Cliff is doing so much better today! He tried to crawl around on his bed a little last night and he also tried to sit up on his own! He is very weak and fatigues very quickly. This morning we went down to the therapy room for PT and he did ok.. He did not really want to participate, but we did get him to do a few things:
He rolled all over the therapy mat! And then we got him on his tummy! He was a little uncomfortable, but I think he just needs a adjust to his new legs and the way things feel now.
Then he sat on the edge of the mat. He is VERY uncomfortable sitting up... I am praying this gets better with time. It is still so difficult for us to see him struggle so hard.
Then we got him on the therapy bench and tried to get him to stand a little. His knees bend so easily. They tend to 'buckle" when he stands, which we anticipated. The therapist said that Cliff would most likely need knee immobilizers to wear at night when he sleeps in order to stretch his hamstrings and keep his legs straight. They also reccomended we get a treadmill for our house so Cliff can practice walking and side stepping on it.
We encouraged Cliff to stand and he tired very hard! He needs a lot of assistance because he is so weak. But he tries his best, that's all we ask of him!
Cliff also got to smear foam all over the mirror! He really liked this, but sitting on the bench is so difficult (or uncomfortable we aren't sure which one) that he got frustrated. I think I am going to get this foam for him to stand and smear on the front glass door at home!
The second session was so horrible that we didn't even get a chance to take pictures! Cliff screamed the whole time and he was so sleepy that he actually fell asleep on Ross's shoulder while we tried to make him stand. We did get him to crawl a tiny bit on this hands and knees though! Ross and I have to do more PT with him on our own when he wakes up from his nap... We will see how that goes!
Thank you all so much for keeping Cliff in your prayers! Lifting him up to God during this difficult time is the only way we are making it! I can't thank you all enough! Please keep Cliff in your prayers!
Oh yea! And he will be discharged tomorrow! Whooo Hoooo!
Seek the Lord and his strength
Seek his prescence continually!
-Psalms 105:4
Wow! I am so glad he's making such progress. Praying constantly for all of you. I know it is so hard to see your baby in pain, and not really being able to fix it - but there are SO many great things ahead for Cliff!
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo for him being discharged tomorrow! I can only imagine you're having weird feelings like when you get to leave the hospital with a newborn - what do I do now?! God will take care of ALL of you! I LOVE the verses you share each day. Thank you for reminding us all that we have so much to be thankful for. Knowing Cliff and the Potts family is definitely at the top of my list of things to be thankful for right now! See ya soon, safe travels!
Hi Natalie, I'm Mary Ellen's Mother! Cliff is right on target even though it looks rough at the moment. He WILL progress and get better with time. It is a marathon not a Dash so keep that in mind...especially at that 4 month milestone. You are strong and dedicated to doing whatever it takes. I can tell from how you write about Cliff. You and Mary Ellen are unique young women who have been given a task from God to raise these precious little boys to be strong and courageous. Your lives have taken a different course than expected but none the less important. Remembering James at this stage reminds me of how hard it was to watch him struggle. OH how we wanted to do it for him...or at least I did! I couldn't bare seeing such a little fellow be in so much pain. But hindsight gives me the perspective of how much better Cliff will be 4 months down the road and perhaps you will be cheering someone else's child post op!! Cliff and James are here for a divine purpose...hold on to that fact! It gets better everyday, a step at a time..good days...bad days... but ALL worth it!!!
ReplyDeleteLove to you all and especially to Cliff!
Jane Hillis
James Pollard's Grandmother
Well just like my mom said CLiff is exactly where James was at this point post op. It is SO very difficult watching them struggle and be so very tired. That gets better and better everyday I promise. It was a GOOD 6 weeks before James was back to his normal activity level. Praying everyday
ReplyDeleteThank yall so much!!! James inspires us so much! When Cliff doesnt want to do the exercises or stretches I play one of the videos of James walking with his walker as ask Cliff if he wants to be able to walk like James. Cliff says Yes! and we continue with the exercises and stretches! I am so proud of James and he is so blessed to have a wonderful mommy and a great family!!!
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