Update - 6/27/07

The last week or two have been a roller-coaster ride for the Kurz family. Things were pretty tough for Matthew following the surgery to remove the bachlofin pump. He had what seemed excessive fluid/puss oozing from the incision area, but after another trip to the hospital they found out that it is natural for the body to filling the cavity left by the bachofin pump with fluid and a great deal of it was oozing out. That has improved. Matthew also had to have an antibiotic because tests showed there was bacteria around the area where the pump was.

Toward the end of last week Matthew's spasms got better and he's handling them better. Instead of "fighting" them when they come, he calmly waits for them to pass and "works with them". After the surgery he tired easily and was not sleeping well at night. He had to work back slowing into the therapy routine.

After the surgery there was some setback in Matthew's progress with speech therapy. He was saying seven to nine word sentences clearly before the surgery but afterwards, he didn't say much in sentences and he was hard to understand. This has improved tremendously in the last week. Saturday Matthew was making a face that he wasn't happy about something, but the family couldn't figure out what was wrong. His mom said, "Matthew, you're going to have to tell me what you need. I can't understand what you're telling me with that face." Matthew then said very clearly and said the whole sentence, "I want to lay down please." It's great when Matthew can initiate the words and not just repeat what someone tells him to say.

Monday Matthew's cast was taken off and he's being fitted for a foot brace to be worn indefinitely. It's wonderful to see Matthew's foot in a normal position. As you can probably guess, he will have to do lots of therapy with that foot to stretch the tendons, but it's looking good. Things are really positive today. Matthew was standing at therapy and he initiated a small, but noticeable step with his left foot. This is terrific!

Well, the "roller coast ride" I mentioned before has it's ups and downs for Andrew as well. He fell while roller skating and broke his hand. He broke one of the major bones in the hand and this bone also happens to be the bone that takes the longest in the body to heal. Andrew will have to wear a cast for two months, but at least it is a removable cast so he can take it off to shower. But this doesn't stop Andrew. He promised his boss at the pizza restaurant that he can be a bus boy with one good hand. And so far he's doing a great job managing the "inconvenience." Hopefully his hand will heal well so he won't be going off to college with a cast on his hand.

God's blessings to you this week!

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's Godmother

Update - 6/16/07

This has been a rough week for Matthew. On Monday his stitches from the surgery to replace the catheter to the baclofin pump were removed. Unfortunately things didn't go as smoothly as expected. Soon after this he began to have discharge from the incision area and puss was gathering. Matthew also had a fever. He was taken to the emergency room, sent home and then went to the hospital in Columbia the next day. He was taken home again and during the night the discharge increased dramatically and the incision opened so much that his parents could see through to the baclofin pump inside Matthew.

Matthew was admitted to University Hospital in Columbia and they began weaning Matthew off the medicine administered through the baclofin pump in preparation for removing the pump altogether. This was very rough for Matthew. The spasms and pain began throughout all his muscles. The surgery was Friday morning and he came through the surgery fine. The tough part is the withdrawal symptoms from the baclofin medicine. Matthew is on pain medication, but he is still very uncomfortable.

The doctors are estimating that they can put the baclofin pump back in Matthew's body in two weeks or so. The question will be where to put it. Matthew doesn't have much body fat so they had to insert the pump in muscle tissue previously. Please keep Matthew in your prayers as he recovers from surgery and has to deal with muscles spasms and tone that causes pain for Matthew. Also keep Matthew's parents in your prayers as they stay by his side and care for him - comforting him through the pain and discomfort.

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's Godmother

Update - 6/2/07

Great news! Matthew stood this past week and didn't grimace with pain and didn't hyper-extend his left knee. So far, the lack of pain and struggle to stand is a great indication that the surgery was a success for Matthew's left leg. He still has the cast and will for a few more weeks, but the fact that he can stand on it is wonderful! He is getting stronger following his surgery and we rejoice!

A few times recently Matthew has been dropped off at therapy by a family member or his personal assistant and told to drive himself in his power chair to therapy (after being given instructions on where to go). So, he was unloaded at the hospital door, went down the hall and turned to the right to therapy and got there just fine.

When he returns home, Matthew is able to back up the ramp in the garage, open the door and get in the house. These are the very beginning steps toward independence. In time we hope Matthew will be able to initiate the actions rather than needing someone else to tell him to do it.

Matthew's love for art is able to be cultivated with the Art Museum in Sedalia. He REALLY enjoyed a visit to the Art Museum a few weeks ago and drove around on his own examining the art work. He could spend hours there, sitting and studying each piece, then moving onto the next.

Matthew can play catch again! He will wear the baseball mitt on his left hand and Lucas throws him the ball and Matthew knew just what to do to catch the ball. They played catch for quite a while and Matthew did well catching the ball. Matthew's right hand is getting stronger. He now shakes hands with his right hand and his grip is pretty good!

In speech therapy, Matthew is given an open sentence with three options to complete the sentence. He usually picks the right and appropriate option. More progress! He continues to work with money and time in other therapy sessions and makes little steps forward in his abilities.

We congratulate Andrew on his graduation on May 20, 2007. He is a terrific young man and we are very proud of him!!!!! Matthew is also proud of his brother and was pointing to him when he spotted him in the line of graduates, saying, "Brother, Andrew"! Matthew did very well at Andrew's graduation and handled the noise level and number of people without any problems. He was happy to see everybody and enjoyed people coming over to talk to him. He was very attentive for the whole ceremony which is a tremendous improvement in his concentration level.

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. . . I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:1-6, 14

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's Godmother