Well, its Monday night or rather Tuesday morning I guess now and I just wanted to tell everyone about my progress and what is happening in my daily life of therapy and rehab. So far I have not started rehab in Florida because we are still waiting to find the best place for therapy. I have already learned everything I needed in Little Rock to be independent and now I need to focus on rehab and getting my legs working again. Today we ordered a new moto-med bike which is a passive stationary bike that will move my legs but allows me the option of slowly moving to active movement. The bike has an electric motor which will turn my legs and keep the blood circulating and range my legs. Once my legs start pushing on the petals the bike will recognize this and slowly back off of the automatic assist and allow me to push the peals myself. Over time we hope to RE-TRAIN my legs. We KNOW that signals are getting to my legs so they work to a degree. I still need more healing in order to regain more movement and sensory and for that I STILL NEED YOUR PRAYERS! What has happened to me so far has been nothing more than a miracle. I am very encouraged by my progress and I will NOT give up until I am walking ONE DAY!
Once we get the standing frame in it will stand me up allow me to put weight through my legs. This along with the bike will really help me rehab my legs in my home. I want to thank EVERYONE for there continued support I can not thank you enough. I am blessed to have so many people who care and love me. The amount of support that has been showed me is overwhelming but I strongly plead for everyone to please not let up on your prayers on my behalf. Please continue to bring me before God and ask him for my complete healing! I KNOW it can happen I have come so far in just a few months.
Once I get my legs back and I can walk again I have to learn the footloose dance hahaha. AWESOME!! I'll tell you what.....when I walk I will make it happen. I have to pop it in and study your moves (thank you by the way for the signed copy). Ill tell my therapists its part of my rehab. Thank you again for following my blog!
If anyone would like to contact me feel free to do so. I LOVE GETTING MAIL!
Brent Adams
10143 Bunker Rd
Leesburg, Fl 34788
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
BRENT
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Im HOME! In the Sunshine State!
Sorry for the delay in writing on my blog. My internet went out at my house so I have to use a air-card to get a signal. Well on Sunday I arrived back in sunny Florida. My dad flew me home in the company plane in which I wanted to thank Farner Barley for allowing me to come home in luxury! haha My dad is a great pilot! I slept most of the way home and when I awoke we were landing in Leesburg. I arrived to a bunch of my friends from home waiting for me at the airport with balloons, signs and all!! I felt like I was a Beatle arriving in America for the first time except there were no SCREAMING woman! (I WISH!)
I arrived to a fully furnished apartment on my parents house! I want to thank everyone who worked on my apartment, my shower is huge now, I tried it out for the first time yesterday, one word- "AMAZING"! I can not BELIEVE how everyone has come together to make my life so much easier. We could not have done this without you! To everyone out there who gave of their time and money you are an example to all, especially me! I am so lucky to have people like you in my life and I am forever grateful. I want to thank Long Medical Supplies for donating equipment as well as Marva and Bob Blaise who helped me out with a chair on loan from the Medicine Chest in Lady Lake. Yeah.....I have great friends!
Now that I have thanked everyone let me tell everyone my good news! Miracles keep flooding my way PRAISE GOD!! A few days before I headed home to Florida we decided to video a session at rehab (BRI). My friend Joe Monan and I are making a video of my progress most of it comical with a bit of seriousness. We decided to go back to BRI to film me with my therapists and shoot me moving my legs again (which I mentioned in the last blog entry). Well Allen my Physical Therapists put a board between my legs again but instead of moving my legs a few inches like before I moved them about 50%!!!! It was AMAZING!! My leg just kept on moving and moving.....AND MOVING!! My knee was almost in my chest when I stopped! Miracles DO happen and I am living proof of that! Nick Hamilton a preacher from my church was even there to witness the event! I still need prayers if I am going to complete what I set out to do the minute I woke up which is WALK! So far medical science has gone as far as it can go and the rest I need God's help. He has already surpassed medicine and I need prayers from everyone to get more back. I have faith that one day I will walk again but I can not do this alone! I need everyone to bring me before God! I want to thank everyone so much for there continued love and support!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
I arrived to a fully furnished apartment on my parents house! I want to thank everyone who worked on my apartment, my shower is huge now, I tried it out for the first time yesterday, one word- "AMAZING"! I can not BELIEVE how everyone has come together to make my life so much easier. We could not have done this without you! To everyone out there who gave of their time and money you are an example to all, especially me! I am so lucky to have people like you in my life and I am forever grateful. I want to thank Long Medical Supplies for donating equipment as well as Marva and Bob Blaise who helped me out with a chair on loan from the Medicine Chest in Lady Lake. Yeah.....I have great friends!
Now that I have thanked everyone let me tell everyone my good news! Miracles keep flooding my way PRAISE GOD!! A few days before I headed home to Florida we decided to video a session at rehab (BRI). My friend Joe Monan and I are making a video of my progress most of it comical with a bit of seriousness. We decided to go back to BRI to film me with my therapists and shoot me moving my legs again (which I mentioned in the last blog entry). Well Allen my Physical Therapists put a board between my legs again but instead of moving my legs a few inches like before I moved them about 50%!!!! It was AMAZING!! My leg just kept on moving and moving.....AND MOVING!! My knee was almost in my chest when I stopped! Miracles DO happen and I am living proof of that! Nick Hamilton a preacher from my church was even there to witness the event! I still need prayers if I am going to complete what I set out to do the minute I woke up which is WALK! So far medical science has gone as far as it can go and the rest I need God's help. He has already surpassed medicine and I need prayers from everyone to get more back. I have faith that one day I will walk again but I can not do this alone! I need everyone to bring me before God! I want to thank everyone so much for there continued love and support!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Blessings Keep on Coming!
So the other day I decided to make a trip to my old stomping grounds and return to BRI (Baptist Rehabilitation Institute). I made a trip to the hospital to work out in the training gym after therapy sessions were complete. I wanted to ride the motomed bike and get some exercise. When I got there I told my therapists about me being able to move my legs a few inches. They wanted to put me to the test to see this for themselves.
I got onto the training mat and moved my leg again a few inches like I did at the apartment. Still not totally convinced because my OT wanted to make sure I was not compensating another part of my body i.e. moving my upper body causing my legs to shift. My OT called my physical therapist over to confirm my movements. My PT laid me on my side and put his hands on my hips to make sure I was not shifting. He placed a plexi-glass board between my legs to reduce friction. On his compand......I MOVED MY LEGS 7-8 INCES in each direction!! My therapist told me that he could feel my hip flexors firing! I WAS MOVING MY LEGS!! THIS IS HUGE!! I did this several times with a crowd starting to gather around me to watch me move my legs for the first time. The gym was empty except for myself and several therapists witnessing my first movements! If I can get some more movement back we can begin working on walking again.
