Left arm and index finger!!!

Great news!!! Andy spelt out arm today only to show us that he was able to lift his left arm up off the bed 2 inches. He also now has a flicker of voluntary movement in his left index finger. Thank you Lord. This is just a continuation of the recovery which God has promised to complete.

Update

Andy continues to be in good spirits. The application for funding for Hunters Moor was finally made on Tuesday. Andy is ready and earnestly wanting to mOve on now and so please continue to pray for this.

Andy had his first trip out of the hospital tOday and was fitted for a wheelchair at the West Midlands Rehab centre. Andy coped well with the outing.

We are still waiting expectantly and are continuing to believe for Andy's complete recovery. We thank God for the movement in Andy's thumb but it's not enough: we want there to be reports of new connections made. Please cOntinue to pray.

Visit from Kate Allat

Kate Allat, who had the original prognosis of locked in syndrome following a brainstem stroke in February 2010, came to visit Andy on Tuesday. Kate fully came out of locked in syndrome and has since written a book and appeared on TV to tell her story. She has founded the charity: 'Fighting Strokes' and was able to put us in touch with another man in Perth, Pete Coghlan, and a guy from Chesterfield, Mark, who also had locked in syndrome but have made an exceptional recovery. Check out Pete walking out of rehab on Youtube; type in Pete Coghlan and visualise what it will be like when Andy walks out of rehab!!!!

Kate's visit was a very special time for Andy and gave him fresh hope. She was amazed at Andy's progress, paticularly his eating and drinking as she was nil by mouth for the first seven months. Kate drove from Sheffield to Birmingham and this is testimony to what an exceptional recovery she has made. Kate was inspired by Andy and subsequently asked if she could include his story in her next book, which is just about to be published.

Please pray that Andy gets funding from the PCT to go to Hunters Moor rehab.

Progress Week 11

Thank you for your continued prayers.

We had a team meeting with Andy's therapists this week where Andy was able to feedback what goals he would like to achieve: his priority is that he is able to talk. Andy has been increasing his vocabulary, which is one or tWo syllable words and the ones that he has been using the most are becoming a lot clearer.

With the movement that Andy now has in his right thumb, he will be able to control a call system and also a computer, which is specially designed for the movement he has. This will enable him to use Facebook and email!!! This should all be set up within the next fortnight so watch this space.

This week Andy had his catheter removed and he now has regained control.

Andy is generally in good spirits and is always laughing. A patient in the bed opposite, Tony, who had a minor stroke, couldn't believe what strength and character Andy is demonstrating despite his immense difficulties.Tony read jokes and Andy lauged and laughed. He said that Andy has had a profound impact on him. I know that the hope Andy has is founded on the knowledge that Christ has already won the victory at the cross and that God has good plans for Andy's future. It is remarkable how Andy has maintained his hope from the very beginning that he will recover and we thank the Lord for the amazing inner strength that He is renewing in Andy day by day. It really is: 'strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow'.


Please continue to pray that Andy will get movement in his legs.
Please pray that Andy is able to sleep really well.
Please pray for continued strength and health for me as I support Andy at this time.

Movement!!!

Andy had some electric stimulation and following this Andy became able to move his right thumb and now has complete control over this. This is the first movement that Andy can always do on command. This is a real milestone. Thank you Jesus.

Andy also had some flickers of movement in his left leg today for the first time. When the occupational therapists asked him to move it he did. They were really impressed with this and said that this is the first time they have seen this. As with his right leg, he has had some flickers of movement but seems to have more control over it at some times but not at others.

Please pray that Andy gets more control over the movement in his legs and is able to consistently move them on command.

We continue to praise God for Andy's progress and thank him for the hope that he has given us which is that Andy will make a full recovery.

Update

It has been nine weeks since Andy's stroke. Andy is continuing to make progress and had his nasal gastric tube out yesterday. Today Andy was assessed to move on to a neuro rehab centre and so the next step is for an application for funding to be made. Andy is having tingling in his right leg and the doctor said that this is a good sign; he is also getting some movement in this leg. Andy has been given a device which attaches to his eyebrow and enables him to operate a buzzer to call for assistance.

Andy's grandma went to be with the Lord on Saturday and so Andy has had quite a lot to cope with: please pray that he senses the Spirit's peace and comfort and that the rest of the family are given strength at this time. Please pray that the funding application for rehabilitation is accepted and that this happens quickly.