Talk about our favorite Quaker

Who would've guessed this a few months ago? Terrific.

We had a great visit with Kate and Adam. The drive would've been worth it for these 5 seconds alone, though.
:)

Below are pictures of how Adam celebrated his day. Regrettably I do not have pictures of the party, which I understand from Kate was very successful, (I have to get on the road before 4 in order not to sit in traffic)



Adam borrowed Matt's Rugby chair and practiced his skills. The chair is battered, and looks like it would work as a snowplow.

Earlier in the afternoon Adam worked on building his upper back muscles, which are now visible as he works. He's still skinny, however.


The highlight for me was seeing Adam standing on one foot, with no support. (I heard they're going to practice jumping next week????)



Last of all, the usual reaching and stretching with OT John. Both he and PT John are always dangling a challenge at Adam, who of course has to try it and do one better.


We can't say enough good things about HHH. The staff are fantastic people. The facility is beautiful, which unlike many places, makes people want to come to visit. The spinach pie, on Friday, is very good. We have come to appreciate how complex the human body is, and how many things working together allow us to go about our daily lives, easily.

When Adam leaves next week, he will walk out with braces and crutches (although I've heard he can walk without crutches inside under close supervision) just as Dr. Pomerantz said he would.


Happy Birthday, Adam!!!
Katesmama

Happy Birthday to our favorite Quaker!!!!!!

OT John spoofing that he can't bend Adam's arm.


Adam has crutches and plastic leg braces. What goes up, also comes down.
















A little juggling to end the day. The apt move happens Tues. Good thing the ins. comp. is getting anxious. Kate's Mama

Jason and I were finally able to visit Adam this weekend!

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We went to see Adam for the first time in a week. We were delighted to see that it looks like he has gained weight. In the AM OT session Adam, standing in the walker, practiced putting a "baby" (10lb. sandbag)into the crib.




In the afternoon OT sessions Adam tore strips of paper and using his fingers only, rolled the paper into little balls. He also put together and pulled apart small pop-it beads. These exercises develop strength and dexterity, and are not easy. At the end of the afternoon we along with PT John went to find out what kind of wheelchair Adam's insurance might pay for, hopefully the lightest one.





Kate's mama

The link on the Helen Hayes web site says it's a list of hotels "within 10 miles" of the hospital.  The first four I Google-mapped were 10.5 to 14 miles away.  Perhaps Helen Hayes uses some sort of unique variant of the Imperial measurement system.

That aside, I thought I'd mention that along US-9W are a bunch of ma-and-pa motels.  I didn't stop to check their prices, but given their locale, I'd be surprised if they aren't cheaper than the major-chain hotels on the HH website.  The motels in question are also only about 5 miles from Helen Hayes, so you wouldn't be driving as far, either.

HH also lists its address unhelpfully as just "Route 9W".  They are in fact at 51 S. Route 9W.  My GPS found no "Rte. 9W" in West Haverstraw, but did have a "S. Rte 9W", so don't be confused if your GPS is like my Magellan.  Also, as is often the case with street addresses, it doesn't pinpoint #51 right on the nose, but the hospital has good roadside signage, so just keep driving and you won't miss it.

Adam has indeed made outstanding progress, but reality is that he has a ways to go before he can function in the "outside world" especially to the level he did formerly.
The PT lady had Adam go into the pool by holding onto the handrails in the shallow end. The rails were farther apart than the parallel bars in the PT gym. The look on Adam's face was high level anxiety, but to his credit he did it anyway. Once in the water, he was more comfortable than on Tues. They took off his aqua socks, hoping that the movement against the pool bottom will help stimulate the return of sensation in his feet and legs. We understand that he is doing some of his PT in the gym barefoot as well. While Adam moves well in water, on land, he requires a walker and a human with him at all times, all real travel is done in a wheelchair.
Reality is, while Adam can stand, he needs to be supported either by leaning against the table, or holding on. When he needs to use two hands someone steadies him. (picture) Strength training is a part of every OT session. Too his credit, Adam never complains just grits his teeth and keeps on trying until he can't do the activity anymore.


OT John has come up with some clever activities to stretch muscles. Yesterday it was 3 juggling balls. First, it was simply transferring the ball from one hand to the other. Adam told John that used to be able to juggle 3 balls at a time. The activity quickly turned into an attempt at juggling. Adam's realization that his full skill was not there, was sad to watch. However, game none the less, Adam started at the beginning and was successful in getting two of the balls in motion. The third ball eluded him, but then again can you juggle? I can't. The "boys" then had a fairly wild game of catch, John pushing Adam to reach further and return the ball. While the right side gets the most practice, Adam still has to use his left hand/arm for any activity. He might be quite ambidextrous by the time he leaves HHH.(picture) Note Adam is braced against the table.

Amanda and I went to visit Adam this past Saturday, and the very first thing I noticed was... nothing.

Nothing!

We walked into the room, and Adam turned to greet us, said hi... Like Nothing Was Different. He looked like Adam. He sounded like Adam. It was pretty easy to mistake the wheelchair for a desk chair, too, if you didn't look too closely. It was the best!

We chatted, snacked on manly Pocky, and got overwhelmed by durian fumes. We were supposed to be there to keep him company while Kate was at work, but being Adam, he turned the tables, and entertained *us* with a great Hodgman video.

He even managed to make his albuterol treatment look, well, smoking...


But I prefer him when he comes out from behind the mask!


And check out the muscles on this guy! Is it the PT, or was it the Pocky?