Paul's Update - 09/25/06

Dear Friends:

Paul is continuing to do very well. His strength and energy level are so good. Today Dad & Tabby took Paul with them to Costco. He was able to "walk" his wheelchair throughout the store. This trip turned into about a 4 hour outing. When they got home Paul wasn't interested in going upstairs so they stayed in the basement most of the rest of the day. Each day Paul does more walking to and from the bathroom instead of using the wheelchair. He is using his legs very well and stands up straighter than he was doing before. This makes it a bit easier on Dad. Every chance Tabby gets to encourage Paul to do something for himself ... she does! Tonight she encouraged him to do some mouth movements and sounds. She also got him to do about 7 sit ups and then get his feet back into the bed to lay down. He sometimes will shake his head "no" when she tells him to do something but she keeps pushing and he eventually tries to do what she tells him to. Tuesday will be the appointment to draw his blood to be tested for the level of Trileptol in his blood. Hopefully it is starting to show up so they can start decreasing the Dilantin. We continually pray that these changes in medicines will not have adverse affects on Paul but he seems to be doing very well. It also appears that he seems more agreeable now that he is taking the antidepressant. It would be nice to think we could start a regular therapy schedule with him. I'm not sure we will get our therapists back but it would be nice if we could just continue the good work that Paul is doing on his own (with encouragement of course!!). Even after all these months ... Tabby is still the best therapy Paul gets!!

Love, Lynne & Carl