Addesa Family Update, September 2007

Tomorrow is Labor Day, a day we celebrate the faithfulness of our national workforce that makes or breaks America’s prosperity. That being said, in the forefront of my mind is my bride Lisa. Since April 27th she has been at Noah’s side from the moment he lay dead in the mud in our backyard to the day he returned home three days ago. What an absolutely amazing lady….one who is a laborer for her son Noah. She is a hero in my sight. Because of her labor of love, Noah has never had a time without the loving presence of someone in my family. I believe God has used that for His glory.

This week we have three days of therapy scheduled for Noah in our home (Physical, Occupational, Speech). In addition we are looking for a rehab cycle to purchase to try to get Noah’s legs more active. Since Noah has returned to our home, the peace of God has been “completed”. The missing piece of the puzzle is back in place. A few noteworthy observations for your holiday are in order. The first is that Noah has not shown any interest in “napping” during the day throughout his time at CHKD through his eight-week stay at UVA Kluge. Yet remarkably, he has begun to take extended naps during the day since returning home. Our opinion is that Noah clearly knows that he is home. This is his habitation…not an unfamiliar surrounding with unfamiliar people. He knows his siblings, he knows his parents, and he knows his house and even recognizes his dog! All is well with Noah and he is at peace with his surroundings so much so that napping is now a part of his day. We are blessed by that change.

Noah continues to exhibit increasing interest in “eating” soft foods even beyond deserts. Yesterday a family in our church brought a meal over that included broccoli and cheese soup. Lisa offered it to Noah and he reluctantly opened his mouth to try it. Reluctance turned to “readiness” as he ate a goodly portion of the soup. Saturday Lisa was at Noah’s bedside reading to him with the guardrail on the bed “down”. We do that often when sitting with him because it simply is more intimate than having metal bars between his face and us. Someone came to the door so Lisa got up to answer. To date Noah generally has not moved much in his bed except when he is sleeping. While he is sleeping he freely moves his arms and legs (it’s still a mystery to all why this is).

While Lisa was talking to our neighbor for a brief moment she thought she heard Noah making sounds of some kind of distress. She went back in to find him partially out of the bed and using his left arm to keep himself from falling out. Needless to say it was a scary moment. No harm done and lesson learned by us (keep the rail up when away). After Lisa got him settled back in the bed, she ran upstairs to my office and told me what happened. We both realized that for some reason Noah tried to get out of the bed. When he realized he could not finish the action intended, he braced his hand on the rail and called for help as best as he could. Both actions were intentional which is very significant. Once again Noah takes a potential setback and turns it into a signpost that he is heading toward restoration.

I believe this promise for Noah from Isaiah 57:18, 19, “I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, says the LORD; and I will heal him.” (KJV) May your holiday be full of rest and peace and joy. Love… Pastor David

Last Updated: September 3, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.
Next update will be posted September 7, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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Friday will be our first week home and we have had three days of regular “in-home” rehab sessions for Noah as well as two visits from the attending nurse. The comments from their initial visits have continued to encourage us. Apparently the progress posted in the records forwarded from UVA Kluge differ noticeably even in this weeks time. The tenors of their comments are along the lines of “Oh, Noah seems to respond better than what was recorded in his charts.” That is not to suggest an error in recording their observations but rather that he has improved noticeably since last week.
Some anecdotal evidences of that may give you a clearer perspective. Noah has begun to smile and show familiarity to a wider circle of people already. Our children’s pastor stopped by today and Noah looked at him and smiled warmly. The next one requires some context.

Noah has become very fond the Lord of The Rings trilogy. He has identified with one character in particular whose name is Aragorn. Aragorn is the primary hero in the movie. He is a mighty warrior against the powers of darkness and evil. At one point in the sequence of this movie a special sword is re-forged and given to Aragorn to use in his quest to defeat the enemy. The sword signified authority, power, nobility, strength and courage. One of a spin-offs of this movie’s great success is the reproduction of implements like this for fans to buy for their own collections. Pardon the corny pose from me… I was simply trying to give some perspective on what the sword actually looks like. Suffice it to say that they are anything but cheap.

