Rehab Update 7/31/07

Rehab

Jack keeps progressing with his workouts. The exercises are becoming more difficult and demanding both mentally and physically as he keeps pushing himself to full recovery.

Doctor's Report

It is difficult to be sooooo popular! We all want to visit Jack and enjoy how much he has improved from week to week. But the Doctor's are concerned that we are visiting Jack so much that it is starting to reduce his energy for his rehab. We all want to see Jack released from the hospital as soon as possible so the Doctor's have recommended the following:

• Limit our visits 5 to 10 minutes (maximum)


• Visit only between 5:00 to 8:00 pm


• Limit how many people visit at a time

We will keep you posted when Jack is at full strength. During this time when our visitation times are limited, the best way to communicate with Jack is to write a note in this blog. He checks all of our blogs daily and this is the best way to encourage and support him. He loves to read all of your encouraging words and jokes, so keep 'em coming.

St. Judes has been fantastic so let's try to abide by these simple guidelines so we can see Jack recover sooner and have his full strength for rehab!!!

Family Report

Katie had her appendix removed this past Monday morning. She had the surgery and is recovering at St. Judes, also. Who would have ever thought they would both be in the same hospital at the same time??? She is doing well and should have a speedy recovery.

Karen is fighting a cold. She continues to be with Jack and needs our prayers for strength.

Jack continues to want everyone to know how thankful he is to God for healing him and to all of his friends for their continued support and prayers!

To God Be The Glory!

Message from Jack:

We visisted Jack at St. Jude's today. When we arrived, he was sitting in his wheelchair entertaining a group of his friends. We asked him what he wanted to say to everyone reading the blog, and he stated,"I thank everyone for all their love, support and prayers. I want to glorify the Lord through this situation more than anything else." We assured him he is doing just that!

Family report:

Karen also wants to thank everyone for their support, prayers and encouragement. She stated, "I just don't know how to express all my of thankfulness and gratitude to everyone!"

Overall update:

• Jack is laughing and telling jokes.
• He is craving hot dogs and hamburgers!
• He said that St. Jude's is a great place but he can't wait to get home!
• He is working very hard during speech therapy, and he was working on yelling today.
• Jack is constantly encouraging others around him at the hospital who are visiting loved ones.

We are all blessed to have Jack and the Hawkins family as friends. Continue to keep them in your prayers! God is healing him in miraculous ways!

Tracheostomy is History

Doctor's Report

The trach has been removed!!!!! This is a major step and we thank the Lord for this miracle!

Physical Therapy

Therapy is going great......Several highlights to report:

• Jack is moving his right leg much better. Doctor's may splint his right leg to assist him with his walking.
• Walking is coming along very well

Nutrition

Bring on the food.....Jack is eating now. Some of the latest: pasta, milkshakes, etc...

Family Report

Everyone is doing great!! Jack and Family are in great spirits, trusting and thanking the Lord in all things.

This was a great week. Many people visited Jack this past week and really boosted his spirits. Weekends are a slow time for Jack's therapy and he has time for all of us to come and visit him. Let's all try to make it out this weekend to show Jack and his family our support and love for them!!!

Jack Takes His First Steps

Physical Therapy Update

Jack has a "walking apparatus" that he is working out with. He is able to walk across the room with the aid of the therapist.

Just like USC University Hopital, the people that are working with Jack cannot believe how well he is doing. A few of the updates:

• Goes outside in a wheelchair on a regular basis


• Continues with improved movement on his right side (The Doctor stated that the movement in his extremeties (arms and legs) will come back last.)


• Stands up with help and then does "mini-squats"


• Continues speaking without the alphabet board

In summary, Jack wants to be the #1 patient at St. Judes just like he was at USC and as you can see, he is well on his way.

Nutrition

Jack is eating ice chips which is the first step in the process of getting back to eating liquids and solids. As you can imagine, on several (many)occasions he has stated that he is ready to eat.

Health Issues

As several of you indicated in your blogs, Jack caught a cold several days ago but it has gone away and he is feeling much better.

Trach - The Doctor's have been reducing the size of the trach periodically over the past few weeks. Jack is on the smallest size and Doctor's expect to have complete removal of the trach by the early part of next week.

Hospital Report

The visitation hours are still 5:00 to 8:00 pm but on weekends Jack's schedule is much lighter than during the week.

The family reports that Jack love's us to come visit him. If you are unable to visit him during the week, weekends are a great time to see him since he has more time.

In planning your trip to visit Jack, listed below is the phone number of Katie to find out if Jack is in physical therapy or when would be the best time that day to visit. Katie's number is:

951-323-6599 (Cell Phone)

Also, St. Jude can be called direct and there is a phone in Jack's room.

Family Report

As all of you know, this is an incredible family!!!! As many of you have shared, the Hawkin's family has been an inspiration to all of us. Just an example, a family member has stayed each and every night with Jack since his stay at USC and St. Jude. Their commitment is to not have Jack spend the night alone.

Please continue to pray that the Lord will bless the family and give them strength.

Blog Report

Jack has a laptop computer and is checking what all of us write to him each day. He has been encouraged by each and every entry that has been made. This blog has been an excellent way for us to keep you informed but also a way for you to encourage, support and show Jack and his family how much we love them. As of this writing, there have been over 2400 times that people have logged into this blog. Let's continue the support!

St. Jude - Visitation Hours

Visitation Hours

St. Jude, Fullerton - 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Room 265 (North Building Rehab)

Note - Hospital Staff has asked that we limit our visits to 10 minutes.

*Jack has made the transition to St. Jude's very well. He is now ready and looking forward to all of us coming to visit with him. Don't worry if you have difficulty with spelling....(read further)

Speech

*Throw the Alphabet Board away - Jack can now vocalize all of his communication. This is a huge step towards recovery!

Progress

"I have had over 1000 stroke patients and Jack is number #1," stated a Doctor at USC, prior to Jack leaving.

Moving to Rehab!

Praise Report:

Jack is moving tomorrow to St. Judes Hospital in Fullerton! He will be receiving intense rehab. Let's all let Jack get settled in before we go visit him so that he can adjust to these new intense workouts. The doctors say that this next step for Jack will be both mentally and physically tiring.

Movement:

Right leg- During rehab, his right leg is lifted by an assistant at the knee and ankle. He now has the strength in the right leg to apply pressure all the way down to the bed (this is the same right leg that he had no movement in at first).

Right arm - Jack has the ability to move while being assisted.

Oral Motor- Jack is able to swallow now and has a gag reflex! (It looks like they will be taking out the tracheostomy in the near future!)

Speech- Jack is able to make some sounds.

Mental:

Going right along with past updates, he is 110%. In fact, he is excited about moving to Fullerton and a family member stated that he said, "The kids can go home now!" He is always concerned about others' well being!

The next blog should be udated about mid-week, and it will fill you in on visitation times for Jack. So until then, let's all continue to lift Jack and his family up in prayer!