Community Dominos and Launcher?

So Rob has been attending group meetings with 4-5 other patients and at this particular gathering it was decided to play dominoes. Rob was on an arm sling with his dominoes on a tray in front of him, when it came his turn he would attempt to swing his arms and either touch or indicate the domino he wanted to play. One of the therapists said Rob needed a domino launcher, and the head therapist said good idea you have 5 minutes to make it, and he was off to construct.

You can see the resulting launcher in the video below.

Later

Chris

A Day of Outings

Hello again,

So Rob got scheduled for not one but TWO outings in succession. The first was to Target for any shopping that he needed to do, so he spent his time with mom and I following to select a birthday present for Holies birthday. He then had an exercise, the therapist in charge put a 5.00 bill under his hand and told him to get what he wanted from Starbucks, but the catch was that nobody could help him except for the cashier (but I got to be e cup holder since he did not have on on the chair). This was a total success and he is so proud of himself for this seemingly small thing to all of us but it was major for him.

He then got to go to Freebirds for a dinner with 4 other patients and they all got Freedom T-shirts, this is in the video below.

Later Chris

Hand Bike with Stimulation and the Erigo Board

Hello World...

Rob says hey to all of you. He is doing well and they are continuing to get him on different assistive technology for rehab. In the video below the first part is him on a powered hand bike that has built in muscle stimulation through the electrodes, the electrodes are placed two in front and two behind each upper arm and then two on the back of each shoulder. When the therapist presses go it will start sending electric current through the wipers and after a time period the arm peddles start moving. And then the current is set to levels where he can feel it and is comfortable.

In the second part of the video he is on the Erigo standing board again where his feel are peddled by the machine.

Until next time Chris

And on Sunday Rob rested

After a day of utilizing a chin control device to drive around a zoo full of people Rob was tuckered out, he elected to rest all day Sunday. We brought in food, (steak in fact) for a big evening meal and a good dessert and he was set. There is not much to report so until next post...

Chris

What a Saturday

Today started out routine with eating, dressings, and moving to the power chair. Fairly routine except for the cloud of excitement hovering in the room like, well like a child's excitement when they see the lights or an arcade for the first time. there is also an undertone of fear from us and Rob, all of these mixed emotions come from Rob being able to go off of the hospital grounds with just family as the responsible party (no hospital staff). The kids Caleb and Sarah have been wanting to go to the Houston Zoo for a couple of weeks and Rob's Dr gave the ok for an outing.

Rob had been out supervised by staff a couple of times but this was a totally different environment, lots of people (with the vast majority having complete disregard for a person with disability), many turns, backing, dodging, and always with a watchful eye for the child (his or others) that might run in front of the chair, or have a foot close to the tires. All of this with Rob only being able to drive the chair with a chin control due to his injury.

Below is a short video I put together to give you guys a look also.

Until tomorrow

Chris

Ah Thursdays, it would not be a week without them.

Rob had a pretty busy day today,

08:00 - breakfast, dressing, and into chair
10:30 - Neuro
11:00 - OT, measured for a power chair
12:00 - Lunch
01:00 - PT
02:00 - PT
05:00 - Dinner

Here is a short video of a shark in the cafeteria and Rob doing some balancing.

Until Tomorrow

Chris

A very good speaker.

Hey all, Another slow Sunday here at TIRR, Rob went through the daily routine of being dressed, teeth brushed, move to his chair with a lift and sitting around talking. Today there was another guest speaker, the gentleman was instrumental in getting the Americans with Disabilities Act in place along with working for President Bush, it was an eye opening talk.


Until Tomorrow

Chris

An Outing To See A Race Car And Driver With A SCI

Yea, Rob got picked for an outing to see and hear a race driver and his car. The seminar was an open forum where the driver with a C5 SCI answered questions Forman audience of other SCI individuals. Rob spent about 2 hours at the site looking, talking and visiting with others. This driver is driven to accomplish so much and it was very inspiring for all the TIRR patients there. Towards the end of the seminar Robs Grammies (my mother), Uncle Barron (my brother), and Aunt Tess (Donnas sister) showed up all the way from San Angelo for a visit. These two events were again very therapeutic for Rob mentally. The rest of the day was spent visiting with family and sitting outside (hospitals are cold inside burrrrr).

