Update - January 2003

Well, the two year anniversary has passed. As you know by now the stroke was on Christmas morning 2000. Here it is January of 2003 already, it still seems like a blur.

In April of 2002 speech therapy was cut off. He just was not showing enough improvement for the insurance to pay anymore. Then in June his occupational therapy was cut for the same reason. Finally, the end of Sept. he was no longer getting physical therapy. His therapist said she thought he had hit a plateau, this was his first in over a year and a half so he wasn't to upset.

At this time he was walking with his walker and some assistance. His left hand had pretty much not done anything in a while. His speech was limited to a few words.

Several people from the church have volunteered to come to the home and help me continue his therapy. They come for about a hour Monday thru Friday. They have been a blessing we can't begin to thank God for. Without their help he would only get what little bit I could do on my own.

Since they have started coming he has went for two follow up visits. The first one he was not doing any better but had maintained. He had been really sick and not able to do much. So we went to an allergist who found out he was allergic to everything. He did some medicine changes and started him on allergy shots. Praise God he hasn't been sick since then. He has really been working hard at therapy at home. At his last follow up he had shown some improvement. He is scheduled to go back the end of Jan.

He has shown even more improvement since then. A great friend Brad has been coming over and really working him hard. He is a chiropractor and knows what to work on. He is a such a blessing to us. Perry is walking smoother and faster. His left leg is coming through so much better and he can lift his leg from the knee now. He also can move his left wrist back and forth This past week he even started lifting his lower left arm. We are just seeing amazing things these past few week .

His speech is doing better also. The end of April he could only get his tongue out to his lower teeth. It also would take him a while to do it. Now he is sticking it out past his lips and can move it to the left and right. He can also lift it up in the back. He is making a lot more sounds. We are suppose to have a speech evaluation sometime this month. We are excited for someone to work with him to bring this all together.

All around he is doing great and getting stronger and stronger. We pray the next update will tell of him walking alone with his walker. Praise God for the miracle he has given us