Update: Day 52

Thursday in Occupational Therapy they prepared for their Halloween Party.  Neal decorated the cupcakes…orange frosting, with candy corn fangs, red hot eyes, and black licorice legs. 

In Physical Therapy he stood up from a sitting to a standing position with no help and balanced on his feet for about 10 seconds.

The Nero Psychologist took him on a tour of the new part of the hospital.  They tried to wheel into the cafeteria but were kindly asked to leave…. I guess patients are not allowed in there.  So, then they rolled outside and spent a ½ hour outdoors.  This is the first time he has been out side in almost 2 months.  He does need some sun!  Neal said the Nero Psychologist told him he is the most “balanced patient” he has from the Nero Unit (but he maybe humoring him here a bit… ; )

Belinda

Update: Day 51

Sorry for no update yesterday…. My youngest granddaughter had a little accident yesterday and needed some stitches to her forehead… it threw me off track for the day.

They put Neal up in a sling-walker to help support him as he tried to walk. He said if only he was 130lbs, he could support himself! Only a little way to go! He is determined to walk out of the hospital. He continues each day to make huge improvements. His color is great, new haircut, showered and shaved…doesn’t look like he belongs in a hospital at all!

Kimberly and Trina paid him a special visit yesterday. They showered him with hugs and kisses and showed him just how much he means to them. : )

Gregg and Nanette will be coming up this weekend for a visit; I know he is really looking forward to that.

Belinda

Feeling the love

Hey everyone, Alyson here (Belinda's daughter). I just looked at the "stats" on Neal's blog and he's had over 4,000 page views so far! Amazing! Just shows how much Neal is loved and that everyone is wanting to keep updated on his recovery.
And thank you to all of those who have emailed me their updates for Neal to read. I have passed them along to my mom & Neal as they've come in.
Also a big thank you for all the kudos on the blog. I'm so happy that it has helped everyone stay informed. My mom and I have joked about the "old days" of no internet, no blog, no email, no cell phones or texting. How in the world would everyone keep updated when someone was in the hospital? Good ol' fashioned snail mail! Yeah... you would have never received this many updates that's for sure! :) Good thing we live in this fabulous world of technology!

Update: Day 47

Neal has a tentative release date of November 16^th!!!

There isn’t a day that goes by that he isn’t able to do something he wasn’t able to do the day before. Yesterday he was complaining about the pain in his feet and toes. This is a GREAT thing! That is the first sign that the nerves are coming back and the first step for him to be able to start walking. His upper body is strong and his upper leg muscles are strong as well. All he need now are those feet and toes.

The holiday’s are just around the corner and there is a lot to be ‘Thankful’ for this year.
Belinda

Visitations

You are welcome to visit Neal on Monday's, Wednesday's, Friday's, and/or Saturday's before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM (after he is done with his Physical Therapy) or anytime on Sunday's (his one day off PT). He has his cell phone on him now, so if you would like...give him a call.

My Update: Day 44

I can put on my own socks and sandals! I now use the regular 'Big Boy' toilet to poop! : ) No more bed pans! Standing up on my knees with only help with keeping balanced. Improvement everyday!

Neal

(You can all tell... he hasn't lost his bathroom humor! - Belinda)

Update: Day 42

Neal’s started his first day of physical therapy. He worked on some core strengthening and some exercises to stand. He worked on pulling up from a sitting position to standing. These are done in sets of three. He also worked on walking with the parallel bars support. His therapy is 2 ½ hours in the morning and another 2 hours in the afternoon. Needless to say, he works really, really hard and gives it his all during these sessions. He’s very tired afterwards, but is excited on working on his recovery.

Belinda