Noah’s best friend saved up all of his allowance from this year and sent away for this sword and waited until Noah came home to give it to him. It was touching to see these two young men exchange such powerful moments between them. The next morning when Noah woke up I was talking with him and reminding him of the gift that is now resting in the corner of his room. I picked up the sword, removed it from its scabbard and proceeded to place it in Noah’s hand and assist him with holding it upright. He simply beamed with joy when I did that. I believe that he was accepting my challenge to one day wield that sword under his own power. Yet he knew and I knew that Noah will not only hold that sword under his own power, but that God will use Noah’s life as a sword against the enemy of The Kingdom of God. Psalm 149:5, 6 “Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”A perfect picture of Noah. Love… Pastor David



Last Updated: September 7, 2007 at 4:00 p.m.
Next update will be posted September 14, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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Today is our second full week home and it has been challenging yet rewarding. It requires a team effort to cover all the bases and thus far Hannah & Emma have adapted well and serve Lisa and Noah with joy in their hearts. I am so very proud of them.
Rehab sessions are going well and by all reports Noah is increasing in some pivotal areas. He is showing improvements in his upper body strength and tone. Essentially this means he is getting closer to being able to sit up on his own. There is an uncanny parallel with how I watched all my children progress as babies to toddlers and so forth.

Emma was commenting on how Noah is more readily reacting to things she did with him in the past. His greatest way of letting you know he is connecting with you is his smile. He will frown when he is not pleased or confused.

Thursday, Noah had his first appointment with a Developmental Neurologist. He brought two other physicians in the room (with him) to observe Noah and our first thought was that Noah might become introverted and not connect well with an unfamiliar group of new faces.

Noah did wonderful. In fact at one point the doctor was checking visual reflexes and head tracking and took his instrument (a ten inch long rubber reflex hammer with a small mirror attached to the end) and was quite pleased with Noah’s response. In a “light hearted” moment the doctor acted a little goofy and stuck it in his own mouth. Noah’s eyes locked on him like a heat-seeking missile and then he broke out in a glowing smile. All three of the doctors did one of those “Aaah” moments. The interesting part is those moments before he was asking us if Noah is able to show expressions of emotions with his face. Noah answered well.

Till next week, like a dry sponge readily absorbs any liquid it touches, may you be thus filled with Paul’s words for your life: Philippians 4: 4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Last Updated: September 14, 2007 at 12:37 p.m.
Next update will be posted September 21, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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I am hard pressed to distill down the many subtle progressions Noah is making. Let’s begin with his expressions. Some of this may sound repetitive because of behaviors and movements we have already reported in their initial onset. However, as they progress forward it becomes very significant to the medical professionals attending to Noah as well as us.
Noah is displaying more immediate responses with his facial expressions as opposed to the somewhat “delayed” reaction we were used to before. It is now not uncommon for him to show a “frowned “ look with his eyes and eyebrows if he is uncertain as to what you are saying or doing. In contrast to that he will display a more “wide-eyed” look that borders on a smile when he is certain and/or pleased with what is going on. Today for example he received his flu shot. The nurse that gave him his injection looked like she was tossing a dart at a dartboard. I told Lisa later that I was bothered by her technique (I am being very kind hereJ). Well anyway when she came up along side of Noah to inject him, Noah did not see the shot in her hands. When she gave him the injection, he had a look on his face that was…..well…bugged to say the least. We calmed him down but it was very apparent that his “felt” pain was expressed to us with a look of betrayal (like why is this happening to me). In earlier days he might have flinched, but that was the end of it.

Noah’s Speech Therapist likes what she is seeing in Noah and has asked for him to start a new electrical stimulation technique for his throat muscles. Some preliminary tests need to happen before that begins. The Physical & Occupational therapists are working together with Noah on this large exercise ball they use in gyms like Bally’s. They prop him up in a sitting position on the ball and get him to make small efforts to bounce himself. He has been doing it and liking it. We are in the process of working with a local MD who specializes in hyperbaric oxygen therapy. He believes Noah is a good candidate and is putting together a case to present to the hospital for approval. One final major hope for the very near future. We are petitioning CHKD for a “lift chair”. It operates by placing the patient in a sitting position and strapping the legs and upper body in a secure position. You then crank the patient up and the chair eventually becomes a full vertical body support so that the patient is actually standing in an upright, weight bearing position. It really helps Noah’s feet to stay limber and his brain to rediscover the process of standing and eventually walking. UVA Kluge started that with Noah and we saw very good results.

