the high
seventies. That really bodes well for Noah’s travels around
the lakes in our neighborhood. He loves getting out and about,
and we love taking him. The other morning when I came downstairs
to relieve Lisa so she could go for her morning walk, I noticed
Noah’s legs somewhat strewn about the bed. We both paused
for a moment and noted that it was not long ago when Noah’s
legs stayed exactly where you positioned them as he retired for
a night’s sleep. Now he moves them about throughout the
night. Once again, there is no clinical data (we know of) that
can decipher these changes. Our conclusion is that it is an augury
of things to come.
There is an uncertainty developing over some physical changes
Noah is experiencing. We have noted months of continued improvement
in his muscle tone and his stiffness related to dystonia. However,
in recent days Noah is beginning to experience increased stiffness
and soreness in his legs. The therapists are indicating that Noah
may be growing and if so, these growth spurts (with the bones
and muscles growing) can produce an increase in these symptoms.
We are trying to figure out a method to weigh Noah and to measure
him accurately. The latter problem can be worked out but his weight
remains a mystery. Both of those combined can give us an indication
that he is in fact experiencing muscular/skeletal growth. If anyone
in our area has any ideas on how we can weigh Noah, please let
us know. We can take him back down to CKKD as a last resort. However,
we would rather try to find a more local solution. That will help
the doctors determine if he needs modifications in his medications.
On a recent rehab session, Noah was down on the floor with the
two therapists rolling him over on his side. They then proceeded
to ask him to roll back on his back unassisted. Once again, for
someone like me who is healthy, nothing spectacular; for Noah,
however, that is another complex motion that requires a lot of
muscle/brain interaction. With a whirlwind of cheers erupting,
I knew he had conquered something!
One day I may be able to capture on video some of the antics of
my family as they are engaging Noah in “crazy behavior.”
His Aunt Rebecca is visiting with us again for the week, and it’s
not unusual for this beautiful, young, refined lady to somehow
morph into this zany character who dances about the room like
a level one ballerina. This triggers a chain reaction with the
rest of the Addesa women, resulting in a scene that rivals a top
flight Hollywood sitcom. I’m wondering if the neighbors
understand?
Proverbs 17:22 "A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful
mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
I am truly grateful for such a spirit in this house. It is medicine
to my heart…..and I am confident to Noah’s as well.
_______________________________
Last Updated: Feb 8, 2008 at 3:49pm
Next update will be posted Feb 15, 2008 by 4:00pm
As I begin this week's update, I find
myself sitting in the Founders Inn here in Virginia Beach surrounded
by thousands of people who are filled with faith and expectation
of God's goodness and power. This week marks another spiritual
milestone for this region, as we have hosted a conference called
"Thy Kingdom Come." Two of the noteworthy pastors of
global prominence
ministering here are Bill Johnson and John Arnott. Last night,
these great menof God led a time of intercession for Noah that
was amazing. John Arnott asked that we bring Noah to the meeting,
so Lisa and Emma got him ready and drove him to the Founders Inn.
This is the first public meeting Noah has been in since his lightning
strike. He was really blessed. No, I take that
back. We all were really blessed. I expect even more advancement
in Noah's journey.
Notes from Noah's therapists:
Noah is standing in the stander in a more upright position for
longer periods of time. My observations with this process are
that as his stamina increases, the duration of his standing will
increase.
Noah is rolling with more power and responding to cues (verbal
& touch) to initiate these motions.
Noah sounds like he is saying "Hannah," so we are trying
to teach him more two syllable words with the "ah" sound
(such as Emma).
Noah sits in the wheel chair without pillows now, because his
trunk is increasing in strength and is better able to stay upright
on his own.
