Tuesday, August 26th

Today, our dad had some of a Factor's potato pancake with apple sauce and sour cream. We are happy he is starting to eat, even if just a little bit. He also got in a wheelchair today and sat up on his own without being strapped in, which shows that his abdominal muscles are getting stronger. His legs are also getting a little bit stronger each day, but it is just going to take time to get him back to standing and eventually walking. But, we are accepting each small improvement as a gift. The improvements may be slow and seem small, but they are major feats for him and each one is a step in the right direction. We are grateful that he is getting better, as slow as it may be. We have all the time in the world to be by his side and support him through this process.

Last night, we spoke with our new friend, Marci Thiessen. As we mentioned in a previous blog post, her dad, Tim, is going through the same thing our dad is going through right now. The similarity of their cases truly is remarkable. It is so wonderful that we are able to speak with her and be a support network for each other. It is very helpful in getting us through this difficult time. Her dad is a couple of weeks ahead of our dad in regards to recovery, so she really understands more than anyone what we are facing each step of the way. Her dad has made a lot of improvement, so she is incredibly encouraging regarding our own dad's prognosis. We feel so lucky to have met Marci and we know it is a very special relationship that will continue for years to come.