Early Progress

Its time for an update on Dad's recovery journey, and I hope it will inspire as much hope in you as we are feeling as a family. Each day has, without a doubt, brought new challenges to overcome, but there have also been so many bright moments that are worth celebrating.

As mentioned in the last update, Dad underwent surgery to have a tracheostomy placed. The surgery went very smoothly and so far that recovery has been going very well. Dad breathes on his own for the most part, although there are times when he needs assistance from the ventilator via the tracheostomy. This assistance eases the strain on his body and allows him to focus on rest and recovery. The goal, and hope, is that eventually he will regain enough strength to remove the trach entirely... but it is going to take time. He is so much more comfortable with the trach versus the breathing tube, and it has allowed us to have more time together where he is able to communicate and show his progress, all while continuing to heal.

Physical Therapy stepped in to help keep his body and coordination strong throughout his recovery. They were absolutely blown away by his capabilities on day 1 of therapy. The hope was to get him sitting on the edge of his bed with full support. In true Gary Smith style, he knocked it out of the park by not only sitting on his bed WITHOUT assistance, but also standing up and even taking a few side steps. This is not normal for patients who have suffered the type/severity of stroke that he has, and we are so proud of how hard he is fighting, and how much strength and will he is showing.

He has full sensation and control over his hands, feet, limbs, face, etc. His coordination is good and he's been passing a squeeze ball between hands, knowing the difference between left and right, and can even trace numbers with his index finger to communicate important numbers. He mouthes "I love you" and so many other words and phrases. He's also determined to kick your butt if you challenge him to a game of thumbs... I genuinely tried to beat him with both of my hands but he still pinned mine. He is SO strong!

It goes without saying that there are hurdles ahead. Up until this point, Dad has had difficulty fully opening his eyes and seeing clearly. We are unsure if his vision and ability to open his eyes will return to normal. We know that his rehabilitation is going to be a long road. We don't know what level of independence he will eventually reach. We still have to figure out how to get him back to Charlotte.

Thank you for being here, for supporting us with your kind words and donations, and for caring. We know we have an army behind us and it gives us strength. We will keep advocating for Dad, and we will keep updating.