Addesa Family Update, October 2007
I chuckled today as I listened to Lisa recount an incident this
week with Noah & his rehab therapists. One of them has a rather
high-pitched voice at times and Lisa heard what she thought was
a scream coming from the kitchen (not a very welcomed sound in our
house these days). Well it turned out to be a burst of excitement
over Noah attempting to “right “ himself in an assisted
“stand up” exercise. At this stage of recovery standing
in a weight bearing position is very important for his brain and
his body to reconnect. Noah apparently engaged his legs and trunk
so much more than the last time that it startled her. We are believing
for many more of those moments. I'll take those kinds of screams
any day.
From the therapist’s notebook, they continue reporting that
Noah’s neck and upper body strength improves each week. On
a personal note, we have been concerned about Noah’s need
for regular dental care. The difficulty from the outset has been
his inability to open his mouth on command and keep it open for
brushing. Lisa saw great progress in that area. Up until last week
we thought he might have to be sedated to have dental work done.
However the last few days he has been able to keep his mouth open
for extended periods so that she could brush his teeth. We are no
longer planning on sedation therapy. Go Noah!
The two pictures I included from my cell phone were taken Thursday
in our home. Noah was being “fitted” for a “stander”.
This is a chair that he is transferred to from his wheel chair.
It then becomes hydraulically activated to slowly lift him to
a standing position. We can’t wait until it arrives here
in about five weeks. This was a demo. For many of you who know
Noah, I purposefully asked Lisa to stand next to him for some
perspective. If you subtract about two inches for the footpads
he is standing on, you will notice that he is almost as tall as
Lisa now.
This past weekend I called home from Vancouver BC to talk with
everyone. Lisa put the phone to Noah’s ear and I began to
talk and cajole with him in the normal dad-son bantering we have
become known for. While I was talking he started to make sounds
on the phone like the beginning sounds of laughter. He is doing
that with the girls on a regular basis now, that was however my
first experience with him laughing while I was on the phone. It
was very moving for me and even more so being thousands of miles
and three time zones removed from my miracle boy. My heart soared
in the moment.
His word of encouragement for you till next week: Psalm 91: 14
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will
protect those who trust in my name 15 When they call on me, I
will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and
honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them
my salvation.” (NLT)
The key for this reality in your life lies in verse one. I urge
you to look it up and ponder its amazing implication. Love…david
P.S. Noah's 12th Birthday is Friday, October 19, 2007. If you
would like to send him a card address it to:
Noah Addesa
1203 Brookside Landing
Chesapeake, VA 23320.
We read every card to Noah that he receives.
Last Updated: October 5, 2007 at 3:33 p.m.
Next update will be posted October 12, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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Today in our area we have finally had a welcomed touch of fall
in the air. This bodes well for the Addesa’s; as of late
the heat and humidity have hampered our anticipated walks around
the lake with Noah. Noah really enjoys his three-mile trips with
Lisa when temperatures are bearable.
Another good week has been given to us with Noah’s steady
improvements. This morning we made our first successful “transfer”
of Noah from his wheelchair to our Toyota SUV. We can now be more
spontaneous with taking him places to enjoy life away from our
home without having to rely on Medical Transport provided by Medicaid.
Though that service is intended to be an aid to families like
us, the reality is such that you usually wait until they are able
to find a vehicle to pick you up for the return trip home. Routine
doctor visit’s can turn into half-day trips. We are thankful
for the service, but rejoicing now in this anticipated independence.
As noted in other weeks, Noah’s trunk and legs continue
to become stronger. One of the reasons we are able to transfer
him to our SUV is because he can actually give us some assistance.
Culinary delights continue to provoke a very favorable response
from Noah. We recently let him try some Upstate New York MacIntosh
apples (squeezed) and he lit up with delight every time Lisa put
it in his mouth. Spaghetti was on the menu the other night (and
on my shirtJ) and Hannah began giving him sauce, which he thoroughly
enjoyed. Last night he ate a whole slice of cheesecake. I’m
jealous.
This week I wanted to see if I could let you actually hear the
sounds he is making. I am sending a voice attachment to the office
in hopes it will be able to be downloaded. What you will hear
in the sound bite is Lisa and I coaching Noah to use his vocal
chords on demand. As you will hear…he is developing greater
command of his vocal cords and our next goal will be to teach
him how to actualize phonics.
Psalm 98: 4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:
make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
We are so thankful that once again Noah can join with all of creation
in giving praise and worship to Lord our God. As thrilled as we
are about those ever-increasing noises, The Father is delighted
as they ascend to His ears as well. Love…david
Noah's_voice.wav
Last Updated: October 12, 2007 10:40 a.m.
Next update will be posted October 19, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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At this season of my life there is something about birthdays that
causes the word “remember” to echo through the labyrinth
of my thought life. Today marks the twelfth year of Noah’s
life on Planet Earth. We have so very much to celebrate. To those
of you who have graced my son with your cards and gifts we have
nothing but extreme gratefulness in our heart for your outpouring
of love and prayers. Thank you.
For me remembering is not morbid reminiscing of horrible days
gone by. It is the joyful anticipation of good things to come
based upon how good God is in every situation of my life and my
family. On the night of April 27th as I was sitting in the Philadelphia
Airport I thought the bottom had dropped out of my life because
I did not know if I would see Noah again in the land of the living.