Below is a video of the race car outing.

Until tomorrow

Chris

Can you say road trip???

Rob had a good attitude today, he got to go through his daily routine of exercise and and eating but In addition there was a road trip, actually a sidewalk trip of a few blocks with his therapist. This was a much need therapeutic outing for his mental state. Think about how you would feel being in a hospital lying in bed much of the time and when not in bed being confined to the hospital grounds for the past 7 weeks. Enough said I think. Well tomorrow is another day and I will report as often as I can.

Until then

Chris

Visit from family and friends

Today was another visit day, Brandie (PT sister), Butch and Lisa Hasty came down. Brandie again ran Rob through the paces of exercise and workout, and in between these he visited with Butch and Lisa. Other than the visits and normal classes Rob was able to exercise on a new assistive machine that made him very tired, he also used the computer type machine from yesterday's report. Today Rob was scheduled for an outing (a 6 block trip up and back to the commons) but with the copious amounts of rain falling around here (one area had 11inches in 48hours) it had to be cancelled, and 6 blocks would have been a long way to push a dead power chair as we found out that the one he has used the last couple of days had a charging challenge.

Until tomorrow

Chris

Assistive Technology

Hey all,

Today Rob got to use some assistive technology. With the aid of a big metal arm with lots of moving joints and his therapist he was able to work with a video game that functions within the confines of his limited movement. Take a look at the video below to see what I am talking about.

Busy schedule and standing board

Hey all,

Rob had a full schedule today, here is a snapshot. Any free time is currently spent visiting, exercising arms, or moving about the hospital.

07:30 - breakfast
08:00 - dressed, exercised, moved to chair
09:00 - Neuro/Psych
10:00 - OT, standing board
12:00 - lunch
01:00 - PT
02:30 - OT
03:00 - More OT
05:00 - Dinner

The Standing board was automated and this board has automated leg movements...check it out below.

Until tomorrow

Chris

Big Monday

Today was a big day for Rob. He got a loaner power chair complete with chin control. Hopefully This will greatly increase his neck and shoulder muscles. Then maybe someday the chin control can be removed and switched to a hand control.

Once you have been injured in this way Everything that happens is a forward progression.

Until next time

Chris

Slow Sunday

Hey all, Sundays are really slow here at TIRR, after the normal everyday items (dressing, eating, exercising arms and legs, chapel service) all that is left is roaming the halls and sitting outside. Today was a treat though a guest speaker came in, he was injured many years ago , and then went on to become a lawyer.

Below is a short video of Rob kicking back out in the courtyard.

Until Tomorrow

Chris

Super Saturday

So Rob has been getting excited the last couple of days, Brandie is coming for a visit. For those of you that do not know she is a PT that specializes in spinal injuries, so she has been a great blessing and she helps us a lot also as we are just learning. And she is bringing some chocolate cake, yummy...so we do not if it is a visit from sis or the chocolate cake.

Well he had a good workout with Brandie here, she pushed him to do everything. Rob had a thick slab or grilled beef steak for dinner, he has been waiting for it for a few days now and finally got it, and along with the choco cake he was really stuffed. So after a good nights rest he should be ready for round two with Brandie tomorrow.

Until then

Chris

This is a picture from the wall in the TIRR gym.

No video Friday

Hey Guys,

After a morning of prepping for the day that included, hair trim, shave, clothes on, a lift assist to the chair, Rob is again ready to tackle the day. First was some sling and lift practice, and some leg exercises on a mat. Then a RAPS class (this is a class for patients and caregivers). Next came lunch and a session with Neuro. After that was some OT time with arm, shoulder and neck exercises. Rob got to see Caleb and Sarah today they have been with family (Hollies side) for a few days, this was really uplifting for Rob.

The OT department is working on configuring a power chair for Rob to use that will be controlled by a chin joystick. This will allow him to move about and exercise his neck and shoulder muscles at the same time. And hopefully then he will transition to a hand control.

Well until next time...

Chris

After the Holiday Workout

Rob had a good workout today, he had PT and OT but in addition to these regular items he really worked on his neck muscles a lot and they got pretty tired and sore.

Below are a couple of quick videos showing some of his routine.

