Update - 7/25/06

As you can probably guess, there is alot to share with you that has happened in the last week. Let's begin with the therapy at ResCare. The physical therapist has been working with Matthew to be on his stomach and work at lifting his head up and then getting up on his elbows. He has to have help with the positioning of his body and it is alot of work for Matthew, but he does it.

Matthew has also advanced from drawing a straight line to a circle to drawing a face with his left hand. Yeah! The therapists are continuing to work with his right arm to build strength and control of his muscles. Matthew is also nodding his head a little more for "yes", but it is harder to do than gesturing "no". He will shake his head "no" quite readily. The speech therapist has ordered trial touch-buttons for Matthew to use for communication. Hopefully he will learn to use the touch buttons to respond with clear answers to questions.

Matthew is making efforts on his own to work with his right hand. When he's sitting in his wheelchair, he'll use his left hand to position his right hand on the arm of the wheelchair securely and then his right fingers will grasp the arm of the chair to keep his arm from falling to the side. If it falls to the side and he loses his grip, then he uses his left hand again to move the right hand back to the right position and hold on again.

Matthew hasn't been vocalizing any words since he's been home, but he is shaping his lips for certain letters like "mmmm" or "p". They have also noticed Matthew talks in his sleep - not in words that or understandable, but a mumble. The important thing to note about this is that his voice inflection fluctuates when "talking" in his sleep and that is a good sign.

It's also great to see Matthew greet people by shaking hands with them with his left hand. He'll initiate the action when someone comes up to him and asks him how he's doing.

Matthew's legs are getting stronger. When someone puts his shoes on, Matthew will move his legs together and in the past he couldn't move his legs at all on his own. The therapists still can't apply full pressure to Matthew's left foot because of the previous wound that hasn't totally healed and this is preventing extensive therapy with his foot. The good news is that part of the scab has fallen off so that is a great sign.

There is progress all the time with eating meals. Matthew is eating full meals at lunch and supper and he opens his mouth completely. There is less of a struggle with the apraxia (total or partial loss of the ability to perform coordinated movements - from dictionary.com). Matthew is also sucking food off of the spoon and he's getting closer to sucking from a straw.

Last week Matthew was taken to the optometrist that has been his eye doctor for several years (she was very gracious to the family after the accident in providing replacement glasses to the boys). She examined his eyes and found the optic nerve is in great shape and there isn't any scarring to his eyes. Without Matthew being able to respond with words to let her know what he sees, she says his eyes look very healthy.

This past Monday Matthew was going to see a podiatrist in Sedalia about an in-grown toenail (which has improved with soaking in epson salts). The podiatrist was also going to discuss options for the left foot and possibly recommend a brace to help remedy the "turned-in" angle of his foot.

Before the accident, Matthew would often watch movies or sit back and relax with his left hand resting behind his head. The family has noticed that gesture is back and he will rest or sleep with his left hand behind his head.

Andrew and Matthew have played finger wars a few times (Matthew, with his left hand). Andrew usually wins, but when Andrew's not looking Matthew will "snake walk" with his fingers and sneaks in a win. Sorry, I can't describe a "snake walk" because I'm not sure what it is, but those who play finger wars regularly will certainly know what that is.

Matthew gave his mother a kiss for the first time - he touched his lips to her cheek and showed his appreciation for all she's doing for him. But his mother is not the first one to get a kiss. Matthew also gave Helen, one of his night nurses a kiss on the hand. She has been very kind in her care for him and Matthew was considerate in showing his appreciation of that as well. Maybe Matthew is a "lady's man" because he also responds VERY well in therapy when his girlfriend, Paige goes along to ResCare.

This weekend there was an informal gathering of friends to spend time with Matthew at the house. Matthew was very happy to see his friends! Matthew's caregivers have advised that being with his friends and having them talk normally with him, carrying on conversation with him and around him in a natural atmosphere may very well spur Matthew to speak. It's been said that words may "come out" naturally when it's without any effort, as opposed to struggling to form the words in therapy.

Thank you for your patience in waiting for an update from me. This past week was hectic at work and then we had power outages in St. Louis so I couldn't get online to make a report. Things are also hectic for the Kurz family so we don't get to talk on a daily basis.

Blessings on your day!

