January 10, 2006

I am back home for a few days and glad to be able to be on my computer. It is so hard to leave Jess but he is in good hands with his dad. I needed to go to work, check on mom and dad and catch up on the paperwork and Chris needed to see his son. I talked to Chris today and he said the appointment with the eye specialist went well. She has worked with people with brain injuries for many years. Chris said she felt Jess could definitely see and after extensive testing she said she thinks he has a blank spot in the lower right field of vision. She also thinks he may be seeing double at times especially when he is tired. She is going to instruct the therapist with exercises to help correct both problems. She did feel he needed glasses. He wore glasses before the so we ordered a pair. She told Chris that many times with head injuries there will be damage to the eyeballs from the impact but she did a test that showed Jess' eyes were not damaged and were healthy. Good news!

The speech therapists are using an electric stimulator on his vocal cords to help stimulate his voice and swallow. He will have a swallow evaluation next week. They continually work on his tongue to strengthen the muscles. We are also getting consistent yes/no answers with eye blinks. He does two blinks for yes and one for no. The OT has made a splint for his hand to help him control the movement in hopes that he can hit a yes/no button. I can't wait until Jess can have some choices and be able to tell us how he feels. The night before I left I was in his room watching him sleep. All of a sudden he smiled just like this picture and I started to cry. It made me feel so good to know that at least there are good, happy moments for him even he it's in his sleep.

I fly back on Monday and Chris and I will have a conference with the team that is working with Jess. We will decide if we will stay another month. We are taking it one month at a time. Chris will come home on Wednesday. We pass each other practically in the airport with a hug and a tear saying good bye. Both of us hoping the other will have some wonderful news of new recovery.

I have had a chance while I am home to get help with an appeal to our insurance company for coverage we feel he deserves and also to discuss options with Medicaid. It is all so complicated but we won't give up. Whatever it takes to get the help he needs. He is going to continue to get better...that's all we know. Thanks again for the prayers...we know there are many being said for Jess and our family and you don't know know how much it helps!!!