I have overcome so many odds and this has NOTHING to do with me but through prayer and everyone bringing me before God. When I first arrived at BRI and they did there test and found me to be a T-10 ASIA-A Complete injury I would NOT except that diagnosis. I was told I would more than likely never walk again....AGAIN....not what I wanted to hear. I REFUSED to believe this and KNEW that through faith and prayer that we could see a miracle happen. My doctor could only tell me the medical facts that they knew to be true....but God doesn't follow medical facts he works on his own time tables and with a different set of laws. In order for me to regain everything I MUST believe and I need prayers from everyone. I firmly believe in the power of prayer! I have already seen it happen in my life. I have overcome every single statistic. I lived, my status was changed to an incomplete, AND.....I started gaining movement back!! All three of those odds were against me. I will never stop working and NEVER stop believing. I want to thank everyone for there support and prayers! Please, please, share this story with others...lets get the prayer chain growing! I know so many of you keep me in your daily prayers and I thank you for everything! Please tell those who are not praying this story so that God can hear us through prayer and petition. I firmly believe that through faith ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! I am living proof of that! I have a great story to tell and would love for others to tell it as well!
I am leaving this weekend to go back to Florida. I will be there to finish recovering and get back on my feet.....LITERALLY!! I miss all my friends from Florida but will think about my family in Arkansas EVERYDAY!!! I have met so many people who have touched my life and for that I am forever grateful! I love you all so much and just know that you will ALWAYS be on my heart! I hope to return to you in time and GOD-WILLING WALKING! Thank you for always being there for me especially during the hardest test of my life!
I LOVE YOU ALL
IN HIM,
BRENT
I got onto the training mat and moved my leg again a few inches like I did at the apartment. Still not totally convinced because my OT wanted to make sure I was not compensating another part of my body i.e. moving my upper body causing my legs to shift. My OT called my physical therapist over to confirm my movements. My PT laid me on my side and put his hands on my hips to make sure I was not shifting. He placed a plexi-glass board between my legs to reduce friction. On his compand......I MOVED MY LEGS 7-8 INCES in each direction!! My therapist told me that he could feel my hip flexors firing! I WAS MOVING MY LEGS!! THIS IS HUGE!! I did this several times with a crowd starting to gather around me to watch me move my legs for the first time. The gym was empty except for myself and several therapists witnessing my first movements! If I can get some more movement back we can begin working on walking again.
I have overcome so many odds and this has NOTHING to do with me but through prayer and everyone bringing me before God. When I first arrived at BRI and they did there test and found me to be a T-10 ASIA-A Complete injury I would NOT except that diagnosis. I was told I would more than likely never walk again....AGAIN....not what I wanted to hear. I REFUSED to believe this and KNEW that through faith and prayer that we could see a miracle happen. My doctor could only tell me the medical facts that they knew to be true....but God doesn't follow medical facts he works on his own time tables and with a different set of laws. In order for me to regain everything I MUST believe and I need prayers from everyone. I firmly believe in the power of prayer! I have already seen it happen in my life. I have overcome every single statistic. I lived, my status was changed to an incomplete, AND.....I started gaining movement back!! All three of those odds were against me. I will never stop working and NEVER stop believing. I want to thank everyone for there support and prayers! Please, please, share this story with others...lets get the prayer chain growing! I know so many of you keep me in your daily prayers and I thank you for everything! Please tell those who are not praying this story so that God can hear us through prayer and petition. I firmly believe that through faith ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! I am living proof of that! I have a great story to tell and would love for others to tell it as well!
I am leaving this weekend to go back to Florida. I will be there to finish recovering and get back on my feet.....LITERALLY!! I miss all my friends from Florida but will think about my family in Arkansas EVERYDAY!!! I have met so many people who have touched my life and for that I am forever grateful! I love you all so much and just know that you will ALWAYS be on my heart! I hope to return to you in time and GOD-WILLING WALKING! Thank you for always being there for me especially during the hardest test of my life!
I LOVE YOU ALL
IN HIM,
BRENT
Sunday, April 27, 2008
A NEW POST!! GOOD NEWS!
WELL..... As most of you know my injury status has been moved to an incomplete which rarely ever happens. This means that my chances of regaining movement GREATLY increases. Just yesterday I was in my bed and joking around with my mom shaking my body and making my legs move. She said, " haha brent, real funny but can you move your legs without shaking your body?" So my mom bent my knee and planted my foot into the bed. I tried and tried to move my leg..... AND I DID!!! I could very slightly move my hip flexors. My knees could move in and out just a few inches. I could move them in and out and it took all the energy I had to do this. Believe me it is nothing spectacular but a few inches IS movement. Some is better than NONE! I just have to keep working on it. Everyday keep my legs moving and focus on all my energy on moving my legs. To be honest with you NONE of this could have been possible without the continued prayers of EVERYONE! The progress I make has NOTHING to do with me but with all the support and prayers that have been given on my behalf! I will continue working as HARD as I possibly can but I ask that EVERYONE PLEASE continue to keep me in their prayers. I need all the help I can to get through these hard times. I know that this entire ordeal will be a blessing! I will use whatever I can to help others!
On another note! I wanted to thank KEVIN BACON for a package I received the other day. Kevin was nice enough to send me 8 autographed DVDs and a CD with some pictures and a nice letter. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and send me the package. Maybe one day we can make it 2 degrees!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
Brent
On another note! I wanted to thank KEVIN BACON for a package I received the other day. Kevin was nice enough to send me 8 autographed DVDs and a CD with some pictures and a nice letter. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and send me the package. Maybe one day we can make it 2 degrees!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
Brent
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Out of the hospital!
Hello everyone!!
Well, it's a Sunday night and I am currently in my apartment. I left Baptist Hospital on Friday afternoon and I am spending a few weeks here in Arkansas to tie up some loose ends before going back to Florida for a little while. I was glad to leave the hospital but I am going to miss all of the friends I met while I was there. My therapists were very good to me even if I did give them a hard time. HAHA whats therapy without a little bit of fun. I have a bunch of funny stories to tell about my time in the hospital. If you have a little bit of time and want to laugh A LOT let me know. Now that I have left the hospital with the best possible news EVER (see previous post) it is time for me to work extra hard to regain motor function. For those of you who do not know or didn't read my previous post the Doctors upgraded my status to a LEVEL-B. This is UNBELIEVABLE! OK....not unbelievable when you consider the one behind the miracle.
Time for a little crash course in what a miracle consists of....YOU BE THE JUDGE! As a Level-A I am considered as having a COMPLETE spinal cord injury. This basically means that my chances of regaining any function is slim to none. I was basically given a chair and said hope for the best! HOWEVER, now that I am a LEVEL-B it means I have an INCOMPLETE spinal cord injury which changes the outlook drastically on everything. My lower body IS receiving signals which means my chances of regaining my senses and motor function greatly increases. What makes this a miracle is how rare this is to have an injury level overturned. One of the therapists said 1 to 2 % of people get cases overturned the way mine did; coincidence I think not!
So....what does this mean for me now?!? Don't get me wrong I am NOT out of the woods yet. I have a LONG...LONG road to recovery. I have to work EXTRA hard to get my legs used to moving. I need to keep my muscles strong and keep the nerve endings firing in my legs. As my nurse told me that being a level 12 it means I am a 1/2 a centimeter away from being in the LUMBAR level which means I will regain motor function in my hip flexers this is the beginning stages of WALKING!!! 1/2 a centimeter away!!
I cannot stress enough the power of prayer! God LISTENS to us when we ask him for help and have faith in his power! Faith with doubt is not considered faith in my book-I don't think its considered faith in God's book either (the Bible)! Peter's doubt when walking out of the boat to walk towards Jesus proved he didn't have complete faith...look where that got him (a mouth full of water!) In order for my healing to be complete I MUST believe in God's power and ask everyone to pray on my behalf. I pray that the Lord will touch my legs and make them whole again. I pray that this tragedy will touch others lives and that God will be glorified through my struggles and perseverance. I am not going to lie to you, this is the hardest thing I have ever faced and will ever face! Luckily for me I have a band of Christian brothers and sisters who will help me get through this and with the help from God I will be used as a tool for him.
Please everyone keep me before God. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
Brent
Well, it's a Sunday night and I am currently in my apartment. I left Baptist Hospital on Friday afternoon and I am spending a few weeks here in Arkansas to tie up some loose ends before going back to Florida for a little while. I was glad to leave the hospital but I am going to miss all of the friends I met while I was there. My therapists were very good to me even if I did give them a hard time. HAHA whats therapy without a little bit of fun. I have a bunch of funny stories to tell about my time in the hospital. If you have a little bit of time and want to laugh A LOT let me know. Now that I have left the hospital with the best possible news EVER (see previous post) it is time for me to work extra hard to regain motor function. For those of you who do not know or didn't read my previous post the Doctors upgraded my status to a LEVEL-B. This is UNBELIEVABLE! OK....not unbelievable when you consider the one behind the miracle.
Time for a little crash course in what a miracle consists of....YOU BE THE JUDGE! As a Level-A I am considered as having a COMPLETE spinal cord injury. This basically means that my chances of regaining any function is slim to none. I was basically given a chair and said hope for the best! HOWEVER, now that I am a LEVEL-B it means I have an INCOMPLETE spinal cord injury which changes the outlook drastically on everything. My lower body IS receiving signals which means my chances of regaining my senses and motor function greatly increases. What makes this a miracle is how rare this is to have an injury level overturned. One of the therapists said 1 to 2 % of people get cases overturned the way mine did; coincidence I think not!
So....what does this mean for me now?!? Don't get me wrong I am NOT out of the woods yet. I have a LONG...LONG road to recovery. I have to work EXTRA hard to get my legs used to moving. I need to keep my muscles strong and keep the nerve endings firing in my legs. As my nurse told me that being a level 12 it means I am a 1/2 a centimeter away from being in the LUMBAR level which means I will regain motor function in my hip flexers this is the beginning stages of WALKING!!! 1/2 a centimeter away!!
I cannot stress enough the power of prayer! God LISTENS to us when we ask him for help and have faith in his power! Faith with doubt is not considered faith in my book-I don't think its considered faith in God's book either (the Bible)! Peter's doubt when walking out of the boat to walk towards Jesus proved he didn't have complete faith...look where that got him (a mouth full of water!) In order for my healing to be complete I MUST believe in God's power and ask everyone to pray on my behalf. I pray that the Lord will touch my legs and make them whole again. I pray that this tragedy will touch others lives and that God will be glorified through my struggles and perseverance. I am not going to lie to you, this is the hardest thing I have ever faced and will ever face! Luckily for me I have a band of Christian brothers and sisters who will help me get through this and with the help from God I will be used as a tool for him.
Please everyone keep me before God. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
Brent
Thursday, April 17, 2008
PRAISE GOD!!!! I PASSED MY TEST!!!
I would like to thank EVERYONE for there continued support and prayers! This is a testament to the fact that PRAYER WORKS!! Today I PASSED MY TEST!! I am now a T-11 (POSSIBLE T-12) level injury and an ASIA-B which means......I have an INCOMPLETE INJURY. This is the best possible news I could have gotten because it means that I have a good chance of recovery! If you are an ASIA-A it means you have NO motor and NO sensory functions. However, since my prognosis has been changed to a level B and an incomplete it means I am CONNECTED. The sky is the limit as far as my recovery. Many people with incomplete injuries have started WALKING within a couple of years!
PRAYER WORKS!! After the accident my odds of surviving were NOT good. Everyone I know starting praying diligently for my survival. God answered those prayers and brought me back. Once I regained consciousness the outcome was NOT good at all. It was actually the worst possible prognosis. I was a T-10 level ASIA-A which means a COMPLETE injury and I was given a 5 % chance of recovering functions (both motor and sensory.) Well my prayer warriors went to work again on my behalf. Enough people brought me before God and he ANSWERED those prayers ONCE AGAIN! I was moved from a T-10 to a T-11 and from an ASIA-A to an ASIA-B! My therapists told me that it is very very rare for a case to be overturned the way mine has been overturned. I have gotten a lot of sensations back and the doctor is impressed by my progress. If I can get some more motor function back then my level will be changed to an ASIA-C then its ON TO WALKING!..... Right now I am 2 for 2 with God answering our prayers......lets see if we can make it 3 for 3.
Please everyone give a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his continued blessings on me! Now is not the time to stop praying but instead kick it into overdrive! Through prayer and petition God will hear us crying out and answer our prayers! THIS IS THE NEWS IVE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG! I have FAITH....not hope....FAITH that one day I will be restored! I can not thank each and everyone of you enough for your continued prayer and support. Believe me it was YOU who made this possible for me. Praise GOD! I know I will be a miracle for him to show off to the world one day!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
PRAYER WORKS!! After the accident my odds of surviving were NOT good. Everyone I know starting praying diligently for my survival. God answered those prayers and brought me back. Once I regained consciousness the outcome was NOT good at all. It was actually the worst possible prognosis. I was a T-10 level ASIA-A which means a COMPLETE injury and I was given a 5 % chance of recovering functions (both motor and sensory.) Well my prayer warriors went to work again on my behalf. Enough people brought me before God and he ANSWERED those prayers ONCE AGAIN! I was moved from a T-10 to a T-11 and from an ASIA-A to an ASIA-B! My therapists told me that it is very very rare for a case to be overturned the way mine has been overturned. I have gotten a lot of sensations back and the doctor is impressed by my progress. If I can get some more motor function back then my level will be changed to an ASIA-C then its ON TO WALKING!..... Right now I am 2 for 2 with God answering our prayers......lets see if we can make it 3 for 3.
Please everyone give a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his continued blessings on me! Now is not the time to stop praying but instead kick it into overdrive! Through prayer and petition God will hear us crying out and answer our prayers! THIS IS THE NEWS IVE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG! I have FAITH....not hope....FAITH that one day I will be restored! I can not thank each and everyone of you enough for your continued prayer and support. Believe me it was YOU who made this possible for me. Praise GOD! I know I will be a miracle for him to show off to the world one day!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I need your prayers!
I know this is the second message I have written this week but I knew I needed help from everyone for a test that I will be taking this week. I have some pretty promising news but I need your prayers in order to pass an injury level test! Since I have been in therapy my doctor has always leaned on the conservative side in giving me a diagnosis. There always seemed to be a medical explanation for all the progress I thought to be making in therapy. Every time I felt good about something new in my body (a feeling or sensation) my hopes would be dashed by medical jargon explaining everything I was feeling. However, recently I have experienced a lot more sensations in my legs and I have been making progress in therapy.
My physical therapists was talking to me today about there staffing meeting they had with my Doctor. The staffing is a meeting held to discuss my progress with all my therapists and doctors. My therapists told me that my doctor was discussing some promising things that have been happening in my body. The doctor never gave ME much hope but talked about how he was hopeful to my therapists. I understand the doctors point of view always needing to weigh on the safe side when dealing with the patient for liability reasons. However, my doctor ACTUALLY said I could be a possible ASIA B which means I have an INCOMPLETE INJURY! If this is the case my prognosis drastically changes. My hope for recovery greatly increases. The doctor never does the ASIA testing twice unless he sees a reason for possible improvement. WELL, he has ordered another testing on my prognosis. I am currently a complete injury which the odds are not good, but God doesn't work on percentages. God doesn't care about medical jargon his power is beyond everything medical science can explain.
If you would PLEASE keep this special request before God I would greatly appreciate it. I need all the prayers I can get to pass this test and go from an ASIA A to an ASIA B prognosis (incomplete injury). Please pray for me and the outcome to my test. Thank you all for your support throughout the toughest test of my life!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
My physical therapists was talking to me today about there staffing meeting they had with my Doctor. The staffing is a meeting held to discuss my progress with all my therapists and doctors. My therapists told me that my doctor was discussing some promising things that have been happening in my body. The doctor never gave ME much hope but talked about how he was hopeful to my therapists. I understand the doctors point of view always needing to weigh on the safe side when dealing with the patient for liability reasons. However, my doctor ACTUALLY said I could be a possible ASIA B which means I have an INCOMPLETE INJURY! If this is the case my prognosis drastically changes. My hope for recovery greatly increases. The doctor never does the ASIA testing twice unless he sees a reason for possible improvement. WELL, he has ordered another testing on my prognosis. I am currently a complete injury which the odds are not good, but God doesn't work on percentages. God doesn't care about medical jargon his power is beyond everything medical science can explain.
If you would PLEASE keep this special request before God I would greatly appreciate it. I need all the prayers I can get to pass this test and go from an ASIA A to an ASIA B prognosis (incomplete injury). Please pray for me and the outcome to my test. Thank you all for your support throughout the toughest test of my life!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thank You So Much!!!
Well I am back writing on my blog! I was excited to see that a one Mr KEVIN BACON wrote on my blog last (I had to explain to my mom what 6 degrees to Kevin Bacon meant) haha. I am glad to hear that my blog is getting to so many different people. I thrive off of all the encouragement I get from reading my comments on my blog. Everyday I am working harder than I have ever worked before and I know that in time I will overcome this tragedy and turn it into something good!
One thing I have learned from all of my therapy is that my legs are REALLY HEAVY! You would be surprised just how often you use your legs to perform everyday tasks. Balance, slouching, turning, lifting almost every task you do in a day you use your legs even in times where you don't realize you are using them. I have four 45 min sessions Mon-Fri and some on Sat and Sun as well. Seven days a week I am in the rehab. gym working on everything I need to be independent. I have met so many great friends in rehab. As many of you know I very rarely take anything too seriously (although I take my rehab VERY SERIOUSLY) I tend to constantly play pranks and jokes on all my therapists. However, when it is time to get to work I put my game face on! I even come into therapy after hours to work on the "motomed" bike (this is a passive bike that will turn your legs for you). I have been getting some pretty interesting results on the bike as well- (more on that later). I am working on my transfers with a sliding board into a car and onto the bed. My shoulder has been holding me back some because everyday it gets sore with all the pushing I am putting through my arms. But I am not making any excuses! I will work as hard as I can despite any limitations that I have in my arm.
I do not know yet how God will heal my body but I figure it is better to have learned all of this training and NOT need it than NEED all this training and NOT have it! I am making progress everyday in therapy and soon I will have all the skills I need to get by on my own. Lord willing I will get more feeling and sensations back and possibly even movement. I have heard this injury can take YEARS before I find out the extent of my injury and what I will get back. Now onto the good news!!!!!!!!
I have been working on the MOTOMED bike which is just a stationary bike with alot more bells and whistles. The bike can determine spasms in my legs and also muscle tone. Sensors in the petals detect if I put force through the petals and the bike will shut itself down and tell you that "you are now pedaling yourself" this phrase has come across on the bike SEVERAL times. The bike will be moving my legs and the motor will shut off and a message will tell me that I am actively pedaling the bike. THIS IS GREAT NEWS! My physical therapists doesn't know what to make of this! He told me to get off the bike and he got on it to see if it was malfunctioning but whenever he put pressure in his legs the machine will stop the motor (IT WAS WORKING FINE!) Everyday I try to get on this bike even though I am not scheduled to ride it!
I am always encouraged by even the smallest achievements. I know that everything will work out and that I have to focus only on the things I can control and put the rest in God's hands. I have FAITH that things will work out and that I will one day get my legs back. The only thing I ask is that all of you do not give up on me. PLEASE continue praying for me and my recovery. I know I have so much support and I can not thank you enough for all your encouragement. I will keep all of you in my heart each and every time I go into rehab. Thank you all SO MUCH!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
One thing I have learned from all of my therapy is that my legs are REALLY HEAVY! You would be surprised just how often you use your legs to perform everyday tasks. Balance, slouching, turning, lifting almost every task you do in a day you use your legs even in times where you don't realize you are using them. I have four 45 min sessions Mon-Fri and some on Sat and Sun as well. Seven days a week I am in the rehab. gym working on everything I need to be independent. I have met so many great friends in rehab. As many of you know I very rarely take anything too seriously (although I take my rehab VERY SERIOUSLY) I tend to constantly play pranks and jokes on all my therapists. However, when it is time to get to work I put my game face on! I even come into therapy after hours to work on the "motomed" bike (this is a passive bike that will turn your legs for you). I have been getting some pretty interesting results on the bike as well- (more on that later). I am working on my transfers with a sliding board into a car and onto the bed. My shoulder has been holding me back some because everyday it gets sore with all the pushing I am putting through my arms. But I am not making any excuses! I will work as hard as I can despite any limitations that I have in my arm.
I do not know yet how God will heal my body but I figure it is better to have learned all of this training and NOT need it than NEED all this training and NOT have it! I am making progress everyday in therapy and soon I will have all the skills I need to get by on my own. Lord willing I will get more feeling and sensations back and possibly even movement. I have heard this injury can take YEARS before I find out the extent of my injury and what I will get back. Now onto the good news!!!!!!!!
I have been working on the MOTOMED bike which is just a stationary bike with alot more bells and whistles. The bike can determine spasms in my legs and also muscle tone. Sensors in the petals detect if I put force through the petals and the bike will shut itself down and tell you that "you are now pedaling yourself" this phrase has come across on the bike SEVERAL times. The bike will be moving my legs and the motor will shut off and a message will tell me that I am actively pedaling the bike. THIS IS GREAT NEWS! My physical therapists doesn't know what to make of this! He told me to get off the bike and he got on it to see if it was malfunctioning but whenever he put pressure in his legs the machine will stop the motor (IT WAS WORKING FINE!) Everyday I try to get on this bike even though I am not scheduled to ride it!
I am always encouraged by even the smallest achievements. I know that everything will work out and that I have to focus only on the things I can control and put the rest in God's hands. I have FAITH that things will work out and that I will one day get my legs back. The only thing I ask is that all of you do not give up on me. PLEASE continue praying for me and my recovery. I know I have so much support and I can not thank you enough for all your encouragement. I will keep all of you in my heart each and every time I go into rehab. Thank you all SO MUCH!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
IN HIM,
BRENT
Sunday, March 30, 2008
WHAT?!? BRENT POSTED AGAIN! NO WAY!
I justed wanted to thank everyone who has kept up with my blog. I know I do not post as often as I should but it means a lot that so many of you check it regularly.
Let me just take a few minutes and let everyone know what has been happening in therapy. ITS HARD! That about sums it up really. During my first stay in rehab I was non-weight baring on my left arm which means the therapists kind of took it easy on me. Since the Doctors have lifted my restrictions I think my therapists want to make up for lost time by working me hard. I have never in my life experienced something like this before. The simplest of tasks seem to take so much longer now. I am working on transfers from my wheelchair to the exercise mat and doing tasks like long sitting and short sitting. I work on getting my balance and strengthening my trunk so that I can stabilize myself when putting on pants or a shirt.
I have been having some pain in my left shoulder which the doctors said was inflammation. During the past few sessions I have had steroids applied to my left shoulder. AMAZINGLY I can now bench 600lbs! Barry Bonds has NOTHING on me! jk. They are not anabolic steroids so my muscles will not impress anyone........as if they did before anyways! Since this accident I have learned to never take anything for granted. I guess some things we just have to put in God's hands! I believe my sister said it best, I was unconscious when she made this comment but it is very true. "God does not promise us this world will be easy, but he DOES promise it will be WORTH it!" -Thank you Amanda I think of those words often!
I have not given up on my legs and I will NEVER give up on them. They say this injury takes a long time to know anything and my body is changing everyday. New feelings and sensations are constantly going through my legs. Some say it takes 6 months to a year and sometimes a few years after your injury before you can truly know what you have in your legs. I KNOW that with ALL the prayers that are going up in my behalf that the Lord will bless me. I have already seen so many blessings that I can not even begin to list. ONE DAY....ONE DAY!! I have to keep the faith because without believing I can guarantee I wont make it thought this ordeal. I know I WILL make it though however and I know this through my faith in God.
I humbly ask that everyone please bring me before God so that he can touch my legs and make me whole again! I thank everyone for there love and support. I get encouraged by each and everyone of you! KEEP THE FAITH!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
Brent
Let me just take a few minutes and let everyone know what has been happening in therapy. ITS HARD! That about sums it up really. During my first stay in rehab I was non-weight baring on my left arm which means the therapists kind of took it easy on me. Since the Doctors have lifted my restrictions I think my therapists want to make up for lost time by working me hard. I have never in my life experienced something like this before. The simplest of tasks seem to take so much longer now. I am working on transfers from my wheelchair to the exercise mat and doing tasks like long sitting and short sitting. I work on getting my balance and strengthening my trunk so that I can stabilize myself when putting on pants or a shirt.
I have been having some pain in my left shoulder which the doctors said was inflammation. During the past few sessions I have had steroids applied to my left shoulder. AMAZINGLY I can now bench 600lbs! Barry Bonds has NOTHING on me! jk. They are not anabolic steroids so my muscles will not impress anyone........as if they did before anyways! Since this accident I have learned to never take anything for granted. I guess some things we just have to put in God's hands! I believe my sister said it best, I was unconscious when she made this comment but it is very true. "God does not promise us this world will be easy, but he DOES promise it will be WORTH it!" -Thank you Amanda I think of those words often!
I have not given up on my legs and I will NEVER give up on them. They say this injury takes a long time to know anything and my body is changing everyday. New feelings and sensations are constantly going through my legs. Some say it takes 6 months to a year and sometimes a few years after your injury before you can truly know what you have in your legs. I KNOW that with ALL the prayers that are going up in my behalf that the Lord will bless me. I have already seen so many blessings that I can not even begin to list. ONE DAY....ONE DAY!! I have to keep the faith because without believing I can guarantee I wont make it thought this ordeal. I know I WILL make it though however and I know this through my faith in God.
I humbly ask that everyone please bring me before God so that he can touch my legs and make me whole again! I thank everyone for there love and support. I get encouraged by each and everyone of you! KEEP THE FAITH!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
Brent
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Back to Rehab! Good News
Well its Sunday evening and I just spent my first few days back in Rehab! It was good coming back and seeing so many familiar faces! I have come along way since my first visit since I can now use my left arm. I remember my first visit here it hurt to move my arm a few inches now I am pushing a manual chair without any problems. My arm is still a little soar but I should be able to be OK during this round of rehab.
On another note I have what I BELIEVE to be PROMISING NEWS! This news is nothing to jump up in the air about but I am encouraged by what I heard.
My prognosis in medical terms is a T-10 ASIA-A spinal cord injury. Let me give everyone a little lesson on what that means. Bare with me because this is actually good news! The T-10 is the LEVEL of injury which means that may T-10 vertebra was the last level which I have feeling. The ASIA scale is tells the motor and sensory function that is available. ASIA-A is a complete injury and the worse meaning NO motor or sensory. ASIA-E is normal with both motor and sensory functions. There is also ASIA-B, ASIA-C and ASIA -D. WELL........ on Saturday I was down in therapy when my PT asked me......."what level of injury were you again?" I replied "T-10 ASIA-A". My therapist said that in the charts I was listed as a T-11 ASIA-B which is an INCOMPLETE INJURY. I was SHOCKED!! Well the lead Dr. decided to weigh on the safe side and kept the ASIA-A rating BUT one Dr. DID think I was a possible ASIA-B. I have become a T-11 level injury which means I have full feeling and movement at the lower vertebra now. However, I am still listed as an ASIA-A complete injury!
I am encouraged by this news. I am sorry for the boring medical jargon but it would be hard to explain this news without everyone understanding my level of injury. I am getting A LOT of feeling back in my legs! I can not believe it! The other night when my mom was putting lotion on my feet I could vaguely FEEL which foot she was touching. My feet always feel constricted and I feel them pulsing. Some of that is normal but my Dr. told me that I should be encouraged that my spine was not completely severed. I FIRMLY believe that I will be considered an INCOMPLETE INJURY! In order for me to be healed I need prayers from EVERYONE. Not only can I NOT do this alone but I need the prayers from everyone so that the Lord will hear me calling out and work a miracle through me. I have already seen so many miracles since my accident. The fact that I am even ALIVE is a miracle itself. Next on my list of things to do is work as HARD as I can in rehab and pray to God for healing in my legs.
I would like to thank EVERYONE who continues to pray for me and check my blog for updates. If I could I would individually thank everyone for there support and encouragement. I will make it through and I know that God will never leave me through this ordeal. Please continue to remember me and bring me before God.
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
BRENT
On another note I have what I BELIEVE to be PROMISING NEWS! This news is nothing to jump up in the air about but I am encouraged by what I heard.
My prognosis in medical terms is a T-10 ASIA-A spinal cord injury. Let me give everyone a little lesson on what that means. Bare with me because this is actually good news! The T-10 is the LEVEL of injury which means that may T-10 vertebra was the last level which I have feeling. The ASIA scale is tells the motor and sensory function that is available. ASIA-A is a complete injury and the worse meaning NO motor or sensory. ASIA-E is normal with both motor and sensory functions. There is also ASIA-B, ASIA-C and ASIA -D. WELL........ on Saturday I was down in therapy when my PT asked me......."what level of injury were you again?" I replied "T-10 ASIA-A". My therapist said that in the charts I was listed as a T-11 ASIA-B which is an INCOMPLETE INJURY. I was SHOCKED!! Well the lead Dr. decided to weigh on the safe side and kept the ASIA-A rating BUT one Dr. DID think I was a possible ASIA-B. I have become a T-11 level injury which means I have full feeling and movement at the lower vertebra now. However, I am still listed as an ASIA-A complete injury!
I am encouraged by this news. I am sorry for the boring medical jargon but it would be hard to explain this news without everyone understanding my level of injury. I am getting A LOT of feeling back in my legs! I can not believe it! The other night when my mom was putting lotion on my feet I could vaguely FEEL which foot she was touching. My feet always feel constricted and I feel them pulsing. Some of that is normal but my Dr. told me that I should be encouraged that my spine was not completely severed. I FIRMLY believe that I will be considered an INCOMPLETE INJURY! In order for me to be healed I need prayers from EVERYONE. Not only can I NOT do this alone but I need the prayers from everyone so that the Lord will hear me calling out and work a miracle through me. I have already seen so many miracles since my accident. The fact that I am even ALIVE is a miracle itself. Next on my list of things to do is work as HARD as I can in rehab and pray to God for healing in my legs.
I would like to thank EVERYONE who continues to pray for me and check my blog for updates. If I could I would individually thank everyone for there support and encouragement. I will make it through and I know that God will never leave me through this ordeal. Please continue to remember me and bring me before God.
I LOVE YOU ALL,
IN HIM,
BRENT
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday- March 21st
Brent was admitted into Baptist Rehab this morning!! Praise God! We are very thankful that he was cleared for rehab Wednesday, and there was a room available at Baptist so quickly! Brent is working hard on his rehab. Mom said the doctors were very impressed with his progress. Keep up the hard work Brent! We are so proud of you!
Brent was admitted into Baptist Rehab this morning!! Praise God! We are very thankful that he was cleared for rehab Wednesday, and there was a room available at Baptist so quickly! Brent is working hard on his rehab. Mom said the doctors were very impressed with his progress. Keep up the hard work Brent! We are so proud of you!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesdays Appointment With Ortho
Brent is cleared for rehab!! Thank you all for all your prayers concerning todays appointment!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Its about time Brent wrote another post
I have heard everyone ask me to write more on my blog so I thought I would do so. Where should I begin though?!?! So much has happened to me over the past week so I guess I should just tell you everything.
I have been working out everyday doing strength training so that I can impress my Doctors when I go back into rehab. My friend Joe Monan has been over at my apartment almost everyday and he works me hard. I usually have to change shirts cause I am sweating profusely when he leaves. My left shoulder is getting a lot better. I do not have any pain in it right now and I only feel pain when my arm is extended really far. I am going well past 90 degrees in every direction with just minimal assistance. We are trying to get my shoulder ready for THIS WEDNESDAY the 19th at 10:15 AM! I ask that everyone PLEASE remember to pray for me and my Dr's appointment. I will have X-ray's done on my shoulder to see if everything is still screwed in and if my shoulder will be cleared to bare weight. When my Doctor (who actually did my surgery) looks at the X-rays and clears my shoulder for weight baring I will go BACK into the hospital to finish my rehab. I will be doing in-patient rehab which means I will be staying at the hospital and going to rehab for 2 or 3 sessions a day EVERYDAY. Physical therapy then Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy and sometimes if IM LUCKY i get to do physical and occupational therapy at the SAME TIME! FUN STUFF! Those days are a blast (SARCASM).
On a good note something is happening with my legs I cant explain it because its hard to describe a sensation. However.... I will do my best to describe what I am feeling. I constantly have constricting feelings throughout my legs almost as if I am wearing tight pantie hose, NOT that I have ever DONE that but I am trying to paint a picture for you.....hahaha Maybe thats a picture you don't want me to paint but you get the idea! Anyways, when I lay down in bed after sitting up for a long time the constriction gets tighter. Its not painful but I can tell something is going on down there. When my mom puts lotion on my feet I can feel a tingling sensation when she touches the bottom of my feet and the tingling sensation follows her finger through my feet. I can not FEEL the touch of her finger but through the tingling I know when she touches my feel and when she stops. I closed my eyes and had her pick a foot and I would tell her where i felt it. I got most of the feeling correct they were VERY FAINT but i could tell which foot was being touched through the tingling?!?
I PRAY that God will answer my prayers and give me my legs back. My life has been turned upside down but I will NEVER give up. I will beat this thing and not let it beat ME! I will work as hard as I possibly can and put the rest in God's hands. There is only so much I can physically do the rest has to be God's will. I do not know what plan he has for me but I BELIEVE that through faith and prayer that God can heal me! The bible talks about faith being so powerful that the Lord performs miracles based on that faith. I know it can move mountains and I know that God can heal me. I am not going to put limits on God's power. No matter what Doctors or anyone else says I will ALWAYS believe. If God should decide not to grant me this request then I know he has something better in store for me. Who knows, maybe I will use this tragedy to bring others to him and in that case I can not think of anything more important. However, if the Lord SHOULD decide that my life would best serve him with two legs then that will be the biggest blessing. My prayers and prayers of some many people are what gives me encouragement. I could NOT do this without the love and support of so many people. I will do my best to make everyone proud!
I continue to ask that you PLEASE continue to keep me in front of God. Please keep praying for me! It is NEVER too late for God to work a miracle. I see miracles everyday some small and some large with prayer and faith I believe I can be one of those miracles. Thank you all SO MUCH for your continued love and support!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
In Him,
Brent
I have been working out everyday doing strength training so that I can impress my Doctors when I go back into rehab. My friend Joe Monan has been over at my apartment almost everyday and he works me hard. I usually have to change shirts cause I am sweating profusely when he leaves. My left shoulder is getting a lot better. I do not have any pain in it right now and I only feel pain when my arm is extended really far. I am going well past 90 degrees in every direction with just minimal assistance. We are trying to get my shoulder ready for THIS WEDNESDAY the 19th at 10:15 AM! I ask that everyone PLEASE remember to pray for me and my Dr's appointment. I will have X-ray's done on my shoulder to see if everything is still screwed in and if my shoulder will be cleared to bare weight. When my Doctor (who actually did my surgery) looks at the X-rays and clears my shoulder for weight baring I will go BACK into the hospital to finish my rehab. I will be doing in-patient rehab which means I will be staying at the hospital and going to rehab for 2 or 3 sessions a day EVERYDAY. Physical therapy then Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy and sometimes if IM LUCKY i get to do physical and occupational therapy at the SAME TIME! FUN STUFF! Those days are a blast (SARCASM).
On a good note something is happening with my legs I cant explain it because its hard to describe a sensation. However.... I will do my best to describe what I am feeling. I constantly have constricting feelings throughout my legs almost as if I am wearing tight pantie hose, NOT that I have ever DONE that but I am trying to paint a picture for you.....hahaha Maybe thats a picture you don't want me to paint but you get the idea! Anyways, when I lay down in bed after sitting up for a long time the constriction gets tighter. Its not painful but I can tell something is going on down there. When my mom puts lotion on my feet I can feel a tingling sensation when she touches the bottom of my feet and the tingling sensation follows her finger through my feet. I can not FEEL the touch of her finger but through the tingling I know when she touches my feel and when she stops. I closed my eyes and had her pick a foot and I would tell her where i felt it. I got most of the feeling correct they were VERY FAINT but i could tell which foot was being touched through the tingling?!?
I PRAY that God will answer my prayers and give me my legs back. My life has been turned upside down but I will NEVER give up. I will beat this thing and not let it beat ME! I will work as hard as I possibly can and put the rest in God's hands. There is only so much I can physically do the rest has to be God's will. I do not know what plan he has for me but I BELIEVE that through faith and prayer that God can heal me! The bible talks about faith being so powerful that the Lord performs miracles based on that faith. I know it can move mountains and I know that God can heal me. I am not going to put limits on God's power. No matter what Doctors or anyone else says I will ALWAYS believe. If God should decide not to grant me this request then I know he has something better in store for me. Who knows, maybe I will use this tragedy to bring others to him and in that case I can not think of anything more important. However, if the Lord SHOULD decide that my life would best serve him with two legs then that will be the biggest blessing. My prayers and prayers of some many people are what gives me encouragement. I could NOT do this without the love and support of so many people. I will do my best to make everyone proud!
I continue to ask that you PLEASE continue to keep me in front of God. Please keep praying for me! It is NEVER too late for God to work a miracle. I see miracles everyday some small and some large with prayer and faith I believe I can be one of those miracles. Thank you all SO MUCH for your continued love and support!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
In Him,
Brent
Saturday, March 8, 2008
A NEW POST!
Well its Saturday night and I thought it would be a good time to post on my blog. This has been a really good week. I have been working hard in rehab and I am looking forward to going back into the hospital to finish my rehab once my shoulder has been cleared.
As far as my day to day life I can not say it is easy. In fact my life is a lot harder than I ever imagined. I have a lot to be thankful for but at the same time my future is uncertain. I firmly believe that with God I can get through this terrible tragedy. Everyday I pray for complete healing and with faith I know it is possible.
The support that I have gotten is unbelievable and it makes me feel so loved. Others have been a witness to the love that has been shown to me and it leaves an impression on them as well. I constantly hear people giving praise of the works they have seen from my church family and that is a testament to the kind of people that go to Pleasant Valley. I have also been shown unbelievable support from my family back home in Florida (I miss them a lot!)
Everyday I wish this never happened to me. However, a friend of mine summed it up the best saying instead of asking God why this happened to me I should be asking.....why NOT me!
I will continue praying and asking God to heal my body and in the mean time I will continue doing my best to give him the praise for the blessings that has been giving me. I ask that everyone please bring me before God so that others can be a witness to the miracles and that the Lord can be praised through my suffering. Jesus suffered more than i will ever suffer and he did it WILLINGLY! I have had so many surgeries and broken bones but my suffering was nothing compared to what Jesus went through and that is what gives me strength throughout this entire ordeal.
Please keep praying for me, I KNOW God hears it!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
In Him,
Brent
As far as my day to day life I can not say it is easy. In fact my life is a lot harder than I ever imagined. I have a lot to be thankful for but at the same time my future is uncertain. I firmly believe that with God I can get through this terrible tragedy. Everyday I pray for complete healing and with faith I know it is possible.
The support that I have gotten is unbelievable and it makes me feel so loved. Others have been a witness to the love that has been shown to me and it leaves an impression on them as well. I constantly hear people giving praise of the works they have seen from my church family and that is a testament to the kind of people that go to Pleasant Valley. I have also been shown unbelievable support from my family back home in Florida (I miss them a lot!)
Everyday I wish this never happened to me. However, a friend of mine summed it up the best saying instead of asking God why this happened to me I should be asking.....why NOT me!
I will continue praying and asking God to heal my body and in the mean time I will continue doing my best to give him the praise for the blessings that has been giving me. I ask that everyone please bring me before God so that others can be a witness to the miracles and that the Lord can be praised through my suffering. Jesus suffered more than i will ever suffer and he did it WILLINGLY! I have had so many surgeries and broken bones but my suffering was nothing compared to what Jesus went through and that is what gives me strength throughout this entire ordeal.
Please keep praying for me, I KNOW God hears it!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
In Him,
Brent
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Sorry it has been awhile!
I apologize for my delay in posting on my blog but I was having some computer problems. Well not really computer problems so much as forgetting the password haha. Now that I have fixed the problem I will try to start posting more frequently.
Recently I have been working out and trying to rehab my left shoulder. My new friend Joe Monan has been coming over to my apartment and putting me through a pretty strenuous workout. If someone were to watch these workouts you might laugh at how easy it looks but I am doing the best I can with my shoulder! My range is getting a lot better in these last few weeks. I can raise my arm up to the side and out in front of me a few degrees. With assistance I can raise me left arm over 90 degrees (which is straight out). I need to get my arm stronger so that I can do these exercises without assistance.
Let me give everyone a little lesson in physical therapy. Everyones arm has three movements which makes up your entire range of motion.
1) Flection: This is moving your arm straight out in front of your body. I can currently get my arm to a little over 90 degrees with assistance and about 20 degrees by myself.
2) Abduction: This is raising your arm out to the side (kind of like using your arms as a wing). I can get a little over 90 degrees with assistance and about 45 degrees by myself.
3) External Rotation: Keeping your elbow against the side of your chest and then bending your elbow 90 degrees. The rotation is trying to move your arm outwards while keeping your elbow against your body. This is VERY difficult for me! Even with assistance I can not even get my arm to neutral (which is straight out in front of me) I currently have a negative range. I can move my arm from my stomach out to straight in front of me but I can not go any further. I was told this is the hardest range of motion to get back. I only have 3/4 of a shoulder so I do not know how much range I will get back. ISN'T PHYSICAL THERAPY FUN!
Next post I will try to teach everyone more about my therapy sessions. In a few months everyone should be able to take the test and become physical therapists (there is a lot more to it than that!)haha.
I have to constantly keep my arm and shoulder moving so I can strengthen my muscles and increase my range of motion in my left arm. On March 19th I have a meeting with my surgeon and he will take x-rays of my shoulder to determine if I can bare weight on my shoulder once I have been cleared it is back to rehab at the hospital.
My legs are still the same story BUT I am starting to get a lot of sensations not FEELING but sensations (which is a good sign)!
I want to thank EVERYONE for there continued support and prayers. I can assure you that I can NOT do this alone and I know that I have so much support from my church family both in Arkansas and in Florida. I will do my best and work as hard as I can to start back on my road to recovery. My legs are out of my hands and ONLY in God's hands. With persistence and prayer I have faith that I will be a miracle. I have already experienced so many miracles since my accident. The Doctor told me parents I had a 1 and 10 chance of surviving the accident (those are not good odds). The Lord saw me through that accident and performed a miracle I know that there are still more miracles in my life for people to be a witness. I give all the Glory to God for all of my accomplishments. I know he will continue working miracles in my life.
Thank you all for your continued love and support!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
In Him,
Brent
Recently I have been working out and trying to rehab my left shoulder. My new friend Joe Monan has been coming over to my apartment and putting me through a pretty strenuous workout. If someone were to watch these workouts you might laugh at how easy it looks but I am doing the best I can with my shoulder! My range is getting a lot better in these last few weeks. I can raise my arm up to the side and out in front of me a few degrees. With assistance I can raise me left arm over 90 degrees (which is straight out). I need to get my arm stronger so that I can do these exercises without assistance.
Let me give everyone a little lesson in physical therapy. Everyones arm has three movements which makes up your entire range of motion.
1) Flection: This is moving your arm straight out in front of your body. I can currently get my arm to a little over 90 degrees with assistance and about 20 degrees by myself.
2) Abduction: This is raising your arm out to the side (kind of like using your arms as a wing). I can get a little over 90 degrees with assistance and about 45 degrees by myself.
3) External Rotation: Keeping your elbow against the side of your chest and then bending your elbow 90 degrees. The rotation is trying to move your arm outwards while keeping your elbow against your body. This is VERY difficult for me! Even with assistance I can not even get my arm to neutral (which is straight out in front of me) I currently have a negative range. I can move my arm from my stomach out to straight in front of me but I can not go any further. I was told this is the hardest range of motion to get back. I only have 3/4 of a shoulder so I do not know how much range I will get back. ISN'T PHYSICAL THERAPY FUN!
Next post I will try to teach everyone more about my therapy sessions. In a few months everyone should be able to take the test and become physical therapists (there is a lot more to it than that!)haha.
I have to constantly keep my arm and shoulder moving so I can strengthen my muscles and increase my range of motion in my left arm. On March 19th I have a meeting with my surgeon and he will take x-rays of my shoulder to determine if I can bare weight on my shoulder once I have been cleared it is back to rehab at the hospital.
My legs are still the same story BUT I am starting to get a lot of sensations not FEELING but sensations (which is a good sign)!
I want to thank EVERYONE for there continued support and prayers. I can assure you that I can NOT do this alone and I know that I have so much support from my church family both in Arkansas and in Florida. I will do my best and work as hard as I can to start back on my road to recovery. My legs are out of my hands and ONLY in God's hands. With persistence and prayer I have faith that I will be a miracle. I have already experienced so many miracles since my accident. The Doctor told me parents I had a 1 and 10 chance of surviving the accident (those are not good odds). The Lord saw me through that accident and performed a miracle I know that there are still more miracles in my life for people to be a witness. I give all the Glory to God for all of my accomplishments. I know he will continue working miracles in my life.
Thank you all for your continued love and support!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
In Him,
Brent
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