Walking with No Assistance!

As Dan's physical therapy continues, he has been transitioning to using a cane. He rarely uses his walker anymore, only in situations such as around the pool where things can be a bit slippery.  While using his cane last week, he noticed that he had started to take a few steps without needing to set it down for support. He demonstrated this for his PT at his appointment later that week, to which his therapist (much to the surprise of Dan) decided he didn't need his cane for the rest of his therapy session.  So for the next hour, Dan proceeded to walk around Elk's Rehab on his own, unassisted! It was awesome!  While it is still a slow, sometimes a bit unsteady process, it is one that Dan reached quite faster than he expected. Since then, he has been practicing his walking in the back yard:

The video is from my cell phone, so I apologize for the poor quality!

He is making such great progress that at this weeks physical therapy session, his PT Ryan put him back on the treadmill.  The treadmill is your standard treadmill that has a harness set up with it.  The patient is strapped into the harness, so that as the speed is increased for either walking or running, the patient is supported should they trip or stumble.  It is a safe environment to really push the limits of their mobility.  While on the treadmill yesterday Dan got up to running speed!  This is a huge goal for Dan, to be running by the end of summer.  Unfortunately, I have no video of that, but it was incredible.  Very big moment-it suddenly became very possible for him to achieve that goal of running again.

Things have really been improving in all areas lately-eating is sloooowly getting better, he has put on a little weight, the side effects of his chemo have subsided a bit, his walking gets better everyday, AND his hair is finally growing back after the radiation!  Dan will go in again in June for scans to his brain, lungs, and abdomen. God willing, he will get another clean bill of health.

We are just so grateful for everything God continues to do for us and the ways that he continues to provide.  We are also very thankful for our wonderful friends and family!

Hope you all are having a wonderful spring and that warm weather is heading your way!!

Jen

Easter

We had a very nice Easter this year-we were blessed both by the unusually warm weather (Hello 70 degrees!) and by having Dan's buddy Paul, his wife Wendy, and their kids Matt, Jacob, and Katie in Boise for a visit from Minnesota.  We were all able to enjoy various events-Dan eating prime rib for dinner, heading up to Idaho City to check out the new hot springs pool, Sunday church service, and an Easter egg hunt.  The Easter Bunny was very creative this year (thanks to our visitors!) and put together a scavenger hunt for clues to the kids Easter baskets.  Jack loved it, and I think it is a tradition that will need to continue.

Following a clue in the hunt for Easter baskets!

We found it!

The kids putting together the Lego's from their baskets.

Paul and Wendy's daughter Katie is an amazing photographer, and while she was there, she kindly offered to take a family picture for us.  Since that last photo of us all together was just a few days prior to Dan's surgery, we decided to take her up on the offer. Thank you Katie!

It was a very blessed time and we are so thankful to the McCullough family for their friendship.  We hope you too had a wonderful holiday!

Jen

March in Review

Wow, I hadn't realized it had been so long since my last post.  The last 6 weeks have just flown by-much like the last 4 months!  At the end of February, Jack turned 5 years old.  I don't even know how that happened!  Now we are discussing things like starting swim team this summer and getting him registered for Kindergarten.  He is doing well and is a happy boy, we are so blessed.

Dan has been staying busy (and in turn, keeping me busy!)  He started pool therapy twice a week in March in addition to his regular physical therapy twice a week.  The pool therapy has been a great change of pace and it provides a bit of a social outlet. There are 3 other men also re-learning to walk in the class. Dan no longer uses a wheelchair at all, getting around primarily by walker. His physical therapist is in the process of getting him to transition to just a cane, which is exciting. It still proves to be a bit of a challenge, but like everything else, will come in time and practice.

March also was the month for Dan's check-in's with his radiation oncologist and neurosurgeon.  Both were extremely happy with how well Dan has done.  The smallest of his brain tumors is completely gone now and the other one is about the 1/3 of it's original size and still inactive.  We aren't sure if it is the radiation continuing to work or if the chemo drug has broken the brain-blood barrier, but either way, it is good news!  He will have another set of scans-brain, chest, and abdomen-in June.

One big challenge Dan is still working to overcome is eating and his nausea.  He has continued to lose weight.  It had really become frustrating for both of us-Dan not being able to eat and me feeling helpless in that I couldn't fix it.  Through the recommendation of a friend, Dan decided to try acupuncture. In just the four sessions Dan has had so far, things have already improved.  His nausea is significantly lower. He is beginning to expand his food options, cautiously.  We are hopeful things will continue to get better and we can get some weight back on him!

Finally, the other exciting thing is Dan took his first business trip last week! He was able to travel to Yakima with a co-worker. Everything seemed to go well and he enjoyed being able to catch up with everyone.

Thank you to everyone who continues to check the blog and check in with us on Dan's status.  We appreciate all the prayers, positive thoughts, and uplifting messages.  I'll post again soon! 

Jen