October update

Hi all,

Steve continues to progress physically and his mental/emotional outlook is, most days, resllient and strong.  His trust in God inspires me to keep on keeping on!

Latest achievements are more success in swinging his arm up on the wheelchair or bed and using the arm bicycle with hands strapped on.  This is with no therapist holding him erect!

We held a surprise birthday party for Steve here at Rosedale.  The activity staff was so thoughtful in setting up the room with fall decorations and tablecloths.  He was so happy to see everyone who came.  Thank you to so many others who sent cards....we enjoyed hearing from you:)  

We had a wonderful visit from one of his nurses from Drake, where he was for 13 months.  Erin had visited before and this time she brought us Panera dinner:)

She is one of the most compassionate nurses I have ever known.

Milwaukee friends Dave and Margo Hoffman were here for a couple of days and we had pizza outside in the courtyard.  They are like family to us.

We also had a visit from Bob and Sue Pinney.  Bob had a long ordeal with GBS also and now is recovered!  They were such an encouragement as they recounted stages in Bob's recovery and Steve nodded in recognition and asked a few questions.   

Our daughter Becky and granddaugher Diksha were here this past weekend.  Becky hadn't seen him since August and was so excited to see the difference in him!

Please keep checking back, we'll try to post more as we live life watching and waiting.

Nancy

This entry was written by the man himself- Steve Parsley!

Well here I am, nineteen months after I first went into the hospital with GBS.  I think I am getting better incrementally, day by day, at least that is what everybody around me tells me. The real thing I'm doing is laying in bed waiting for my nerves to reconnect.  I am experiencing several hours a week of therapy to keep my muscles limber and ready for when the nerves do reconnect.

However I am well entertained by the many visitors and those who communicate with me via email.

I am grateful to all those who have prayed for me.  Prayer works! I have gone from not even being able to lift an eyelid and having dozens of hoses running in and out of me to being almost normal and waiting to go home anxiously.

I hope that the prayers will continue.  I need it.  I also need prayers that  will reach the people serving me with my message of Christ and what he has done for me. 

Thank you so much for reading.  I will try to add more later.

Steve

Little birdie here

Steve's birthday is Oct 16th.

Cards can be sent to:
4250 Glenn Avenue
Covington KY 41015

Millimeter

Sorry its been a stretch between blog entries.  To be honest, I haven't posted in part due to my emotions and energy being so up and down.  As the Bible says, the battle is in the spiritual realm as we fight against discouragement and impatience. Our faith is being strengthened as we persevere, each day calling for a new supply as we trust God to see us through.

We are literally waiting for nerves to grow one millimeter at a time, yet the growth is invisible, UNTIL it shows up in another muscle movement that is new.  And there are!  Steve's therapists notice the most as they feel new muscles firing.  Lately, with the aid of a brace they found and holding Steve's arm up at the elbow, he is able to feed himself.  

Steve has mastered the ipad and mouth-guided stylus so he can use the internet to do things like prep for our Bible study that he leads there at Rosedale, and visit his train sites.  He has cleaned out his inbox of about 6,000 emails....imagine the patience:)  Steve would love to get emails from you and his address is: slparsley@gmail.com.  He can answer them, slowly, picking out one letter at a time with the stylus!

Steve will be guest author at this site soon so do check back!  Thank you for your continued support.

Nancy

Man Around Town

Hello blog followers!

As you may have been in the blog pictures, Steve has "flown the coop" twice and got to do normal guy stuff!  First, Sam Sladen took him for a convertible ride....they stopped at a car show, drove through McDonalds and said they just drove through the countryside the rest of the time:)  I waited for them for a while, but after an hour I thought, "Might as well go home!"  They were out 2.5 hours!  Steve was moved from a wheelchair into the convertible with a small crane-like thing called a Hoyer lift.  Staff said it was easier than transferring him into a wheelchair:)  They were wonderful and were as excited as we were over this opportunity.  Thank you, Sam!

Then, Thursday, Rosedale therapy staff took Steve and a few others to the Bengals training camp practice in downtown Cincinnati. I went along! We rode the van, which accommodates wheelchairs. We had a great time and a beautiful day. Steve sported a Bengals shirt he asked me to pick up on the way to Rosedale:)  Afterwards, some players came around to us and gave autographs.  We are so grateful to the therapy team that made this possible.

We are at the year and half mark in our journey.  I thought I'd give a short recap of where Steve's recovery is at this point.

Thanking God for recovery of eyesight, swallowing, speech, breathing and lung recovery from several pneumonias, trunk movement, ability to sit up for long periods, ability to stand with support frame, movement of lower legs, arm movement and more that we can't see yet!

We expectantly wait and pray for Steve's ability to transfer from a chair to another chair or bed, continued strength to be able to take a step and movement of his hands.  Thank you for traveling along with us.

Nancy

Early August update

Hi, Everyone,

Thank you for checking back with us! Steve is improving weekly with the therapy he is getting at Rosedale. We are feeling as "at home" there as you can without being, well, at home! He is standing in a frame, leaning on his forearms, at least once a week and is up to 27 minutes. His arms increase in strength and range of motion each week as well. Steve's hands are still not "pulling their weight", otherwise he would have just about full use of his arms. Keep praying, please!

I have been busy with the financial and insurance end of this journey, visiting Steve several times a week, and taking a few days to go visit Tim's and Becky's families.

We keep taking one day at a time and now there are more good days than discouraging ones. Thank you to all who continue to stand by with prayer, visits, and notes. It means so much!

Nancy

Widening the lens a bit

One year ago we were so pleased with the picture on the left of Dad sitting outside in a wheelchair. He was on the ventilator, needed full head support, was attached to an array of tubes and wires and was accompanied by a small army of support staff. What a difference a year makes!! Keep looking forward, Mom and Dad!

4th of July

Hi everyone,

We are again writing from a new place! Steve is at Rosedale Green in Latonia, KY room 117. As he wasn't going to be released to home from Gateway (not yet, anyway!), he needs to continue recovery at this skilled nursing facility. He moved July 2. We are already impressed with the rehabilitation therapy team and their enthusiasm to work with Steve, seeing so much potential and that he is, in their words, "young!" We were so warmly welcomed by staff continually going in and out checking on this and that, finding the best fit wheelchair, etc.  

We're so grateful to have had Becky, Flora, and Tim, and most of their children here last week. They helped us research facilities and choose Rosedale. Being with the grandchildren was just the pick-me-up we needed. Blessed!

Steve continues to have an amazing positive attitude and I'm so proud of his fight and trust in God. It inspires me. One comment when he left Gateway shows his sense of humor intact....when they gave him a "graduation" pin with a graduation cap on it, he announced that he would wear it proudly, but "I'm not going to walk!" (in the "commencement ceremony")

Today, Charlie and I will head over and a happy reunion will take place. There are beautiful grounds at Rosedale and hopefully we can spend time outside. Steve's room is very nice, big and has comfortable chairs. Do visit when you can! (4250 Glenn Avenue, Covington, KY 41015)

Love,

Nancy 

Update from Gateway

Hi All,

Steve is getting a therapy workout of about 4 hours per day at Gateway Rehabilitation Hospital in Florence, KY. We find this place to be top notch and pray he can be there as long as possible. Right now, discharge is scheduled for July 2 and we don't know where he would go after Gateway. All depends on the progress he is making according to Medicare. Of course, he only wants to go home.

And he is progressing :) As you know, he got his trach out June 6. A huge milestone and we must again mention the amazing Drake Hospital respiratory team who patiently and frequently adjusted his ventilator settings and gave him so much daily assistance with breathing.  

Last week, his feeding tube to his stomach was removed and he gets all his nourishment by mouth.  He also passed the swallowing test that allows him to drink thin liquids -- bring on the Grape Nehi Soda, his favorite! Speech therapy signed off, satisfied with his improvement. Occupational and physical therapists say he is making progress on their front.

Thank you so much to the many who sent cards, brought food, and visited Steve during my first two weeks post-op from foot surgery. Your faithfulness is a blessing beyond words. Also, the "card shower" launched by daughter-in-love, Flora, brought so many cards to Steve and they decorate his room so he can see the love every day.

Thanking God for you,

Nancy and Steve

Happy Father's Day!

Dad-
We are so proud of how you are doing. Keep pushing forward. We love you! - Tim and Becky