The Weekly Peter Update: Update #2

On Tuesday I get an update on Peter from the rehabilitation center. So on Wednesday I plan to give a general update on Peter’s site so people can have an idea on how he is doing. Some of this is going to be taking information already given and putting it in one place for people who want to read it. I did a version of this last week so I am calling this the second update.

He is improving his ability to walk each day. He has walked both forwards and the much more difficult backwards. He is going a little further every day. Doesn’t mean he will be running marathons anytime soon but he can get from one point to another within say the house safely. He is working to get his right leg to cooperate with the signals that are coming from his brain. They are working with him and his gait so he is walking correctly and not listing to one side or the other nor throwing a leg out so that he will not injure either hips or his knee. I have seen video and it is a lot of work for him to be able to walk correctly but he can walk for short distances and I am cheering for every step.

They tested him on steps and say that he can navigate a few steps with some assistance for safety. That is a big step towards getting him home since all the entrances to our home have steps. He will continue to work on steps to make it safer for him when he gets home.

The arm is taking a little long to catch up with the leg. There were some complications that made it harder for him to work with the right arm. Nothing life threatening, just doggone inconvenient. He can move the fingers on his right hand and open and close the hand. The elbow seems to be bouncing back as well. He is working with Dragon Dictate to write and it is working rather well for him since typing is very difficult at this point in his rehab. He is writing and getting work done in a timely fashion, which is a big thing in my book.

The right eye still has the double vision. It is improving but it is a very slow process. They have come up with ways for him to deal with it. We will be addressing it when he gets home if they haven’t solved it there.

He has been cleared for aqua therapy, which he is very happy about. Gives him a chance to work out in the pool which he has always enjoyed doing. Each step is a step towards home.

He has been back online and has been reading your good wishes and thoughts. I have sent him the first batch of cards, which will be getting to him probably today since Monday was a no post day here in the US. He will be showing up from time to time both on twitter and here. But his focus is on his rehab and getting himself back home in a timely fashion.

Thank you again for getting the word out on the Internet. Every little bit helps believe me on that fact.

Short version is that he is getting better each day but he still has quite a long way to go.

Thank you everyone.

Kath