August 2-6

written Wednesday, August 6

Hello! I had a great weekend in KS City. It was so nice to 'get away' ... even if I did burn the candle at both ends and came home exhausted!

Our meeting with Dr. Veenis yesterday was postponed by his office until next Turesday. We did meet with Dr. Waltersdorf on Monday.

This meeting was very encouraging! He told us that when he read Dwight's MRI he told his secretary that she'd need to book two days for him to complete the battery of tests because he didn't think that Dwight's brain was even on the planet (to quote the doc...) Meaning that his brain was so messed up from the injury!! Dwight did the whole battery of tests in 1 1/2 hrs. less than it was scheduled for!!!

Dwight cannot consider returning to work or independent living until after the next battery of tests in December. he can be left alone periodically ... which delighted him because now Mom can do her errands "without" him....I left him yeterday while I took Chloee to the vet and he did just fine! The Dr. did release Dwight to drive with restrictions. It must be day time, good weather and NO heavy traffic. Joe let him drive the two mile dirt road Monday on the way home from the appt. and Dwight did great!! Can you believe this???!!!!!!

Dr. W uses a yellow highlighter to mark the "really bad" scores on people's tests. Dwight had a few but the doc told us he expected to have to dip Dwight's entire test scores in yellow ink!!

He did say that Dwight's activities "outside" our house (even mowing grass) must still be limited to three hours. We can increase it some each month until Dec. when the tests will be repeated. Joe and I felt Dwight was ready to be challenged more and do more but the Doctor said it would hinder the healing process. Dwight's brain must still be kept unstimulated as much as possible. He said it would be the absolute best for him to sleep all day as the brain heals best when relaxed and rested. Of course we all know that this is impossible.... He can do whatever he wants "inside" our house .... yet if visitors come, we must start his three hour clock ... We can all adjust and live with this as it is in Dwight's absolute best interest.

Speaking of mowing grass, Joe mowed the yard (nearly an acre) and Dwight wanted to help. Joe used the push mower and let Dwight ride the riding mower and he helped until it was finished!!!!!

We all know the severity of the injury ... yet it was once again driven home at our Monday's meeting. It is SEVERE....the injury is not just frontal lobes but a great deal of injury is over the right side as well. The doctor had a model brain and showed us the areas and extent of the damage ... yet , BY GOD"S MERCY ..... there was NO brain stem damage .... All this thus results in a sensitive, slow healing process....

This meeting also once again drove home the reality of the MERCY of GOD and the MIRACULOUS healing that is taking place. The doctor even said Dwight is doing better than he expected !!!!!!! TO GOD BE ALL PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY!!!!!!

Keep praying ..... it is a waiting game for now and we will take it one day at a time! Gratitude and love to all .....

May God find US faithful!!!! joan for us 5 1 Cor. 2:5 "so that 'our' faith should not rest on the wisdom of men BUT on the POWER OF GOD"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!