Update - 10/31/06

Thank you for your patience! I've had a very busy couple of months and then connecting my schedule with the Kurz family's schedule has made it difficult to get an update. But it's worth the wait because I have good news.

In the past week and a half, Matthew has made tremendous improvement. His speech therapist is thrilled with his progress. Matthew can now puff out his cheeks and blow and he is consistently able to move his mouth the form the shape necessary for consonants and vowels (but his voice has not turned on yet). He can also blow bubbles with a straw in a cup. He's still working on sucking liquid up through the straw. He gets halfway and can't keep it up. He can't hold large amounts of liquid in his mouth, but he is able to hold small amounts of liquid for a short period of time. He's doing several new things every day!

Last week Andrew was "goofing around" with Matthew and made Matthew laugh for the first time (more like a chuckle). It was music to the family's ears! Matthew's personality continues to show through more and more (the sly jokester).

Previously I mentioned that Matthew was pulling his self up. He is now doing it on a consistent basis and he's helping the person dressing him. He's also doing a better job of holding his balance (up to four minutes) and when he feels himself leaning, he will use his left hand to grab onto the side of the bed and correct his position.

Matthew is starting to help with his personal care. He will hold his toothbrush (with the person caring for him - but sometimes will do it unassisted). He usually needs guidance on completing the job and doing it correctly, but the good news is that he is DOING it. Before he wouldn't have anything to do with brushing his teeth.

Matthew's ability to communicate in response to questions has improved. He will now nod his head yes when asked a question - most of the time. He's getting more consistent in communication. Matthew will also mimic facial expressions. His brothers love to make faces at him and have him mimic the faces back at them.

Sunday Matthew was able to go to church for Reformation Day service. This was his 2nd visit to church. The first time he was not comfortable, but this time he was very calm. His mother watched his eye movements during the service and singing from the hymnal and she noticed that he was following along in the hymnal as she moved her finger across the page and he would look at the appropriate place on the page.

Yesterday was another day for a visit to Matthew's main doctor at Rusk in Columbia. He continues to be pleased with Matthew's progress and even decreased some more of Matthew's medications.

The Kurz family will soon be in a home of their own and grandma can have her house back! After November 8, the whole family will be in their new home in Sedalia, MO which is the town just north of Cole Camp (not far from the parishes that Pastor Kurz serves). Their new address will be:

4130 Bluegrass Dr.
Sedalia, MO 65301

(They will continue to use their cell phones instead of land lines for the time being.)

The Lord be with you this day!

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother

Update - 10/7/06

Matthew is doing a wonderful job pulling himself to a sitting position. His abdomen muscles are getting stronger all the time. He is also getting better at holding himself up and he also manages to correct his posture if he starts to lean to one side. He can hold his own body weight up to four minutes when sitting.

Matthew is also sleeping better through the night. Recently he's up to eight nights in a row that he has slept through the night. This is great for Matthew's healing and recovery (as well as Mom and Dad's needed rest).

More good news - Matthew can recognize numbers consistently. He can point to the numbers when directed to and knows which is which. I don't have the official terminology and explanation for this, but it's my understanding that there is a part of the brain that recognizes numbers and a part of the brain that recognizes letters. So far, Matthew's ability to recognize letters is sporatic and inconsistent.

Therapists are getting Matthew to use his left hand more and more to write and draw with a pencil. He used to get frustrated and throw the pencil. Now he will hold onto it longer and scribble all over the paper.

Here's a few miscellaneous bits of information that show progress: Matthew's depth perception has improved; his teasing nature shows forth once in a while toward the people caring for him; and Matthew can lift his left leg off the bed on command (he can't lift his right leg on command, but when he's relaxed and not thinking about it, he will lift his right leg). Next week in therapy, Matthew will go from the tilt table to the standing frame.

I'd like to ask for your prayers for a specific concern. Caring and transporting Matthew to and from therapy and all the lifting that has to be done is causing great physical strain on Brenda's body (since she is his primary care person during the day). The Kurzs are applying for state help to get daytime help caring for Matthew to assist her. We pray that they are able to get someone who understands head trauma and is a very caring person to work with Matthew.

Hope you are enjoying the beauty of God's world this fall.

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother