Thursday July 10, 2008

Ryan Update / A Great Tiger Leaves Us

Ryan Update 7-10
Please forgive me for not posting a blog yesterday. It was an exhausting day for Ryan and all of us as he continues to keep up a busy rehab schedule. Below is Ryan's schedule the past two days:
Tuesday
8:30-9:00 Physical Therapy
9:00-9:30 Recreational Therapy
9:30-10:30 Swallow Study
11:00-11:30 Psych Therapy
1:30-2:30 Physical Therapy
2:30-3:30 Occupational Therapy

Wednesday
9:00-9:30 Speech Therapy
9:30-10:30 Physical Therapy
1:30-2:30 Physical Therapy
3:00-4:00 Occupational Therapy

The therapist want us with him if possible to make sure we understand what is happening with him so we can get him home faster.

The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind so let me try to remember all that has happened. Ryan had his trach removed Tuesday and has passed his swallow test. He started out with ice and then moved on to some apple sauce. Yesterday he graduated to pudding. Ryan has a delay sometimes when he swallows so we are still not 100% confident with each bite, but he does well in getting the food down into his stomach and not into his lungs.

He has been working hard with standing and getting up and into a wheel chair. Ryan's legs are so long and it is difficult but he is doing well with it. Most of the time it wears him out but he is getting better at assisting us when we move him in and out of his wheel chair.

They are fitting Ryan for wheel chairs now and he will get a temporary wheelchair for the first three months until they build his new one. I told the physical therapist that I understand him having to have one planned but I am not sure Ryan will need a wheelchair for too long. They understand but still have to make plans.

Ryan is blowing kisses when asked. It is truly one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. Nothing can brighten your day like watching him give his mom or sister a kiss on the cheek.

He is following commands much better and much more consistent. When asked, Ryan can blink, wink, take deep breaths, smile, stick out his tongue, move his tongue from side to side and up and down, lift his head and he has better use of his fingers. The tongue is important in swallowing so he has to get used to strengthening those muscles. When asked, Ryan can move any of his fingers and can count to five on all of his fingers on his right hand. He does not use his left hand or right leg as much.

The physical therapists and occupational therapists stretch him a lot because his tone is always a concern. Sometimes Ryan gets really tight with all of the contractions so they do a good job stretching him. His physical therapists put on this tilt table to get him more upright each day. This is good for stretching his ankles and it is good to see how much weight he can put on his legs. Wednesday they got him to 40 degrees before his blood pressure got too high.

Today the doctors, nurses and therapist have a weekly meeting and they will emerge with Ryan's projected discharge date. They say this projected date is right about 95% of the time so we will be able to make more plans for Ryan and his homecoming this afternoon.

We still don't know if Ryan will live in Charlotte or Clemson. His mom has a house and office in Charlotte so that is an option. She will decide after considering all of the factors and see what is best for Ryan's future. We are currently looking into the in-home and out-patient rehabs of both locations and the school systems in both areas to see what his best opportunities will be over his junior and senior years in high school.

I saved the best for last. Ryan has begun to mouth words and he is talking a little. The doctors say he will have to whisper first before he can retrain his body to make the air pass over his vocal cords the correct way. He mouthed to his mom , "I love you." He has also whispered "mom" and his friend name, "Brooke." We think this is another huge step.

Again please forgive me for not posting yesterday but each day is so full and we are constantly meeting with so many people here that I just ran out of time. Also please understand that your prayers are a big difference in this amazing recovery. Know that we feel your prayers.

A Great Tiger Leaves Us
I was saddened to hear the tragic news Tuesday night that Clemson lost a great Tiger. Late Tuesday afternoon Millon Plyler was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 9 in Chester County.

I have known Mr. Plyler and his son Doug for several years and thought the world of him and his family. Last week Mr. Plyler sent me an e-mail from London asking about Ryan's progress. He was over at Wimbledon watching some great tennis and he was just checking in as he did from time to time.

His son Doug stopped by the hospital when we were in Greenville last week and this was the last time I talked to Doug until yesterday when I called. Doug was very proud of his father and we shared some great memories of true Tiger.

Millon Plyler graduated Clemson in the 1960s and Clemson has not had anyone that loved her any more that Millon Plyler. He was a passionate man in many areas of his life but he really showed his love for his Tigers. If Littlejohn only had a few hundred people in the stands for some of those awful December non-conference basketball games then you could bet that Millon Plyler was one of them. If they decided to keep score then he was there.

My family knew him growing up in Lancaster and he still has family there so they are missing him already. Many in Greenville are hurting today because they lost a neighbor and friend. Business associates remember a successful business man. Friends remember a loyal and trusting companion. Family remembers a devoted husband, father and grandfather. And tomorrow afternoon when they lay him to rest in Greenville, Clemson will remember a true Tiger!

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