News and Notes from Tom via Martha

Family & Friends of Marcy:

I spoke w/ Marth by phone today-- let me see if I can update the picture on Mom's health and progress.

Mom gets Physical Therapy 6 days a week. She also gets Occupational Therapy and Speech Mon-Fri. They move her from the bed to a wheelchair (daily?). Martha pushed Mom around for a lengthy ride (Sat, I think) and they even went outside for a while. She is no longer belted into the chair.

In terms of speech, they are working on her trying to say yes and no. Also practicing songs w/ her: London Bridge and Happy Birthday and the like-- apparently, sometimes the neural pathways or whatever you call it are prompted better in song.
A significant dvlpmt is that in addtn to ice chips, the Speech therapist and family (not the nursing home staff) have been cleared to give Mom Jello and other non-dairy items. This is the first time in a month Mom has had anything remotely like solid food. Martha is encouraged and hopes to try a fruit smoothie perhaps today. Sounds to me like Mom is regaining some ability to swallow, which is an answer to prayer. Thank you for praying. I'm sure it is still arduous. She is due to have another swallow test soon.

A frustrating thing for Martha is that getting info is just piecemeal. The social worker is to schedule a Care Plan mtg w/ Martha soon (I hope it can be next wk when I am there--BTW, Frank [Sindler, Cindy's husband] will be there Tues nite thru Thurs this week). At this point, Martha just has to ferret out info from therapists and Mom's roommate as best she can.

Martha reads every piece of Mom's mail to her. Thank you for your continued contact and encouragement in this way.

I would ask that you please pray for Martha to have supernatural wisdom and endurance. Those of you who have been in the role of caregiver know how taxing it can be. Pray that she will continue to be a servant to Mom, while maintaining healthy boundaries for herself and her own immediate family.

I look fwd very much to my time there, but the daily brunt still falls on Marth and Bo-- they are doing a super job to care for her, and do so lovingly, yet I am sure it is quite a burden. Having a child w/ special needs myself, I am aware that there are many small tasks and concerns of the heart that the Lord Himself only knows.