The whisperings of the evil one delighting at the taunting of
my soul and accusing God of benign neglect combined to produce
a night so dark that is was as if I had all of hell surrounding
my being. I remember that and many many more moments of pain so
deep that I could only groan within my soul. But I don’t
live there.
All I need to do is click the previous months on this web page
and see where Noah was, to where he is today, and can see where
he will be in the future. That is where I live. Everyday only
adds to the blessing that have been abounding in the Addesa household
for six months now. On the practical side of that are some notables
for you today. His rehab PT & OT ladies said he continues
to get stronger in his upper body, and this week was the first
time he actually flexed his left bicep voluntarily. Then we had
one of those accidental moments…or should I say “
unplanned”. We were removing Noah’s leg supports from
his wheel chair preparing to put him back in his bed to rest.
If you were to walk into the room at that moment it would look
like Noah is simply sitting upright in “a” chair with
his feet slightly touching the floor. In a moment of spontaneity
Emma put a soccer ball by his right foot and said: “ Noah-boy…kick
that ball!” You guessed it; he kicked it with about a six-inch
extension of his leg in an upward motion. We looked at each other
and said something like we have said often the last few months:
“did he just do what I saw him do?” Emma rolled the
ball back over to his foot and said: “ Noah-boy kick it
again!” There it was again…his foot beginning to obey
the desires of his heart. Go Noah!
From the delectable delights corner: Yesterday Lisa was eating
a piece of watermelon and said “ summer’s over Noah
(although it continues to be pretty steamy in these parts) and
you haven’t had any watermelon”. She held up the piece
she was eating and said: “ do you want some Noah?”
He opened his mouth and proceeded to eat five pieces. Same scenario
this morning with small pieces of pancake & syrup.
In closing, I would like to wax a little personal for a moment
because I know that one day Noah will read this. “ Noah
my son, you have brought twelve years of amazing joy to my life.
Though I wanted you up and running by now I know that day is for
tomorrow. Instead I have the delight of timing my morning so that
I get to see you open your eyes the first of most mornings. Your
eyes are the window to your soul my son and I have the privilege
of looking into them with such pleasure that it makes my spirit
leap with gladness. I understand a little more now what Jesus
said about necessity of becoming like a child in order to come
into the Kingdom.
You have been places I have never been, and have seen things I
have never seen. And in that amazing journey I can feel the Presence
of The King when I gaze at your countenance. One day you will
give that away countless times to others who have no hope and
who wonder if there really is a God who cares. He is and He does.
You Noah are a living testament to that unshakable reality. Happy
twelfth birthday…I love you. Dad
PS. For those of you living in our area, if you know anyone who
sells non-pasteurized goat’s milk, could you please contact
us? It would greatly benefit Noah’s nutritional needs. davidaddesa@cox.net
Last Updated: October 19, 2007
Next update will be posted October 26, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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Today is a good day in our part of the woods. Weather has tempered
a bit but most importantly rain has begun to break the drought
we were in the middle of. Thank you Lord for the rain. The first
of it started Wednesday morning just when Lisa and I took Noah
for his first return visit to CHKD since being discharged July
5th. It brought great delight to my heart remembering that he
was transported out with a tracheostomy tube in his throat and
laying on a gurney. This time he came back through those doors
with pink scar tissue on his throat where the tube once protruded,
and sitting upright and alert in his chair smiling occasionally
as people who remembered him came up to say hello. He has come
a long way. There were two good things that came out of this visit:
The first was Lisa and I actually transitioning Noah from his
wheel chair into our Toyota Highlander. We practiced first with
Noah’s rehab therapists and then did it ourselves Wednesday
and it went very well. We are now poised to take him around to
various places from now onward through the rest of his journey.
The second is the reason we took him back to CHKD. Noah’s
Speech Therapist requested a Barium Swallow Test to determine
if he is ready for an advanced therapy called Vital Stim. It involves
placing electrodes on some areas of his throat and introducing
low-level electrical current to cause muscle contractions. This
therapy is only effective if the patient is already swallowing
on a regular basis. The only way to determine that is with this
technology. Without this test you run the risk of having the patient
actually aspirating while trying to swallow because the muscles
are not working in a synchronized manner. I was allowed to sit
in the observation room with the Radiologist while the X-Ray machine
was recording Noah’s throat and muscle movements. We are
please to say that he did fine and was approved for this next
level of therapy. The obvious goal is to get him eating all of
his nourishment through his mouth and eliminating the last remnant
of life support…that being his G-tube. We are one step closer.
Go Noah!
Our local Channel Ten WVEC came out to our home today with camera
and reporter to do an update on Noah’s progress. The reporter
said it should be out next week so I will include the video link
so that you can see Noah first hand. They also interviewed two
of his rehab specialists. In closing for the week, I would like
give you a glimpse into my heart.
Exodus 14: 13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.
Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will
accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today,
you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for
you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Since the outset of Noah’s lightening strike, I have deep
personal convictions that there has been very intense and real
spiritual warfare raging over his destiny on this earth. Though
I will never stop coveting your continued intercession for Noah,
I believe we are entering a season when this scripture is becoming
more a part of the fight than ever before. May His peace be imparted
to you at a measure that will overshadow any adversity that exists
in your world. He is able. Love…david
Last Updated: October 26, 2007 at 2:58 p.m.
Next update will be posted November 2, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
