Food! Glorious Food! (Update from Nancy)

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for checking in!

Steve passed a swallowing test this week! He has “graduated” from ice chips to pureed regular food! This means a real menu, a plate, and choices! His first meal was turkey and gravy and thickened orange juice. He ate every bite. It even looked like turkey in the way it was presented :) See picture on the right. It was so great to be part of this milestone! His swallowing has returned well enough for this and next his tongue needs to cooperate in order to be able to get some texture to the food. But, he is on his way! 

Steve also was asked to attend a meeting between Dr. Krause, the unit directors, Pat and Brenda, and Lindsay, the speech therapist. He sat erect in the wheelchair and used his voice as they discussed what the unit could do to continuously improve. He gave a number of well thought out suggestions, from both the patient and engineering perspective. I was so proud of him. The meeting lasted an hour and everyone listened so attentively and asked questions. We are thankful for this effort to give Steve a voice to help others.

Last week I mentioned I attended a church service where Willhem Nel, a GBS survivor, was the speaker. He was told he would never preach again! He now pastors a church in South Africa. I had told Steve about how his book, “Silent Adventure," affected me and he asked me to read it to him. We have had some very special moments and conversations as we continue through Mr. Nel’s account of God’s faithfulness during his illness and his ultimate healing.

More blessings of the week: nurse Tara buying me a pizza, two friends already on their way to visit when I called Sandy to ask if she could put the word out because it was a particularly lonely day for Steve, a quickly delivered new bed for Steve and a service call from the manufacturer of the bed ordered by Pat, just to make sure it was working as well as it possibly could. Things like this happen daily and remind us that we are surrounded by love -- God’s love through people. This week ended with a special “pop-up visit” from daughter-in-love, Flora, and Evy (our dose of vitamin E). Flora is helping Steve with his dinner as I write this.

Love, 

Nancy