Aug. 9: New Routines, New Milestones, and Continued Hope

As summer winds down and a new school year begins, I wanted to share a few updates on how Chad is doing and what life has looked like for our family lately.

One of the highlights of the summer was spending Fourth of July weekend at the lake with friends. It felt good to step away from appointments and therapy schedules for a few days and simply enjoy being together.

The end of July also brought some fun family milestones. Ezra enjoyed wrestling camp, and we celebrated Harper’s 14th birthday.

We’ve also entered a season of new routines. I returned to work in mid-July, and the kids started back to school on August 4.

With everyone back to work and school, Chad is spending his days at home, managing his routine independently and continuing to stay active in the community. Although he isn’t currently driving, we’ve been grateful for family and friends who have helped with transportation to therapy and medical appointments, as well as opportunities to get out for lunch, go to the gym, and spend some time at the office. Having places to go and people to spend time with has been really good for him.

One especially encouraging development in physical therapy has been the return of a small amount of movement in the muscles that lift Chad’s left foot. While the movement is still very limited, it represents the first measurable activation in those muscles since the stroke. It’s also an encouraging reminder that recovery is still happening and that pathways affected by the stroke may continue reconnecting over time.

Occupational therapy brought a mix of emotions this summer. Chad was discharged from outpatient OT because progress in his arm and hand has been slower than what is typically needed to continue skilled therapy services. While that wasn’t the outcome we had hoped for, we know recovery doesn’t always follow a straight line. We are currently pursuing an OT referral to Siskin Outpatient Rehab in Chattanooga, where therapists specialize in neurological rehabilitation, to explore additional options and perspectives.

Speech therapy remains a part of Chad’s rehabilitation. Thankfully, Chad’s intellect, personality, and overall cognition remain intact. Much of the work now focuses on cognitive skills that help daily life run smoothly—things like attention, organization, problem-solving, and processing information. While these challenges aren’t always obvious from the outside, they are a common part of recovery after a brain injury. Speech therapy continues to provide tools and strategies to support this aspect of his rehabilitation.

Earlier this summer, Chad completed a sleep study after his neurologist recommended screening for sleep apnea. The results showed severe sleep apnea, with significant drops in oxygen levels during sleep.

He recently completed a second overnight study to determine the best treatment settings, and we’ll meet with the sleep specialist this week to discuss the results and next steps. We’re hopeful that treating the sleep apnea will benefit his overall health and support his recovery moving forward.

Vision remains one of the areas where we still have more questions than answers. The stroke affected the left side of Chad’s visual field, and we’re eager to better understand what improvements may still be possible and what therapies could help.

Later this month, he’ll be evaluated by a neuro-ophthalmologist at Emory who specializes in vision changes related to neurological injuries. We’re looking forward to gaining additional insight and direction from that appointment.

As always, we are deeply grateful for the many ways people continue to support our family. Your prayers, messages, visits, meals, cards, encouragement, and generosity have made a difference more times than we could count.

As time passes, many of the challenges of stroke recovery become less visible, but the need for friendship and connection remains. If you’ve thought about reaching out, stopping by for a visit, meeting Chad for lunch, or simply sending a text, please know those gestures are always appreciated. They provide encouragement, break up long days, and remind us that we’re surrounded by people who care.

Please continue praying for:

• Continued healing and recovery in Chad’s left arm and hand.

• Ongoing progress with walking, balance, and mobility.

• Wisdom and direction as we pursue additional rehabilitation opportunities.

• Helpful answers from the upcoming vision evaluation at Emory.

• Success in treating Chad’s sleep apnea.

• Strength and encouragement for our family as we continue navigating this season.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us, encourage us, and celebrate each milestone alongside us. We are thankful for God’s faithfulness and for the community He has placed around us.

With love and gratitude,

Amanda ❤️