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother

Update - 7/15/06

Matthew has been home a week and a half already and he is really enjoying being with his whole family on a regular basis. He also is glad to not have staff coming in every few hours to check his blood pressure and other vitals.

Matthew gets intensive therapy at ResCare in Sedalia every day, 9:00-3:00. They work with him in intensive blocks of time of 45 minute sessions. They have continued what Rusk started by helping Matthew retrain his brain to communicate with his right hand. He has been able to hold onto a pencil between his thumb and index finger and draw a squiggly line. It takes ALOT of effort and concentration on Matthew's part (and someone has to hold his arm at the elbow to steady it), but he is making improvement all the time with his right hand. Matthew has also been working on stretching out his right arm and fingers on his own.

He has also been able to color in a picture with a marker. They have to hold down his left arm to keep it "silent" so the right arm has to do the work.

Matthew has also been improving with his ability to drink through a straw. The ability to purse his lips around the straw gets better each day.

The staff at ResCare are getting to see Matthew's personality peaking out. He has been more expressive with his facial expressions and he even manages to show his humor through his expressions. Matthew is getting more and more comfortable with the staff at ResCare. He also demonstrated his considerate nature when one of the therapists was sitting on a therapy ball near him and when it looked like she might fall off, Matthew reached out with his good arm in what looked like an effort to catch her from falling.

Matthew is now eating lunch and supper without any tube feeding. The only tube feeding is done at breakfast time (when this young man still demonstrates his difficulty with being a morning person). His parents are working with him to hold the spoon or fork himself by using the "hand over hand" method. Matthew's hand rests on theirs as they feed him. This helps to retrain Matthew's brain to think he's feeding himself.

Being at home is very good, but it is also a huge challenge for the family to adjust to the new circumstances, scheduling, meal times, nursing, etc. Family life is very difficult at this time and we pray that in time things will work out for all family members. A new nursing service is on board for a few hours a day and that needs to be adjusted into the schedule as well.

Andrew is enjoying being in Mexico. We pray for his safe return and look forward to hearing about his adventures.

Hope you can stay cool in this heatwave across the country.

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother

Update - 7/7/06

Matthew is glad to be home!!!!!! His dad and brothers were playing some of his favorite music that he hadn't heard in months (probably since the accident) and a big grin came over his face. His mom said it was an "ear to ear" grin that they had never seen before. She said to him "it's great to be home, isn't Matthew?!" and he kept grinning.

His first night home went well - he slept well and they didn't have an troubles with the transition into his new bed and situation.

One of the comments for the last update mentioned that the Rusk staff trained them well and that is a fact! Both Brenda and Erich have taken on continuing his therapy at home - working his muscles and joints, speech therapy, etc. Today (Friday) Matthew begins therapy at Premier ResCare in Sedalia. It will be good to hear how that goes.

The Kurzs are in contact with a nursing service and hopefully can work out several hours of in-home care on a daily basis.

"I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me."
Ps. 13:5-6

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother

Update - 7/5/06

Matthew is arriving "home" as I am typing this message - his new temporary home at Grandma and Grandpa's house. A new chapter in the Kurz family life has begun. The whole family is "moving in" with Grandma so that they can be together as a family again.

Once Matthew was hydrated again last week, he began doing much better and was more responsive. He is doing well enough to be released and in the care of his parents and loved ones. As the next few days unfold we will share with you the challenges and joys of being in a new surrounding.

I know you are all keeping the Kurz family in your prayers. Please pray for strength and courage for Brenda and Erich as they care for their son 24/7. Pray that Andrew, Lucas and Timothy will be great help to their parents and their grandmother. Pray that everything will be done to make sure that Matthew has what he needs for daily sustenance, as well as continuing to make little victories of improvement.

If you would like to send cards or letters to Matthew and the rest of the family, you can send them to their home address where they will still get mail (and Pastor Kurz will be working in his study), as well as at Grandma Kaiser's house:

Matthew Kurz
c/o Shirley Kaiser
102 S. Center
Lincoln, MO 65338

My updates to the blog have been scarce lately because we have been on vacation and not able to connect to the internet on a regular basis. But vacation is almost over and we're in touch with the outside world again.

Hope you had a safe and enjoyable celebration of our nation's Independence Day.

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother