One step at a time...

Hello everyone! I thought you might like a little update about Vicki! :) She continues to make good progress with a walker. In therapy this week she walked 80 feet with the walker before having to rest. Then, she walked another 50 feet! Last week she was able to walk on a treadmill (with assistance) for 5 minutes while resting approximately every two minutes! She even did the leg press for the first time! She did two sets of 10 reps! We're so pleased with her steady progress. She continues to improve with her Occupational Therapy (working with her right hand and arm which was broken in the accident). Her right hand doesn't really limit her daily living activities anymore so they are thinking on possibly releasing her from that therapy in the near future. We'll still have to continue strength and flexibility exercises at home though. They have been so good to her at Quillen Rehab, but due to the logistics of moving her home (from Holly's house) in the not too distance future, we may be looking at moving her physical therapy to a rehab facility in Kingsport. We're still working out all those details though. Vicki is still uneasy with change so we're taking it slow.

Her short-term memory loss is still an issue. It's improving, but it's just going to take time. We laugh with her and cry with her. The important thing is that we're together! Please continue to pray for Vicki and her family. Your prayers are felt and appreciated.

Love to all!

Progress Continues

Hello to everyone! Just wanted to let you know that Vicki continues to progress. She's still working on her transfers (from wheelchair to couch, from bed to wheelchair, etc.). The results from her EMG showed minimal nerve function on the inside of the left leg - this is the leg that was most effected by the sciatic nerve damage - however, nerve function on the outside of the leg was at the level that the doctor felt it should be. Since nerve function effects muscle function her legs are still weak, but she continues to give her all in therapy and we can see small steps of improvement each week. Her short-term memory is still improving, but it is also something we have to help her work on each day. I would say that is probably her biggest hurdle. Until it improves she can't enjoy caring for her grandchildren the way she use to always do and she still can't be left alone. We'll do all we can to get her there! :)

Aaron has done so much work to the house for Vicki. He recently had a deck with a ramp added on to the front of the house. I visited with them last night and we sat out on the deck until it was dark! Vicki (and Aaron) will really enjoy that. Plus, it allows Vicki to roll herself in and out of the house as she pleases.

Vicki is handling things pretty good and is in good spirits most of the time. Every now and then she gets a little blue - as you can imagine. We continue to cheer her on and encourage her to do her best. She still has a ways to go, but has already come so far. We continue to be thankful to our Father in Heaven for allowing her to stay with us. We often talk to her about when the accident first happened and the outpouring of love and support that we felt from each of you. It brings a smile to her face and we recount the many visits, cards and acts of love from so many.

Love to all!
Becky

This isn't the greatest picture ever, but this is the newest addition to the Norris clan. It is Ben and Raven's little girl. Her name is Adrianna (not sure if I am spelling that correctly.) Mom is definitely enjoying being able to hold her grandbabies again.

As for everything else, well, we are about the same. Mom is finally getting stronger in her legs. She is able to do a lot of her transfers on her own (i.e from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to couch, etc.) She can take a few baby steps with the walker if someone helps her move the walker. So that is definitely promising. We still go to therapy 3 times a week and that will continue for forever! hahaha just kidding Anyways, she has an EMG on Monday to determine how much the sciatic nerve has healed in her left leg, so we can't wait for the results of that. Once again, thanks for everything!

Keeping You Posted...

Hello all! Vicki continues to improve a little every day. She still isn't taking steps on her own, but is doing well in other areas. She has gotten most of the use of her right hand back (reminder - her right arm had a compound fracture and now has 2 plates and 12 screws - which will remain). It's that time of year...canning season...so she has been helping put up green beans. Vicki strings and breaks the beans and mom does the rest of the canning. They've also put up some corn. Vicki's job was removing the silks after the corn was shucked. Her grip is still weak and wrist flexibility isn't quite where we want it to be, but it's getting there. Luckily she's a "lefty"! :) She went to see her orthopedic surgeon a couple of weeks ago and she will be scheduled for surgery soon to remove two pins from her right ankle. Also, sometime in the next few weeks she will have an EMG (?) which is a test to see how much nerve function has been restored. He reminded her that it could take 12 to 18 months (from the accident) before we know how much healing (of the nerves) will actually take place.

Aaron continues to work on the house. Mom and I went to see it today and everything looks so good! Aaron has really worked hard and has probably pushed himself more than he should to try and get everything done. As you can imagine, he's so anxious to get Vicki back home.

Thank you so much for your continued support, love, and prayers. We make sure Vicki knows of every new post from each of you. Please continue to pray for her recovery. We are so thankful for each of you.

Home Again!!

Here we are almost a month since our last update! Vicki was discharged from Quillen Rehab last week and returned to Holly's house. She continues out-patient rehab at Quillen three times a week. She loves her therapists there. They are so good! I think her favorite therapy is pool therapy. She can walk in the pool with no assistance and I think she really enjoys that. She has progressed so much, but still has a lot to accomplish. She is still wheelchair bound, but continues to build strength in her legs. It's hard to predict when she might be able to stand/walk with a walker...and then stand/walk on her own. It's taking longer than we thought it would, but we are seeing improvements every day. She does her best to keep her spirits high, but is looking forward to returning home and getting back to the life she left six months ago. Aaron is working on remodeling their bathroom so that it will be wheelchair accessible and is also working on a few other things around the house. I've been taking her to mom's house on the days she doesn't have therapy. She enjoys that so much! I think is has really helped her to be in familiar surroundings again. Vicki has always loved going to mom's and just visiting. She's also gotten back to her crocheting and has started working on a new afghan.

She had a doctors appointment today and her doctor stressed working on her memory. As with her other injuries, her short-term memory loss is improving but she still has a long way to go.

Sorry we are so late in updating everyone! We'll try to do better and we'll also get some more pics posted. Please continue to pray for Vicki and her family. We love you all so much!

Still working hard....

This is Mom working hard in UE group.
Just sitting outside taking a break.
Working hard on standing with her OT Brian.
Her PT Penny and tech Bev.
This is what she walks in.....the super duper wedgie machine!! hahaha Really it's called the ARJO.

Sorry for not updating sooner. Everything is just so hectic all the time it seems! Mom is doing really well in rehab. They have extended her time to July 9 to try to help her gain as much strength before returning home. Her spirits are much better and she is really enjoying her therapy. We have been blessed with wonderful therapists at Quillen. They really have given Mom excellent care. Our main obstacle at this point is her strength. Her legs still aren't strong enough to hold her up, but we are getting there. She stays up in a wheelchair all day and is able to do so much more than when we first started. And her mind has improved a lot. Her memory is doing so much better. We actually get to bring her home on pass this Friday for a few hours to see what barriers there might be for when she comes home. It will be great having her in a car for the first time in months! We are also going to take her by her house that she hasn't seen in 5 months!!! Anyways, we continue to be so grateful for everything and everyone that has blessed our lives these past few months. We know we wouldn't be where we are without everyone's care, concern, and prayers. There will never be a way for us to repay everyone, so THANK YOU!!!

Update

Mom continues to make progress. She was able to walk (heavily assisted in a harness) earlier this week. As you can see she loves having her grandkids around.

- LWN