Monday July 07, 2008

Ryan Update / Clemson Tight Ends

Ryan Update 7-7
We have a lot of news on Ryan and all of it is very encouraging.

Thursday Ryan moved from Greenville Memorial to Levine Children's Hospital at the Carolina's Medical Center in Charlotte. He was doing well medically and it was time to choose a rehab center and Charlotte was our choice.

The folks at Greenville Memorial were awesome. The Emergency Room doctors and nurses helped the EMT guys and Will save Ryan's life. The ICU team of doctors and nurses were crucial in Ryan's recovery. He was there for nine days and I thank God for their love and care. His neurological team of doctors and nurses had him for 23 days and they were incredible. In fact, when we were leaving several nurses were crying because of their love for Ryan. We spent 32 days there and we are looking forward to bringing Ryan back to see them when he has recovered.

Ryan was ready for rehab and the Charlotte location specializes in brain injuries. We have been overwhelmed. The Levine Children's Hospital was just completed in December and the staff they have assembled is awesome. Ryan's main doctor is Dr. Maureen Nelson and she and Ryan have hit it off because she is a big basketball fan from her days in Illinois. All of his doctors, nurses, therapists and assistants have been very encouraged by Ryan's progress.

Since Thursday's blog Ryan has made even more dramatic strides. He now can wink at you with either eye. He can blink his eyes on command. Ryan is smiling more often and is now giving him mom kisses on the cheek. He is swallowing better as well. One of the best things he is doing is holding his head up a little better.

Since Ryan cannot talk yet, it is important for him to be able to follow commands and communicate with us. One of the ways is with his hands. Ryan can now follow commands with his hands and point his fingers which is very encouraging. When you ask him to put up one finger or two fingers or even three fingers, he responds. We can ask him to put up his pinky and he responds. He can even count to three with his fingers when asked.

We think he will be able to get his trach out Tuesday. This will help in the overall process. It will be easier for him to take showers and to eventually start eating.

The staff here is very aggressive in his rehab. They have him active all day. Here is Ryan's schedule for Monday:
8:00-8:30 Speech Therapy
9:00-10:00 Occupational Therapy
10:00-11:00 Physical Therapy
11:00:00-11:30 Psychological Therapy
11:30-12:00 Occupational Therapy
1:00-1:30 Cognitive Education
1:30-2:00 Occupational Therapy
2:30-3:30 Physical Therapy

Thursday is a big day for us because the staff will have a meeting and they will give us his projected departure date. The entire staff will evaluate this week and meet to determine his timetable. They tell us that this is about 95% accurate.

Ryan has lost 30 pounds and he will need to get his strength back but that is just one of his obstacles. He will eventually need to start talking, eating and moving his arms and legs better. One of the next big steps he will need to pass in the next few days comes on a vertical board. On this board he is strapped in parallel to the ground then turned upright slowly. He will eventually be able to get to 70% on this board but typically the patient starts at 30-40% on the first day. This morning Ryan got to 30% before his blood pressure became too high.

They will work more on his flexibility and his strength in the next few weeks. I think his mental ability will continue to be ahead of his motor skills and strength but I could be wrong. I also think it will help when he can eat on his own.

I will try to give you daily updates with his progress but his schedule is so busy.

Thanks again for all of those you continue to pray for Ryan. It is very obvious that those prayers are being answered every day.

Clemson Tight Ends
Clemson tight end coach Billy Napier is thankful to have a deep and talented group of tight ends this season. There is some experience here and some toughness. Plus he has one of the top freshmen in the South to work with.

Michael Palmer started 11 games last season and three as a true freshman. He is a noted blocker who finished the season second on the team in knock down blocks by a non-offensive linemen. He was also the leading receiver at tight end a year ago with 13 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. Palmer is probably the most complete tight end on scholarship.

Brian Linthicum well as a true freshman last season. He set the school record for touchdown receptions by a first year tight end with three. He scored touchdowns against Duke and Louisiana-Monroe but his biggest catch came on a score against Florida State. He has improved his size and strength and should be much more ready to become a complete tight end this fall.

Akeem Robinson works as hard as anyone and that has earned him respect among his teammates. Robinson is a converted offensive lineman who is a better blocker than pass receiver. He has started 11 games during his Clemson career and is a key to the Tigers' ground game success.

Durrell Barry is a talent that has not shown up as much as some would have believed so far in his career. Barry catches the ball well but is still working to improve his blocking skills.

Dwayne Allen is a true freshman that brings perhaps the best hands at this position Clemson has seen in some time. He was committed to Georgia for most of his senior season before Clemson came in and inked this talented prospect. Allen may avoid a red-shirt because he might be the top receiving threat at this position. When he signed with Clemson in February, the talent at this group went to another level.

Napier will like working with this group and Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence will utilize each player and their ability. This group has talent, depth, youth and experience. This is one of the top tight end units in the ACC.

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