Great Week

Good news, the speech therapist in working with Mary Ann by-passed the tracheotomy to test her abilities to speak and it resulted in getting two words out yesterday, "David" (maybe it confirms that I am #1 in her life) and "Addie" (Stephanie's baby born six months ago).

She is exhausted each day because the hospital physical therapists are exercising her to her maximum. Her exercises include, today's standing in a contraption that holds her up over a tread mill that allows her to spend a few minutes in an upright position with lots of support attempting the motions of walking. Sitting on the side of bed with help in order to exercise her whole frame. She has three different types of therapists, physical (the whole body), upper body and speech.

Progress is happening each day, sometimes with some real frustrations. As Mary Ann's brain continues to heal and "awaken" it also brings headaches, anxiety and accidents. The other night she pulled out her feeding tube and tracheotomy tube which created a temporary problem, yet the next morning she was back working hard through her exercises with the therapists.

Mary Ann, your courage and strength are an inspiration!

All in all, the 2% formula mentioned last week still applies as she slowly mends. Her progress is like a roller coaster with ups and downs and yet achieving overall progress.

Also, all in all the power of prayers are sustaining her rehabilitation. The power of everyones love for her is palpable. She feels it and we the family feel it. Thank you very much for your prayers and prayer role submissions, submitted all over the world. A friend has added her name to his faith's 10,000 email prayer chain.