This and that...

                                         Grandad and Ellie doing "floor time"

                                       Got to love my hair!

     Leg immobilizers to strengthen the hamstrings while sleeping

                                           New dress from Aunt Bonnie

UCP BBQ

On Saturday, March 13th, we went to the fairgrounds where the 9th Annual United Cerebral Palsy was hosting a big BBQ event.  It was a huge affair with thousands of people attending and many people cooking/serving BBQ.  Ellie's Alabama physical therapist Cheryl and her husband Harry served us the best meal at the cook-off.

                                       Gram and Grandad at the BBQ

Daddy and Ellie
on the slide







 




  Harry Thames (cook)






                                      














Cheryl Thames (Physical Therapist)

Miscellaneous

                                                         Mama loves Ellie!!

                                                     Ellie loves Chinese food!!

                          Ninja Ellie! (Thanks, Lyndon)

  

                                                                      Bedhead!

One more week...

...until we head back to New Orleans to start the HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy again.

People keep asking if the therapy has affected me in any way.  Vicki says I look different, but really I haven't been able to detect any changes at all.

             (Scott, after the first 40 treatments)

Therasuit Therapy for Ellie

During this one month break from the HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Ellie is undergoing THERASUIT Therapy here in Mobile. We believe the Lord provided this opportunity because both Ellie's physical therapist in Athens and her HBOT doctor highly recommended that she get this kind of therapy while here, if possible. We had exactly the amount of money needed in our savings account, and the center had an opening during this 3-week slot (2 hours a day, 5 days a week). You can read more about this therapy and the center where it is offered at:

http://www.pptmobile.com/Therasuit.htm

Ellie and I will return to New Orleans on March 14th for the second round of HBOT.  Meanwhile, we are enjoying our time with my parents and with Vicki (who will return to Athens on March 5th). Additionally, I am getting a few speaking opportunities, which I always enjoy.

...and one more thing...

For all the people (INCLUDING ME) who were wondering at the beginning of this adventure what I would be doing with all my free time, I have to say, "What were we thinking?  What free time?!"

 

By-the-way, the various photos on this blog in recent weeks of Ellie sleeping do not indicate she sleeps much.  On the contrary, I am trying to capture the FEW times when she actually is NOT awake.

A few thoughts...

Ellie and I have been privileged to meet some really great people during our time in New Orleans.  These are people we have grown to love, respect, admire, and draw encouragement from.

We are so grateful for the people God has put in our life through the years who have loved and encouraged us.  Some have written in recent months to share with us their thoughts and perspectives, their opinions and conclusions, their observations and adulations...all of which are greatly appreciated, and most of which we feel very undeserving of.

We are just parents.  Like any functional parents we want to do what we believe is best for our children--all of our children.  Like most human parents, in spite of our unconditional love for our kids, there are also times of frustration, impatience, confusion, anger, irritation, exhaustion, and mistakes.

Ellie is not a "virtual stranger", but rather a full and real and complete daughter--as much a member of the family as any other of our "biological" children.  Every functional parent tries to do what is best for each of their kids and that is all we are doing.  We couldn't do it, though, without the help of God and the wonderful, generous, loving, caring, encouraging people He has placed in our lives.  We are grateful to Him and to you for walking with us on this journey.

After 1 Month...

After 1 month of HBOT treatments for Ellie, there HAVE been minimal signs of improvement.  Her hands are open more often and not as tight when they are closed.  She tends to have better use of her right arm than before when she clearly favored the left one.  Perhaps her eye contact and powers of observation are a bit better.  The doctor also believes her right leg has better movement and that her tone is generally better. 

We thank God for providing for this first round of treatments, and we trust that He will provide for us to continue a second and third round after a mandatory one-month break.  During this break, we will stay with my parents in Mobile, AL and pursue physical therapy, social security and medicaid benefits, help from some non-profits in getting assistive devices for Ellie, getting her visa situation (for Greece) worked out, and speaking at different churches about the ministry.

A physical therapist in New Orleans has loaned us a "stander" for Ellie to use while we are here, and we are very grateful for that.

Vicki has "stolen" some frequent flier miles from one of our kids and will be visiting me and Ellie for a couple of weeks!!  Needless-to-say, we are both really looking forward to that!

HBOT Chamber and the Ronald McDonald House

Our first two weeks in New Orleans have not been without their challenges (primarily in terms of difficulty sleeping--for Ellie, and therefore me as well; and extremely limited internet connection), but they have been two good weeks.  On Thursday, I solved the internet connection problem so I should be more available via skype and email.

I have found new heroes in my life in the people I have met at the Ronald McDonald House--especially, but not exclusively, in the single moms I have been privileged and honored to meet.  They are mostly women (and in some cases men) in extremely difficult circumstances, living courageously and committed to loving their children in the best possible way that they can.   The staff is also great, especially the Residential Manager Lyndon!

Though we have not seen any changes in Ellie since the HBOT therapy began, 2 weeks is really too early and we hope to see something by the end of the month.  We have met others at the clinic who have given testimony to the ways that it has changed their otherwise hopeless situations.  This encourages us to continue hoping in, and trusting, the Lord to use this time for bringing some measure of healing to Ellie's body.  You can read more about the clinic and this kind of therapy at:
www.hbot.com

Also, for those who don't know, the Lord solved our transportation dilemma by using Paul and Tammy Shorrosh to provide us with a Lexus for the time we are here! Other generous friends have also contributed to the gas fund!

 

  

 

 

 

New Orleans

Ellie and I are now in New Orleans for her HBOT treatments (www.hbot.com), staying at the Ronald McDonald House (http://www.rmhneworleans.com/) on weekdays, and staying with my parents in Mobile, AL on weekends.

Ellie started her treatments on Monday and is doing well.  I will try to post photos and more info within the next couple weeks.  Right now I have extremely limited internet access.

Also, Ellie got a nice customized (used) wheelchair donated to us by National Mobility and Seating.  I really like it and so does she.