Emma has been doing some rather humorous things with Noah that really lightens the moment. For example she does this “Tarzan” thing with him. It begins with her beating her chest like Tarzan did in the old movies. She then does the same thing with Noah’s chest. He sees and hears her making the “ahhhh” noise with the vibrato of her chest compressions and Noah smiles brightly. Emma then does the same with Noah and while Emma is pounding his chest (softly) Noah starts to use his voice so that he too makes that “ahhh” vibrato sound like his sister. It is a blessing to watch and listen to.

I Kings 17 tells us that Elijah was tired from recent conflicts in his life. He went out to the wilderness to get away from it all. He fell asleep and this is what he awoke to… for the second time. 1 Kings 17:7,8 “And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.’ So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.”

I pray that God would sustain your journey and ours in His supernatural provision. When He feeds you, you can do amazing things. Our love to you all… Pastor David

Last Updated: September 21, 2007 at 12:10 p.m.
Next update will be posted September 28, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.
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This morning am I writing this journal entry from Abbostford, British Columbia. It is a land of northern lights and huge snow capped mountains. I am attending a ministry conference that has been hosted by global leaders who walk in signs and wonders and miracles. I have been gone since Wednesday morning.
While I was home we had a few days of Noah battling what a doctor and nurses considered a “stomach” virus. Holding any kind of food down was a struggle for about four days. He has since turned the corner on that sickness and is back in the saddle once again. Needless to say, that curtailed most of the early part of this week's activities and therapies.

Therapists have noted that to spite his bout with this recent illness there has been no regression at all. His neck and upper body have continued to get stronger. His awareness continues to grow more keen each week.

Two unexpected “Noah moments” this week:

The first has to do with Emma. She was sitting next to Noah on Wednesday night eating a piece of Pizza. It’s important to remember that Noah still has a feeding tube for his primary nourishment though on occasion does enjoy what is termed “pleasurable eating moments” (that means you offer him some soft food and if he likes it he will eat it, otherwise he will simple ignore you). This time (from Emma’s perspective) Noah took his own initiative and while she was eating her pizza she noticed out her peripheral vision that Noah had his head turned toward her. When she turned to look directly at him, Noah had a gleaming smile of enticement upon his face. Emma said: “Dad he gave me one of those looks like… boy, I wish I could have some of that”. She then proceeded to give him some of the pizza sauce, which he readily accepted. Go Noah!

Another great moment happened this week while Lisa and Emma were watching something on TV with Noah when there was a goofy commercial presenting an “over-the-counter product to help with the accumulation of earwax in one’s ear. As they described it to me; a man takes a toilet bowl plunger and suctions his ear in a desperate attempt to “dislodge” his accumulated earwax. Emma said that Noah was making a sound and when they looked at him he was laughing at this segment of the “plunger on the ear”. Wow… it’s a reminder that he understands his environment and is continuing to re-enter his world even in things we may consider mundane. I love those moments sometimes more than the intentional things we may do to see what his response may be.

Here is an amazing thought to leave you with this week. Romans 16b: I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
Most of us think that peace is the absence of war or chaos or conflicts. In fact, Paul is telling us that it pertains to something that God brings about in an active response to the renewing of our mind. Peace is the by-product of the real presence of the One who literally exercises military authority and power over the enemy of our soul. The words Paul choses here are military terms in the original language.

When God does this, it becomes a time of peace and rest for us, yet conversely a time of havoc and terror for the powers of darkness. If you are lacking peace in your life, maybe it would be a great time to meditate on these verses and ask the Holy Sprit to give you personal revelation for your life application. After all… it is the rightful inheritance of everyone who is part of the Bride of Christ. Peace be with you my beloved… david

Last Updated: September 26, 2007 at 2:25 p.m.
Next update will be posted October 5, 2007 by 4:00 p.m.