Abby update - October 26

First, let me offer my apologies that our updates have not been as timely lately. We were quite spoiled in Austin to find email access at our fingertips at the Ronald McDonald House and at the hospital. We've had to do a bit more searching here and think that, starting tomorrow, we can work out regular weekday updates from Gordon's sister's office. For now, I'm making comments to our own blog and getting help in getting them all visible to you. Sorry to those of you who have missed your "Abby fix"--we've missed reading your emails as well!

Abby's had a very busy schedule during our first two full days at Warm Springs. We love the therapists here and the doctors, but find that it's a challenge to balance the medical and therapy aspects of her schedule. Tomorrow I hope to talk with the lead doctor and case manager about how to get everyone working together so there aren't so many conflicts and we can take advantage of all the services she needs.

Abby's does continue to progress in tiny little steps. Today she seemed to exhibit more limb movement and the contractions in her arms were lessened (though they were increased in her legs, unfortunately). She has a regular sleep and wake cycle and seems to try to put together responses to requests, but still doesn't quite have that capability. The speech therapist has offered her small tastes of applesauce, and we were pleased to find that she is able to swallow fairly well, although we are still a ways from her being able to really manage food in her mouth. Unfortunately, we had to miss our afternoon rehab today, as the doctors are still worried about her recurring low-grade fever and sent us over to Methodist Hospital in order to have an MRI in order to scan for any obvious sources of infection. I'd have rather been doing therapy, but the other health issues also creep into the picture...

So, slow, tiny steps is indeed how this all will go. Sometimes we're still so frightened that the steps will stop (a rather clinical assessment from the neurologist yesterday put us in that state of mind), but we continue to receive encouragement from all around, including our case doctors. Today we met a little girl who also was involved in a 4-wheeler accident several months ago and was very much like Abby's current condition. Today she walked in Abby's room and introduced herself to us. The rehab doctor just wanted to make sure we met her. Then the pediatrician asked if she could pray for Abby before she left from her visit today. There is no guarantee, but there is much hope in this place...

Thanks for sharing your hope with us...

Love,
Abby's family