During one of the conference sessions
today Bill Johnson was noting that some medical centers around
the world now incorporate "laughing centers" to enhance
the healing and recovery of patients. Though there apparently
is not
a lot of empirical evidence of the healing virtue of laughter,
there appears to be measurable improvement in patients who laugh
on a more regular basis. No surprise to Solomon as he wrote three
thousand years ago in Proverbs 17: 22, "A happy heart is
good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken
spirit dries up the bones (AMP)." I have noted in weeks past
the ever presence of zany laughter in my house since Noah's return
to 1203 Brookside Landing. Besides all of the prayer that has
been uttered for him, it struck me last evening that my family's
billowing laughter has anointed the atmosphere with medicine that
has brought an increase to Noah's progress. I testify to this
amazing Kingdom principle at work in his life. Joy is more than
an upside frown on your face. It also incorporates sounds and
gyrations that look foolish to some, but reap a bounty of health
and healing to the soul experiencing this medicine. I encourage
you to try some of it. By the way, it is for free to the heart
that is healed and desiring more. Until next week, my love to
you all... david
_______________________________
Last
Updated: Feb 27, 2008 at 9:55am
Next update will be posted Feb 29, 2008 by 4:00pm
This
week had some momentous moments marking Noah’s journey.
On Wednesday Lisa and I took Noah to the dentist for the first
time since he was struck down on April 27th. We had concerns because
Noah began noticeably grinding his teeth after he emerged out
of his coma last summer. No one knows why he was doing that, but
we think it was an anxious display of the uncertainty of what
was happening in his life. One day he will tell us. Having said
that, the dentist said that his front cuspate was considerable
worn but the rest of his teeth were very good. She didn’t
think it would be a problem since he no longer grinds his teeth.
In addition, he had zero cavities.
Furthermore the dentist
noted that the kids who (she specializes in kids with G-tubes)
have G-tube feedings, oftentimes have serious plaque problems
because the formulas on the market can cause unspecified calcium
absorption problems. Noah’s teeth showed none of these symptoms.
Yay Noah! Besides the general cleaning they took x-rays and applied
enamel sealant on four new molars that came in. That all took
about 45 minutes in the office. I was delighted to see that he
tolerated all the lights and sounds of the dentist office very
well.
The second thing was
that Noah received his new wheel chair. It took six months since
leaving UVA Kluge to fabricate his custom chair. Up to now, we
have been using a “demo” model. I mention both of
these events because they each took two complete rehab days away
from his normal weekly regimen. Because of that Noah had only
1/3 of his usual rehab time with the therapists this week. Here
are a few comments from their charts:
“Noah
was able to actually sit upright with his legs straight out before
him on the floor for nine seconds.”
What that means is that he did not require assistance for that
period of time.
“Noah
stood for four minutes in his stander while supporting his upper
body on the plexiglas table attached to the front.”
What that means is instead of using an upper body strap to hold
him upright while in the stander, Noah has gained the strength
to support his upper body with the aid of his trunk strength.
In other words, he leans against the table with his arms allowing
him to stay upright. Another measure of victory!
In closing, I have
included a brief sound bite below for you to hear Noah actually
laughing. Please understand the madcap antics of my family have
become regular occurrences in my home. It was not rehearsed for
you to hear. I just happened to come into the room saw what was
going on and “clicked” on my cell phone recorder.
We hope it blesses you as it does us every time he erupts in laughter.
Love… david
Noah_Recording
_______________________________
Last
Updated: Feb 29, 2008 at 1:30pm
Next update will be posted March 7, 2008 by 4:00pm
It
is Friday morning about 11:00AM and I just realized that Noah’s
rehab week as been flipped around because his therapists had schedule
conflicts. Friday mornings are his usual end-of-the-week sessions
and I have the opportunity to debrief with them. This week they
came Thursday instead. I tried to call both earlier and
was not able to speak with them. That being said, I can summarize
the week as another good one from the Addesa clan. Noah is doing
well. I will be more elaborate next week with the help of his
therapists input. Thanks for checking, please keep Noah lifted
up before the Throne. His bowl keeps filling up (Revelation 5:8).
Love… david
_______________________________
Last
Updated: March 7, 2008 at 5:00pm
Next update will be posted March 14, 2008 by 4:00pm
