Update - 6/16/06
A couple days ago Matthew had a rough night. He was taken to the emergency room at 1:00 a.m. because he was very pale with an irregular heartbeat and they couldn't arouse him. They kept him for several hours trying to figure out what was wrong. One problem they did discover was that he was dehydrated. So, they got an IV going, but that was also difficult. They had to reinsert the IV several times because his veins would "blow out".
After hours of resting and getting the fluid his body needed, Matthew's color started coming back into his cheeks and his system normalized. He also had a clearer look in his eyes rather than the "haze" he appeared to be in earlier that day and earlier in the week. When one of his therapists came in the room, he turned his head quickly and appeared to be listening intently to the conversation. Rev. Kurz and the therapist also noticed a slight movement in Matthew's right hand and what felt like a little squeeze.
Next the speech therapist, Jen spent time with Matthew to work on facial movements. She asked him to stick out his tongue at her. His dad helped him a bit by nudging his chin down and then Matthew opened his mouth wider than he has lately and stuck out his tongue! She asked him to do this again several times and it looked like Matthew was trying to move his tongue around or make the effort, but he didn't do it again. Jen also wanted Matthew to make an intentional movement with his left hand (rather than the active involuntary movements he makes). She asked him to touch the top of his head with his left hand. Matthew lifted his arm and then touched his head and kind of ran his fingers through his hair. His dad said "looks like you did it, Matthew" and then Matthew said "yeah"! It was a clear and audible "yeah" - not a moan or grunt. How exciting!
After these accomplishments, Jen rushed out to tell the other therapist who came back into the room and asked Matthew to stick out his tongue. He shook his head "no". Guess he'd had enough of performing!
Matthew has pulled his stomach tube out again so they are anxious to get the mickey button in place before he does some serious damage to himself. Hopefully the procedure to do that will take place soon.
The Kurzs have been told that there are quite a few things that Matthew will need when he's released from Rusk that medical insurance and medicaid won't cover. One of those is a shower chair and there are several other items - some that they will probably discover they need right before checking out. Thankfully insurance and medicaid will cover a good portion of the wheelchair, bed and hoyer lift.
Have a great weekend!
Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother
After hours of resting and getting the fluid his body needed, Matthew's color started coming back into his cheeks and his system normalized. He also had a clearer look in his eyes rather than the "haze" he appeared to be in earlier that day and earlier in the week. When one of his therapists came in the room, he turned his head quickly and appeared to be listening intently to the conversation. Rev. Kurz and the therapist also noticed a slight movement in Matthew's right hand and what felt like a little squeeze.
Next the speech therapist, Jen spent time with Matthew to work on facial movements. She asked him to stick out his tongue at her. His dad helped him a bit by nudging his chin down and then Matthew opened his mouth wider than he has lately and stuck out his tongue! She asked him to do this again several times and it looked like Matthew was trying to move his tongue around or make the effort, but he didn't do it again. Jen also wanted Matthew to make an intentional movement with his left hand (rather than the active involuntary movements he makes). She asked him to touch the top of his head with his left hand. Matthew lifted his arm and then touched his head and kind of ran his fingers through his hair. His dad said "looks like you did it, Matthew" and then Matthew said "yeah"! It was a clear and audible "yeah" - not a moan or grunt. How exciting!
After these accomplishments, Jen rushed out to tell the other therapist who came back into the room and asked Matthew to stick out his tongue. He shook his head "no". Guess he'd had enough of performing!
Matthew has pulled his stomach tube out again so they are anxious to get the mickey button in place before he does some serious damage to himself. Hopefully the procedure to do that will take place soon.
The Kurzs have been told that there are quite a few things that Matthew will need when he's released from Rusk that medical insurance and medicaid won't cover. One of those is a shower chair and there are several other items - some that they will probably discover they need right before checking out. Thankfully insurance and medicaid will cover a good portion of the wheelchair, bed and hoyer lift.
Have a great weekend!
Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother
posted by Randy Asburry @ 7:01 AM
1 Comments:
At 3:41 PM,
Anonymous said…
There are several agencies in the Sedalia area that have free shower chairs. They will just have to make some phone calls. They may check with the Open Door, Salvation Army, and maybe the Senior Center in Sedalia.
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