A Counting Box, Filling Pocks and Electric Shocks on the Vernal Equinox – 3/21/06

The Vernal Equinox:
Today is the vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (Brazil and Australia [the Taggart men’s first missionfields] have their first day of Autum today, the autumnal equinox). HAPPY SPRING!

Electric Shocks:
Between the electrical stimulation therapy and Joseph’s hard work, his left wrist is beginning to respond well, today he was able to move it a couple of inches! That is remarkable, just last week movement could barely be perceived. He is struggling as he makes progress to get completely off the ventilator. The last few nights they have had him on CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) only, no additional pressure support. This requires a lot of use of the diaphragm since the Intercostal muscles are below the injury level. The result is that he has been exhausted during the day. It’s all part of the progress. When you workout, you get tired.
Today they did a CT scan to help determine if, when and how a second surgery might be done while Joseph is still on the respirator. We are all voting for the additional surgery. The surgery might have real impact on breathing if additional breathing muscles can be enervated on the right side as well as the right arm. That is the hope.

Filling Pocks:
Things are moving on the house, tomorrow or Thursday they will begin working on framing Joseph’s bedroom. Today they started plastering up the holes and pocks in the living room and kitchen walls etc. They also put wallboard in the kitchen hole for additional cabinets (ones Joseph can use, hopefully). They built forms for the platform at the entry from the garage to the house, where Joseph will exit the wheelchair lift. Mark (the guy who can do anything) has finished most of the baseboard and trim installation around the floors and doors. It looks great. We even put the bed back in the bedroom today, in a few days we may even get to move back in. On Saturday they drilled through the concrete foundation in three places for heating, plumbing and the dryer vent. All is ready for when the framing is underway.

The Counting Box:
Notice the new counter on the very bottom of this page. It counts how many visitors since last Sunday. Red spots on the world map indicate where the hits are from. When you enlarge it looks like the map here. The latest info: Visits to this URL since Sunday 19 Mar 2006: 258. Visits yesterday: 122.

To help see: www.bringjosephhome.com

PHOTOS:
1) Joseph’s wrist is beginning to respond to the electrical stimulation therapy and his efforts.
2) Attitude from Joseph as he gets his percussive breathing treatment from Megan (Respiratory Therapy) while reclined in his power wheelchair and Matt, trying out the bed.
3) Wallboard goes up in the kitchen.
4) Patching the swamp cooler hole.
5) Mark puts in the forms for the platform outside the door from the garage.
6) Mark works on the baseboard in the family room.
7) The concrete holes cut for heating, plumbing and the dryer vent.
8) Worldmap counter for the site.