A Magical Adventure

In 1991, Mark literally slept in a coma through Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Father’s Day. Not to mention my birthday and our twelve year wedding anniversary. Although he was awake for Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, his birthday and Thanksgiving, all those holidays were spent in the hospital for rehabilitation. We were overjoyed Mark would finally be home for Christmas. Last year I wrote what it took to get Mark home for the holidays. It’s one of my hardest, yet happiest Christmas memories so I wanted to share it again with a new twist.

Christmas can be a magical time, when wishes are granted and this definitely was the case for us twenty-three years ago. After eight lengthy months of hospitalization, I was finally able to bring Mark home —  just in time for Christmas. He was far from better and still needed extensive therapy and care, so I worked on establishing a “day- patient” schedule where he’d be there all day for therapy and I’d be able to care for him every night at home. At the time he wasn’t able to feed himself or take care of any personal needs. Mark’s doctor, Joseph Vickroy, and the rehab team of speech, occupational and physical therapist, requested that we spend several nights in an apartment-like room located in the center unit where Mark had been for six months. They felt it was important for me to understand the responsibility of caring for Mark before they released him.

I thought the request was trivial since I had spent every day with him and fed him most meals anyway; however, I understood their concern and agreed to do it. I spent several nights there and took complete responsibility for him. Our two children also spent a few nights there to understand what life would be like to have Dad at home. We passed the test and Mark was discharged from the hospital.

Once we realized Mark was going to be wheelchair dependent, we knew some home modifications would be necessary. In October 1991, we started building a large room which would become our bedroom with a wheelchair accessible bathroom off the back of the house. Fortunately, my dad and brothers work in construction and they were willing to do the job. My oldest brother, Mick, designed the addition with a ramp for the new back entrance. If you’re blessed to have a father who is an excavating contractor, “you can’t add a room without a basement.”

Top:        Left – Don breaking ground.          Right – Steve, Mick, Dad preparing for footings.
Middle:  Left – Dad trying to escape.            Right – Steve and Mick pouring footings.
Bottom: Left – Steve and Dad.                        Right – Mick, Steve and Dad laying cement floor.

Because they were building this addition on their own time after work, it was not completed in December. Despite the unfinished construction we wanted Mark home for Christmas. Mark’s care was physically difficult until the new bedroom and bathroom were finished, but well-worth all the effort to have him finally home. Our regular bedroom wasn’t big enough for all the equipment now needed for Mark. Our queen-sized bed had to be replaced with a single-sized hospital bed. At night, after I transferred him into bed, I would raise it as high as it could go and place my air mattress on the floor in the only space available — which meant my legs were tucked under the bed. Worried that Mark might forget I was there and use the controls to lower it, I would unplug the bed every night.

This sleeping arrangement made for nightly jokes. I often said as I unplugged the bed, “You are now out of control.” He teasingly replied, “But, I’ve got the top.”

Our living quarters were cramped and hard with the construction going on, but it was so worthwhile. My heart is filled with gratitude for my dad and brothers who made our home a place where Mark could live. Our trials were lightened by their skills and hard work. They opened up possibilities for our new circumstances.

Top: Left and Right – Don knocking out the brick wall into the new addition.
Bottom: Left – Chris, Katie, Dad and Mick nailing the top floor down.                                       Bottom: Right – Chris and Katie painting our the new room.

Chris Chipping, a friend and former employer of Mark’s, did the electrical wiring for our new addition while another friend, Walt Fisher, did the plumbing. It was a crazy busy home with construction going on for five months until the addition was completed. But, after eight months of living in a hospital — it truly was the merriest of Christmas’s to have Mark finally home.

In 1991 our world was turned upside down, but I learned “a magical adventure awaits those who venture forth.” The magic comes from the love of God, family and friends with a lot of hard work sprinkled in.

Finished room in March 1992. Christopher, Mark and Katie. Mark in our new queen-size adjustable bed.

Self-fulfillment

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s hard to beat the wonderful feeling of achievement after hard work, determination and endurance.

Success Is An Iceberg

Exercises That Will Floor You

Over the past seventeen years, Mark’s exercise program has changed a bit as he has improved or his needs have changed. On Monday and Wednesday nights, when the volunteers come to help Mark, we start by getting him down on carpeted floor. This takes two people, one on each side.

Exercise tools: a 2′ x 4’sliding board, 2 barbell weights, 12 plastic cups, 2 wash cloths, folding chair, doorway bar and walker.

