We are at Magee this morning and having an interesting morning. First, news of Brian for yesterday. He has developed a pressure sore on his tailbone. Right now he is being treated with a barrier cream. He sleeps on a foam wedge to keep him off of that spot. He did not get to get up on the slant board because it would lay him directly on his tailbone, so that has to be postponed. During OT he was cat napping, while his therapist worked on a rest for his mouthstick to make it easier for him use. During group therapy he learned again how to use his wheelchair to go up and down ramps. Last night the concierge told him that he and his roommate had won a steak dinner from TGI Fridays’s. Of course Brian loved that and had his bottle of A-1 to go with the steak. Last night a friend from college visited and several of us went up on the roof. There was a good breeze and we just enjoyed talking and relaxing until it was time to go in for night time. This morning we got a wake up call from the concierge that our van had been broken into. The passenger window was broken and the GPS (Steve’s toy) was taken. The mounting system was on the windshield and we think that was what alerted the thieves that we had a GPS. Anyway, the window is being replaced and we can get another NUVI, so in the grand scheme of things, this is no big deal. Brian did have some more ripples last night and some leg movements. So we are still getting little signs from God that all will be well. Please pray that his pressure sore heals and he does not develop more. Also, please pray for Steve and I as we learn to live in this big city. We’re sort of like the country mice. Have a great day as we think of all of you and send our love and thanks for the many blessing of hope out to you.

Love, Dawn

I haven’t posted much today because it has been a rather quiet day in terms of therapy. Brian was very sleepy when we came this morning and did not want to get up. I went into the lounge to do some research and he finally came with Steve after 10:00. He didn’t want to eat,saying his stomach felt full. We got a little breakfast into him but only a dish of pudding in the afternoon. Then a bunch of friends came, and he seemed to perk up quite a bit. They bought him two slices of pizza, which he ate, so I was happy for that. Now they are all playing catch phrase and he is in good spirits. He has been doing a lot of shoulder and neck exercises this afternoon and evening. He is really bouncing around in his chair. Adam Taliferro’s parents stopped by to say hello and encourage him, which was very nice. When Brian gets better, it will be in a large part due to both friends and family, as well as stangers who gave time, money and encouragement and became new friends. So many people have given so much already, that we will never be able to say thank you enough. Just know when Brian walks out, you have helped. Please keep praying for him, for both spirits and body to heal.

Love, Dawn

We are back at Magee after our too brief time at home. Everyone has been so wonderful helping us out as we try to juggle all the things we have to do. Brian is a little quiet right now. The wheelchair that he was in was only a trial so he is back to his regular chair. They hope to have him in a chair of his own next week. He was playing pin ball last night and seemed to have fun with that, but today his OT was a test on problems that spinal cord injury patients have. He did not like that as well. Now that he is in his permanent room, we are going to put his posters and pictures up again. That will make him happy. He has received lots of cards, so thank you for those. That makes him happy. I told him he was going to have to open a Hallmark annex as well as a Hershey chocolate annex. Please continue to pray that Brian keeps his spirits up. I know that at times he is going to feel overwhelmed. I have said to Steve that I don’t want to play this game anymore. I am sure Brian is tired of it too. Have a great night.

Love,
Dawn

Brian has made some giant steps today. He moved from the third floor to the fifth floor, room 567, which is on the spinal cord injury floor. He has a new roommate who is the same age and had a similar injury to his. He got his mouse hooked up to his computer which we will still have to learn how to use. He also got his wheelchair which he can move with his head. The people on the floor were surprised at how quickly he has mastered making it move. We are not surprised since we know Brian always tries to be the best at all he does. Brian and Colin are already saying that when he finishes at Magee, he will be able to move more than Colin because the therapists are stretching his limbs for range of motion exercises and he will be more limber than Colin. We asked if he had any more recent twinges because we hadn’t heard him say anything since going to Magee. He said he has had some in his legs. These are all steps for Brian, some bigger than others. As you pray for him, remember these steps and realize that you are seeing your prayers and ours in action. Have a great day.

Love,
Dawn

It seemed strange not getting up to feed Brian this morning and we wondered how he was making out. My niece, Kayli, called around 10:00 and said she had just talked to him and he was fine but he had to get to therapy so she only talked a short time. Tonight, we got to talk to him and he said his therapy was much the same as yesterday. He said he colored a picture of the sun using his mouth and he had a good time doing that. That made us feel good, as at least he is learning some adaptation. We still feel that Brian will be recovering but it is good to get him more independent in the interim. We are getting all his voice activated stuff hooked up slowly, but I know that will definitely boost his spirits. I want to thank every one for all the cards, calls, and prayers. We may not get to return all the calls, as it is really late at night when we get them, but please pass the website on to everyone to keep tabs on Brian. There is also a webpage, www.briankeefer.org that has information about a lot of stuff going on. Please keep praying for us. Brian colored a sun and for us that us the sun rising. God is good to us, and Brian will get better.

Love,
Dawn

We have been getting calls from Kayli and others telling us how wonderful you all are up there cleaning cars and working so hard. I am just overwhelmed at the love and support you are all showing to us. And I thought I was done crying for a while. Not Yet!! Also, Drac, our computer/angel/friend was in this morning working on getting Brian’s phone set up for voice activation. Brian has a head set and he can call out. He is trying to learn all the things he has to learn to use it so bear with him. He will soon be back to texting and talking all the time again. When we got here this morning, we did not know that he was going for OT and PT. Apparently, he has to have so much time a week, and since we did not get here until Wednesday, he had not gotten his full quota. His nurses did not know he was going either, so we had a therapist, 2 nurse, and Steve and I trying to get him ready to go. It almost took as much time as he takes in the bathroom himself when he is at home. Anyway, the OT finished making his splints for his hands to wear at nights so that his hands do not stiffen up. They want them to stay in what they call functional position. Then he had PT where his therapist set him up on the edge of the bed again, which he handled well. Then he put Brian up against a slant board and the therapist pushed back on his shoulders. At the count of 3, Brian pushed front with his shoulders. It was neat to see how he could really move. He is doing better with all movements in his shoulders, and neck. Also his arms, which up to now had been hanging loosely, were positioned with hands down on the bed. When his shoulders moved forward, his elbows actually flexed. I asked the therapist, and he said that was passive movement, but was an additional movement that he had not exhibited before. And finally, Brian told us this afternoon that his stomach hurt, not nausea, but like someone had punched him in the gut. This is definitely a new feeling, because he has been getting shots in his stomach every day and had not felt anything in that area. God is good at giving us visiual signs of the miracle in progress. When I start to feel down, I just remember that small steps we have come so far and know that they are continuing with all the prayers and help from all of you. Please keep praying, and no flipping.

Love,
Dawn