October 2013

We took James over to Vancouver a couple of weeks ago for a Neuro Opthomologist  appointment.  He has to have some more tests on November 15 th to figure out exactly how much double vision he has,  and how well his eyes are working together.  I am amazed at how well he actually has adapted to his vision changes and is able to tune out one of the images when he starts to see double.  The doctor said that surgery is possible to correct the double vision,  but since he is still healing there is no rush on making that decision.  The longer we wait the better.  He also feels that the damage to the nerves around James' eye are due to trauma to the eye and not due to the brain injury.  James did great during the assessment and used his voice quite a bit to communicate with the doctor.  

While we were in Vancouver we also stopped in to see the coordinator at GF Stronge.  I was hoping to get an actual date for when James goes back as an inpatient.  She said that she should know better after November 5 th.  They will have a meeting to discuss bed availability on that date.  She did say that it would likely be the week after rememberance day.   When he does get a bed,  I will go over on The  weekends,  but I won't stay over there during the week.  

James is doing well at his day program.  His worker is great,  and they seem to get along well.  He is excited about wearing his costume to his program tomorrow.  He loves Halloween and is looking foreword to handing out candy tomorrow night.  

James is doing better at walking all the time.  He definitely is still making good progress.  Slow and steady!  I can feel quite a difference in his balance when I walk with him.  He is walking laps with his walker around the hallways of the day program building everyday.  He walked around 2 and a half laps yesterday!  We did have to bribe him with root beer to increase his number of laps though!  

Home again, home again....

It feels so good to be home again!  Last Friday was James last day at the GF Stronge intensive day program!  He was so excited to be going home!  He woke up at about 330 am. and transferred into his chair while I was sleeping.  I was woken up by James saying, " hey mom! " from his chair at the end of my bed.  He briefly argued with me about whether or not it was time to get up,  then he went back to bed.  It was a busy day of packing up and saying goodbye to all his therapists.  When he goes back again he won't have any of the same therapists.  His OT said that he will touch base and consult with his OT and PT when James comes back for the in patient program in November.  We don't have an exact date for that program to start yet,  but the doctor was pushing for mid November.  

We are well into our routine at home now.  I have gone back to work and James is going to a day program, 5 days a week.  His one to one worker picks him up at 930 Monday to Friday,  and brings him home at 330.  He does his speech  and physio excercises with her and they go swimming twice a week,  to adapted karate one a week,  and she takes him to physio appointments three times a week! They wil also check out the local gym and possibly use the stationary bike there.  He is a busy boy!  There is also a worker who comes in each morning and helps him keep on track with his morning self care.  They will also do a few walking and balance excercises with him too. 

James private OT and the community PT came by this morning to assess his walking with his walker and his transfers.  We are going to take out his bedside transfer rail.  The PT said she was very impressed with the difference in the fluidity of his movements and that his walking and transfers have improved a lot since she saw him about three months ago.   

James finished his t shirt that he was working on in art therapy.  It turned out wonderfully!  Unfortunately red paint that he used on it didn't set and as soon as it got wet the red parts disintegrated!  Luckily I took lots of pictures of it and I think we can transfer a picture of it on to a black t shirt for him.  He put so much work into that t shirt and was so proud of it.