Together we do the following exercises:

1.  BRIDGING – While lying on his back with knees bent, Mark pushes his hips up as far as he can, holding a second and then lowers his hips back down. A person needs to hold Mark’s feet down so they don’t slide out and steady his legs, keeping his knees together. 25-50 times

2a. BUTTERFLIES – With arms straight out against the floor at shoulder height, with a weight in each hand, Mark lifts his arms straight up over the middle of his face. While Mark does this, a person can do the leg press (2b). 30 butterflies per each leg press

2b. LEG PRESS – Since Mark is in a wheelchair all day long it’s hard for him to straighten out his legs. Mark can do the butterfly exercise (2a) while a person is pressing the leg down to the floor with one hand above the knee and the other hand below the knee.  Hold each leg down for 30 seconds 

3.  HIP STRETCH – With knees bent and feet together, stretch the knees apart.  Hold 30 seconds – 3 times

***Take Mark’s shoes off and use the sliding board for exercises 4 and 5***

4.  KNEE BENDS – With Mark lying on his back with the sliding board under his legs and feet, a person assists Mark in sliding his foot towards his buttocks. Mark can do this exercise well with the right leg, but the left leg needs a lot of assistance. Sometimes another person has to move it a few times before Mark can do it on his own. Sometimes the brain does not kick in at all and on those times the helper needs to bend the left knee upwards and let Mark try to hold it there, without letting in slide down the board. 10 knee bends per leg

 5.  HIP FLEX & ABDUCT – With Mark lying on his back with the sliding board under both legs, slide 1 leg straight out at a time in a snow angel movement.  His left leg will need assistance. Each side 10 times

***Put Mark’s shoes back on***

6.  CRUNCHES – This exercise uses 12 plastic cups. For this exercise a person sitting on each side of Mark will help stabilize his bent knees. One holds the stacked cups at Mark’s shoulder height about two feet from his shoulder. Mark reaches across his body with his right hand to get one cup that is held on his left side. Once he has the cup, he puts it in his left hand and reaches across his body to set the cup on his right side. This exercise rotates the upper body while the lower body is stabilized.  He will move the stack of cups to one side and then back again.

***Mark rolls over on his stomach with a towel placed under his face for comfort***

7.  BACKWARD SHOULDER STRETCH – With arms down by his side, Mark lifts his arms upward together and then back down. 25 times

8.  OUTWARD SHOULDER STRETCH – Both arms straight out at shoulder height. Hold stretch for at least 60-90 seconds

9.  SUPERMAN STRETCH – Both arms straight up over his head like superman. Hold stretch for at least 60 seconds

10. QUAD STRETCH – While lying on his stomach, Mark bends his knee backwards trying to kick his buttocks. Each side15 times

11. PUSH UPS – While on his stomach and hands under his shoulders, Mark should push up.  He has a hard time with this exercise, but it’s good for him to try. 15 times

12. BALANCE ON ALL FOURS – While one person is helping Mark push back with his arms, another will help bend Mark’s knees forward and lift him up so that he is balancing on his knees and hands. This is necessary because Mark is so ridged. Hold for 60 seconds

Mark doing tall kneeling exercise with Lee & Kathy Sadler

13. BALANCING – Use the back side of a folding chair for this exercise. While Mark is on his hands and knees he shifts his weight to climb the back parts of the folding chair, similar to climbing a ladder with his hands. 3-5 times

14. TALL KNEELING – Again, with the use of the back side of the folding chair, Mark wil climb up until he is on his knees. Move the chair and have Mark balance on his knees. A person needs to be on each side of Mark in case he loses his balance. Balance at least 60 seconds without holding onto the chair.

15. STANDING – From the tall kneeling position, with a person on each side they will assist Mark in standing up.

16. BAR STANDING – We have a bar that runs across a doorway between braces. We also have a foot brace for Mark’s feet while he does this exercise. Mark stands, holding onto the bar for at least 60 seconds. It takes another person to assist him up to the bar and give verbal cues in keeping his balance with upright posture and straight knees.

17. WALKING WITH A WALKER – Mark can walk with some verbal cues and support.  One person should follow behind him with the wheelchair so he can rest when needed. This is done around the house or outside when weather permits. Usually takes 5 to 10 minutes and is Mark’s goal for the night.

***The total time for exercise routine is 45 – 60 minutes***

Click below to see Mark walk.