Goals Achieved

We are having a further goal setting meeting on Monday. Looking back over the previous short term goals it is encouraging to know that Andy has achieved all of them apart from speech, although this has improved.

Andy is still struggling to communicate and this is a major frustration for him. Please specifically pray for the ability to move his tongue such that he can produce the correct sounds. Andy needs to talk!!!! Please make this a priority for your prayers.

We had a great time of prayer at church tonight. The specific scripture which stood out was Jeremiah 29:11.

Continued hope

Andy has been able to hold and voluntarily release a therapy ball by relaxing the muscles in hos left hand. Andy is sitting out for longer periods in the chair each day. The move to Moseley has gone well and the therapy and care has so far been very good.

Thank you Lord for the continued out working of your miraculous power in Andy:
Ephesians1:19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

In the world seeing is believing but in God's economy believing is seeing!!!

Moseley Hall Move

Andy will be moving to Moseley Hall Hospital tomorrow. It is ward 9 and the visiting times are 1pm to 8pm. Contact Emma on 07814736483 if you would like to visit.

Moving to Moseley Hall

Andy could be moving to Moseley Hall this week, it could be as early as Wednesday, so we will keep you posted. If you are visiting it would be best to text me first or get in touch with CLC church office.

Andy is getting a little disheartened and frustrated at the moment particularly regarding his communication. Please pray for those that care for him that they will be able to communicate effectively with Andy and that Andy will be able to communicate what it is he needs. Emma

Sitting up!!!

Andy really enjoyed having a service, led by Pastor Stuart and attended by other CLC'ers, in the chapel last Thursday. It was a real opportunity for Andy to do something 'normal', which is worship with other CHristians. It brought tears to my eyes as I watched him singing the words and worshipping his saviour.

We are starting to introduce other more 'normal' activities. Andy ventured to Costa a total of five times last week and is more and more able to stand increased amounts of time in his wheelchair.

This week Andy was able to sit unaided on a bench in the physio gym as his core muscles have really strengthened. Andy also sat in a normal armchair and as of next week his therapy will be to sit in this chair as much as possible. Andy's head control is also improving.

We will be having a meeting with Andy's consultant at Moseley Hall on Monday to discuss his transfer and what treatment he will be having. Please pray for God's favour on this meeting.

Andy's upper body movement is much improved and he can raise both arms a good way of the bed by using his shoulder muscles. Please pray for movement in Andy's legs as there doesn't appear to be any voluntary movement.

Moving On

Having had funding for our choice of rehab turned down by the PCT, Andy has chosen to go to Moseley Hall Hospital Birmingham. He really wants to be out of hospital as soon as possible but also continuing the excellent rehabilitation therapy he has been receiving at QEHB.
As you can imagine Andy is feeling quite low as his recovery of speech and movement is very slow and he has to wait for a rehab bed to become available. He and Emma are anxious about his future situation, especially, whether or not he will receive the level of therapy and care he needs.

Can we ask you to pray

•   Andy gets to move to rehab soon and that he can access the therapies he needs there
•  That Andy and Emma will be less anxious and know the peace and reassurance that God is with  them

Words of encouragement from God
' Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go'  (Joshua 1:9)

Rehab

Tomorrow we are having an important meeting at 12 pm regarding Andy's rehab. Please pray that God's perfect will is completed. Emma

From Andy's Mum      1st February 2012

It is now a full 3 months since Andy’s devastating brainstem stroke on 1^st November 2011 which left him with ‘locked in syndrome’. Initially he could not move any part of his body except his eyes and eyelids. He could not breathe without a ventilator; his heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature were out of control and Andy was on life support in ICU.  Doctors could give us no assurance of any hope for even a partial recovery.

Today.
Andy’s vital processes are now stable, his heart and lung function is good; he now has good control over his head movement; he can swallow soft foods and liquids and is beginning to speak a few key words.

He has flickers of movement in his right thumb, left index finger and can raise his left arm a few cm from the bed. Just yesterday Andy stood on the tilt table at 90° holding up his head and left arm.
Thank you to all on the staff at QEHB who have helped Andy and the therapists who have worked so hard, helping him to achieve his goals to move, walk and talk again.
Thank you to Kate Allatt and all the ‘stroke fighters’ who have given us all inspiration, advice and support having ‘been there and come through’ – you are really special people.
Thank you all dear friends so very much; through your continued love, support and faithful prayers, God is healing Andy in the most amazing way and we as a family have been given great strength and reassurance in our despair.
Praise God for all goodness and mercy.

