Specific Prayer Requests

Mom has begun therapy with her new therapist, Carme (Car-may), and Mom and Dad both think she is just fantastic. She's been very encouraging about a prognosis for Mom's recovery. She's definitely going to be working Mom very hard! Mom has therapy on Mondays and Thursdays.

At her first appointment this past Monday, Mom and Dad filled out some paperwork. The last question on the form asked what Mom's goals were. Dad said he wanted to write, "Walking, running, and dancing," but Mom just had him put down "walking." When Carme read the form, she told Mom, "You want to walk again; good," and Mom backpedalled a bit, explaining that she knew it might never be possible. Carme said, "How soon do you want to walk?" and Mom answered that she'd like to walk in time for Jonathan and Jenn's wedding in July. Carme replied, "I think that's a reasonable goal. I can't make promises, but I'll do everything I can to help your 'fearfully and wonderfully made' body achieve that goal." Yay!

Lots of doctors have been telling Dad that any progress that can be made after a stroke will occur within the first 3-6 months, and that we shouldn't expect further improvement after that. Carme told Mom and Dad that neural plasticity (the ability of neural circuits to change in function or organization) is very real, and it is quite possible for other parts of the brain to take over and compensate for lost or damaged portions. She can't guarantee specific progress for Mom, of course, but she seems optimistic.

At Thursday's therapy appointment, Carme put Mom into what's called a "LiteGait." A harness around Mom's waist supports her, and the LiteGait rolls on wheels. Carme moved Mom's left leg and foot, and Mom moved her own right leg, and Dad wheeled the LiteGait along, and through all this... Mom 'walked' across the room twice! Dad reports, "It was pretty cool."

Also on Thursday, Carme asked Mom and Dad if they attended church. She then asked if Mom was being prayed for by a prayer chain. When Mom and Dad replied that lots of people all over the country and even the world have been in prayer for Mom's recovery, Carme responded that she'd like us to ask people to pray for three very specific things:

1. For Mom's left leg to be able to straighten.
2. For Mom to be able to align her hips directly over her toes when she is in the standing frame.
3. That Mom will be able to walk in time for Jonathan and Jenn's wedding in July.

Mom requested that I put these specific prayer requests here on the blog for the benefit of the prayer chain of friends and family who read here. Well, there you have it! Start praying, please!

I hope it's helpful to all of you to have some specific prayer requests in mind concerning Mom's recovery. I just want to remind you how encouraging it is to all of us in the family to know that Mom is in the thoughts and prayers of so many. Thank you.