Fundraising from Castleview

It seems like a while since we have added a new post. The 1st of November, and the days leading up to it, were extremely difficult for Andy and so last week I asked Andy's mum to update the blog as we were both feeling quite emotionally roar.

Today Andy went to the practice where he used to work in Dudley where he was presented with a cheque for the sum of £1800 to buy two Saeboflex gloves. We are so thankful to Stracey, Andy's colleague, who ran the half marathon in October to raise the money, as well as all the staff and patients who contributed so generously. I have mentioned the gloves in previous posts that these gloves enable Andy to grip and release his hands by using a spring mechanism. We hope that Andy will be able to relearn the function of holding a cup and eventually being able to give himself a drink. We have a meeting on Saturday so that Andy can be fitted for the gloves.

Andy is now able to eat some solid foods. This is just brilliant and is a big step forward from the soft, mashable diet that he has been so used to. He can now chew foods like sandwiches at the front of his mouth and has been particularly enjoying Macdonald cheeseburgers!!!  Please pray for his tongue that he will be able to move the food inside the mouth so that he can chew with his back teeth.

Our timetable is very busy: each week Andy has two physio sessions, one to two occupational therapy sessions, two speech and language sessions and three sessions of privately funded hydrotherapy. In addition to this, Andy does a lot of daily rehab with myself and/or his carer, Tina or Gyorgey, including going in his standing frame, arm and leg exercises and functional electric stimulation.

When in his wheelchair, Andy's speech  seems to be getting a bit better and is more intelligible; Andy has always struggled to have the right breath support in his chair.

Andy would still particularly like prayer for increased movement in his arms.