Update - 9/27/08

INCREDIBLE NEWS!!!!

Matthew is to be awarded the Courage Award from the Brain Injury Association of Missouri!!!! He will receive this award at a dinner in St. Charles, Missouri at the Embassy Suites Hotel. His family will be with him as he receives this award (including his godparents and cousin). It is certainly well-deserved. Matthew has fought so hard to continue to make improvements and continues to fight!!!!

We are so thankful that Matthew continues to regain strength and mobility with his right arm and right leg. It is amazing to see him move his right leg and right arm on his own without any assistance. What a major accomplishment!

In my last update I discussed Matthew initiating conversation and sentences. Well, that continues, as well as Matthew giving commands to those around him. Recently he was asked by his Dad if he wanted the light turned off in his bedroom, and Matthew replied, "Eventually I will want it off, but not now." Now, some of you might think, "what's the big deal about him saying that?" Well, the words he used show a more advanced language choice as well as skill in using appropriately. That is amazing considering how little Matthew was saying just a year ago or even a couple months ago.

If you haven't seen the post that directly precedes this one, please make sure to read that. There is a great deal of new information that shows Matthew continued progress and discusses the exercise machine he is using that we believe is contributing his so much of his recent improvements.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother

Update - 9/16/08

Several weeks ago Matthew began exercising with the NuStep exercise machine. In just a few days, improvements could be seen. Matthew began showing more and more independence and more stability in his physical movements, as well as improvements in his speech. He was able to state what he needed to do to get from point A to point B and then did it.

Now after using the NuStep machine on a regular basis in the past several weeks, Matthew's verbal abilities have greatly improved. Matthew is talking in sentences, and often more than one sentence at a time. He recently got frustrated waiting on his mom to get ready to leave the house for therapy and he came and found her and told her what she needed to do to get out of the house! He has also improved dramatically in being able to name objects clearly on the first try (for instance, he can identifying the difference between a quarter and a nickel).

Since using the NuStep he can now lift his right leg, move it forward and backward, pivet it, and then move his leg from side to side. He's never been able to do any of that movement before except for moving his right foot forward to take a step. He can also get out of bed, stand up with his frame slightly bent, transfer his weight and get into his wheelchair all by himself.

Matthew is also identifying colors correctly (which is a big improvement over calling everything black or red). The world of the artist seems to be awakening in his mind!!! With his right arm he has drawn three pictures. When you compare these pictures to pictures he has drawn with his left hand, the lines are smoother in the right hand drawing than with his left hand drawing. Amazing! Recently Matthew was with his family at the Cole Camp Fair and he thoroughly enjoyed looking at the children's art exhibit. He look very intently at the art and said "wow, look at all those colors."

Speaking of colors, a generous lady in Matthew's Uncle Joel's church made a quilt for him - black with all sorts of colors on it. He is fascinated looking at the colors. He's excited every time he opens up the quilt and studies the colors.

Every day Matthew makes dramatic changes!!!

Nancy Peterson, a neurodevelopment specialist will be teaching the Sedalia community and surrounding areas about rythmic movement training and how it will help people with disabilities: autism, ADHD, brain trauma, etc. Matthew and his caregivers are excited to learn more and attend this training session. To learn more about this, check out www.haraldblomberg.com or www.rhythmicmovement.com.

There are a few more new developments in the last couple of weeks. Matthew has a "lift" in his left shoe now. Matthew's walking has been inhibited by the way he comes down on his toes instead of his heel, but now the lift helps to angle his foot correctly as he steps.

In addition to this new development, Matthew has a new primary PMR doctor, Dr. Janet Gorham. She has been assisting with his care all along, but his previous primary physician retired and she took over Matthew's care. She discovered that Matthew's inner ear balance has been off ever since the accident. That has been corrected and now Matthew is able to stand much better and is more stable for longer periods of time.

ALSO, Matthew has seen a special optometrist, Dr. Carol Scott. There was concern about his right eye having damage that may not have healed. His right eye was "lazy." But Matthew's eye has gotten stonger and stronger and his eye is completely healed on the right side. Praise the Lord!

Check the Sedalia paper out Wednesday. Matthew was interviewed and it's possible the article will be in the paper in the next day or two.

Please mark your calendars for next year on September 12, 2009. The Kurz family and others that God has brought their way are sponsoring a walk-a-thon to raise awareness for those with brain injuries and that there is life after brain injury!!! This walk-a-thon will be in Centennial Park in Sedalia (watch for more information in the coming months). It has been an amazing journey with God's help every step of the way for the Kurz family and people have been referred to the Kurz family all the time with help in dealing with their own struggles. The Kurz have been an inspiration to others and now they want to help increase awareness for brain injuries. One half of the money raised will go to the Missouri Brain Injury Association to help have a voice at the Missouri Capital and assist with the camp that Matthew attended this past summer. One-fourth will go to West-Central Independent Living Solutions (WILS) which is an organization that helps build handicapped accessible ramps. The other fourth will go to Bridges, an organization that has a rec center for those with brain injuries to come and have fun.

Matthew was going for a walk with his new personal assistant (the nursing care is gone, but the state still pays for some daytime in-home assistance) and Matthew said "You know what, this is temporary (pointing to his wheelchair). I am going to get better." He is showing signs that he's taking personal responsibility for getting better. It's not just mom telling him he can do things.

By the way, we want to give a special "thank you" to Matthew's nurses. They were wonderful and loved Matthew and gave him great care! It's a strain on Matthew's family to be without the nurses, but they are making adjustments.

Have a great day!

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's Godmother