Lots to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Community

Community..... only lately have we begun to understand that the fellow residents are now our community, however long we are at Rosedale.  And there is much to give and gain if we just notice and take the time to learn names, to smile and say good morning, to share our dog, Charlie.

The staff is easy for us to appreciate....they are so skilled at caring and responsive to unending needs.  But the residents are easy to look past.....the are also in wheelchairs,and eye contact takes an extra effort. Because they are usually "old" and some look "vacant" or depressed it is easy to not want to engage.  It might feel awkward or take too much time.  The conversations we have taken time to have remind us that "they" are us, just with more experience with life and physical challenges that would put anyone to the test.

Steve and I attended the Rosedale Veteran's Day program and it really brought home how much we stand to learn from our community.  Picture a row of mostly WW II veterans, all in wheelchairs, singing patriotic songs, listening intently to the program and saluting where they could.    It was the first time I had seen one of these men widely open his eyes and really "come alive."  It was very moving and we were proud that Steve was included in the program and the honor.

Many of us dread the possibility that we will be in one of "those places" when we get old.  It might help us fear less if we move toward those who have taken on that "assignment" and learn from them how to accept limitations with grace and dignity.

-Nancy and Steve

November update

Hello again!

In the past two weeks, Steve has been working hard on the machines in the therapy gym.  He has regained a good deal of strength in his upper arms and has progressed to over 175 rotations on the "arm bike" with his hands strapped on.  He also just yesterday got to use the leg pedals, and while he couldn't yet propel them all the way around, he rotated them back and forth quite a bit.  Trunk strength is continually improving and he can shift around more in the wheelchair.

We went to a new neurologist this week and he is assembling the picture of where Steve has come from and assessed him thoroughly.  It think he will be a good ally. Once again, no doctor can predict the length of time or extent of recovery for Steve and this doctor feels it could be up to a year or year and a half until we "see where we are."  Another chance for Steve to show another doctor how he can "beat the odds!"

Steve decided to purchase a piece of equipment that will allow him to enter our car using a sling and this metal mechanism called a multi-lift.  We are eagerly looking forward to its arrival somewhere around the 20th.  Then we should be able to go out together any time for just a drive or to a destination!  Stay tuned for more news of that development.

We appreciate so much each of you continuing to walk with us through the blog and your prayers.

Nancy and Steve