My favorite time of year… this thing we call fall. Temps are no longer subtropical, the breezes bringing fresh air from the North Country and hurricane season is about over. Even more enjoyable are the times we can spend with Noah outdoors gallivanting.

From the hand of therapists Lisa & Emily:

Noah is demonstrating the ability to bring his trunk and his head up from a bent over position. of him bent over.

We continue to work on head control and trunk control in conjunction with Noah’s hands at his side. Please pray for more muscle tone to relax so he can balance himself.

During Noah’s rehab today I took the picture you see above. I also got to witness his great effort to sit back upright. While Lisa and the ladies were coaching him… all of a sudden he “surged” to a ¾ upright position. It brought great cheers from the peanut gallery. Go Noah!

This past week we noted Noah’s right leg has gained considerable strength. Twice this week I asked him to extend his leg from the leg “at rest” to a full 180* extension. He can almost completely straighten out his leg while in the sitting position. It was exciting for me.

Lisa was sharing with me that Noah is now starting to “burp” on a regular basis. I’m not sure how much of that he has learned from his zany aunts from Buffalo….but one thing is very important. The returning ability to burp will greatly reduce the need to vent Noah’s gas via the G-tube. Also, his facial expressions continue to normalize. He is “frowning” more when he is uncomfortable. These mundane subtleties hardly seem worth noting for most. However, they continue to be milestones on a journey most conventional medical experts never thought Noah would make.

One more thing I didn’t know was happening… In my debrief time with Lisa she was sharing with me a thing they do together later in the evening when things quiet down. She said: “When I ask Noah to sing with me he used to kind of look at me with a stare… not really sure how to. Now he pauses for a moment… gets his bearings and proceeds to sing along with Lisa. Reminds me of Psalm 98:4 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."

I have a sneaking suspicion that The Father is more delighted with what He hears from Noah…than some of most polished and professional vocalists in the land. Just a suspicion. Until next time. Love…david

PS This last picture has confirmed that Noah is now taller than his mother. I stood next to him before taking the picture and the ladies said he is very close to my height.

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Last Updated: October 10, 2008 at 2:40pm
Next update will be posted October 17, 2008 by 6:00pm

Even health care professionals have "bad weeks." This was one for Noah’s therapists as they were absent most of the week. That being said, I will ask for your understanding and wait until next week for a more thorough update. Thank you for praying for Noah… his progress is most definitely otherworldly. Love…david

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Last Updated: October 17, 2008 at 5:00pm
Next update will be posted October 24, 2008 by 6:00pm

This was a good week for Noah. He turned 13 this past Sunday. We had a fun family time with him. Monday his friends came over and partied with him for the afternoon. Thanks to all for remembering my hero for his birthday.

 I am writing this update on Thursday night because we are hosting Corey Russell from IHOP (http://www.coreyrussell.org/) for the weekend. (He will be doing multiple services at our church and I will not be near my computer most of that time.) Why does that matter you ask? I rely heavily upon the reports from Noah’s therapists on Fridays and debrief with Lisa as well. Since I won’t be home then, it won’t happen. Please forgive me for two weeks of “sparse” feedback. I strive to make my updates meaningful and accurate.  

Next week I will be up in Harrisburg, PA at a conference and returning Saturday night so I won’t have a report then either. Bummer… Please know that it means very much to us that you still follow Noah’s progress. Many of you continue to pray for him. Please continue… it’s working. I will be back in two weeks with much more thorough information as you have been used to. In the meantime… the Addesa’s thank you for interceding for Noah… and God’s grace for giving us another year with him. Someday he will thank you himself. Love… david

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Last Updated: October 24, 2008 at 4:45pm
Next update will be posted October 31, 2008 by 6:00pm