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!