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.

Change of bed!!!!

Hi all
Andy has now moved from the high dependency room of the stroke ward to a different bed because he is now medically much more stable and so last week they stopped monitoring his heart rate and oxygen etc. The consultant,who returned from a ten day break, was astounded by Andy's progress and has confirmed that he feels Andy is now medically fit.

Andy has communicated that he is much less anxious and he certainly seems to seem much more relaxed over the past couple of days, which is an incredible answer to prayer.

The doctor is really pleased with Andy's feeding and they are hoping to take the nasal gastric tube out next week.

'We thank you Lord for Andy's continued steady progress week on week.'

Progress and Prayer

Andy is now able to lif his head and upper torso voluntarily. Andy has been on thickened fluids but can now have water!!!! Andy has been outside in the wheelchair to get fresh air.

Andy's arms and legs have high tone (they're very tight) because they have not been used for so long. This means that it is very uncomfortable. Please pray that the tone decreases and that they are more supple.


Andy has limited control over his tongue movement. Please pray that this improves, helping his speech to improve.

Progress and prayer

Hi all
Andy has now had his trache removed and is beginning to say some words. Andy is also taking food orally and once he is able to take enough calories orally, he will be able to move to have gastric tube removed and move onto rehab. This is all miraculous and the doctors are astounded. I still have to take a step back and remind myself of the original prognosis: what God has started He will complete.

Please Pray that
Andy is able to increase his lung capacity and his breathing improves so that it is easier for him to vocalise words
Andy is able to attend carol service at hospital chapel on Christmas day.
Andy begins to regain voluntary movement in his limbs. ( He has had some movement in his right leg)
Andy is able to take enough calories and have gastric tube removed
The move to rehab goes smoothly

From Andy's Mum and Dad 14th December

Great news:

Andy is now talking a little using a voice valve in his tracheostomy. Emma has sent us a video from Andy's phone. Very moving.

If he copes well with this they hope to remove the trachi soon. 

To be able to communicate was what Andy wanted most. Thank God for answered prayer.

Andy is also able to swallow pureed food so may not need a PEG in into his stomach. Another answer to prayer.

We and Emma have an appointment with the rehabilitation consultant tomorrow to discuss Andy's needs and where he will go for rehab. Please pray that God will guide us all in getting the right care for Andy.

The speed of recovery is incredible and indeed miraculous.

Thank you all for your continued prayers.

Thank God that your prayers are answered.

 

Praise reports and prayer requests

Hi all
There has been progress this week:
Andy has had some yogurt.
Andy is now able to move his head voluntarily from left to right.
Andy was wheeled in the wheelchair for the first time this week.
Andy has been able to relax the muscles in his left hand.
Andy mouthed amen when his brother prayed for him.

Prayer points
Andy would like sense God's presence
Andy has been feeling dizzy over the past couple of days and is not sleeping too well at night.
Andy has had pain in his neck and this is causing him a lot of distress
Andy's mood has been quite low over the past couple of days.
We are choosing a rehab centre for Andy and we need guidance on this

Andy's new amazing progress

Hi all I wanted to encourage you. When I went into see Andy last night he was laughing hysterically and wouldn't stop. I asked him if there was anything he would like to talk about and he said yes. I used the alphabet card with him and using blinks he spelt out LEG. I assumed that this meant that he wanted me to take the splint of his leg and I did this. H continued laughing and about half an hour later I asked him again if there was anything he wanted to tell me: once again he spelt out LEG using the alphabet card. I then asked him 'did you move your leg today?' and he blinked to say YES.

I was overcome and I rang Andy's family but whilst I was talking to them I felt Andy push with his right hand against mine. I asked him did you move your right arm and he blinked to say yes!!!!

Later on I rang Stuart to tell him the news. He confirmed that One of our elders,Mick, had been in to see Andy in the afternoon and had texted Stuart after to say that he witnessed Andy moving his right leg!!!!!

PRAISE BE TO GOD. Please continue to pray xxxxxxxx