The first is Rob sitting on the side of a mat table working on balance by using his head and neck muscles. The gentleman who's hands you can see touching Robs shoulders is really just doing that touching, not holding him up unless he tips too far.

Next we have a video of Rob utilizing what is called a standing board. The standing board is used to get his legs ready for weight, he is strapped to it and slowly raised to a standing position.

Until next time

Chris

July 4th at TIRR

Good Morning Guys,

Rob had a good nights sleep and a hearty of breakfast, bagel, sausage patty, banana, cream of wheat. Then he was prepped for another day, hand wash, clothes and shoes on, lifted and placed in a wheel chair for 9:45 PT (see the PT video below). He then sat outside waiting on 11:15 OT (see that video also below).

Durning PT he was transferred to a mat in a sitting position, with a ball behind then wedges.

After lunch Rob spent some time with Hollie and a friend that came down to visit. Then dinner time.

Until tomorrow...

Chris

Chair Adjustments, lift practice, and a shout out from Rob

Today started out with this schedule below...
08:00 - Breakfast
10:00 - OT, chair adjustments
10:30 - OT, arm sling practice
12:00 - Lunch
01:00 - PT, sling and lift use and practice
02:00 - Break
03:00 - OT
05:00 - Dinner

Rob spent time doing the things above and in addition he got pushed around the hospital and spent some time with Caleb and Sarah and recorded the video below. Since it was outside the audio is a little low.

Until next time...

Chris

OT Chair Practice and Night Hand Braces

Ah Monday...another day for most of the world but here at TIRR everyday is a new adventure.

Here's a snapshot of the day....

07:30 - breakfast
09:00 - PT
10:00 - Neuro Evaluation
10:30 - OT
11:00 - RAPS (training classes for patients and caregivers)
12:00 - Lunch (yea)
01:00 - Stroll around all the floors and hallways
02:30 - Neuro Evaluation continued
03:00 - OT
04:00 - More Strolling around
05:00 - Dinner
06:00 - More strolling or bed depending on how tired he is.

Busy day and we are told it will get busier.

Until Tomorrow...

Chris

Slow Sunday...

After a work and fun filled Saturday, Rob was worn out, he slept for 14 hrs, in fact after waking up this morning he did not even feel like eating, but after a bit of pushing he was able to get enough down for some energy. A short nap then into the chair for a stroll down to the hospital church service, and low and behold a Baptist preacher was bringing the message, God Is so good sending this message to all of us just at the right time.

After church we went to the cafeteria to get some food, ate and sat around for bit just chatting. Please pray for Rob and Hollie as they are starting the process of after discharge planning, what equipment will be needed, housing location for best follow up care. It will not be an easy task thinking about or making the many decisions to come for Rob's long term care, God has already made these decisions but prayer and plans still need to take place to discern His direction.

The rest of the afternoon was sort of lazy, all of us tracked around the hospital exploring, Rob spent some time chatting with other SCI patients. We all went back to the room for nap time, then it was time for our evening prayers and rest.

Until tomorrow

Chris

Cherish every day, do the important things...

Saturday's, are they another day to lounge on a couch or favorite chair watching a show, possibly doing yard work, or how about just doing nothing...

Five short Saturdays ago Rob may have been doing some of these same things. Today he is having to relearn how to move in a way to function in today's world, simple things those of us without a disability take for granted like, touching our hands together, scratching an itch, rubbing our face with both hands, wiping our noses, not to mention thousands of other things that are done each day.

When you get to the end of this post I would challenge you to take a few minutes and think back in time about 30 minutes and try to list all the things you did during that 30 minutes up until finishing reading this post, how about walking to the computer, opening or turning it on, clicking the browser icon, navigating to this post, reading while using the mouse, are you drinking coffee, tea, soda, are you shifting in your chair, did you cross your legs, tap your foot, are you thinking about what is written in this post?

Rob can do none of these by himself currently except the thinking part, he is having to learn how to teach his muscles to work in a way to accomplish these tasks. But he is also thinking about all that has happened since June 6th and what the future holds. He is talking to his Lord and Savior about all of this and much more. Please take the time to do these things above then take a few more minutes and pray for Rob specifically about some of the things you are now thinking about.

Until next time,

Chris