Dr. Antonucci came today. We love these days b/c we learn so much from him. Zeke was happy to see him, and even more happy b/c Dr. A commented on how big he was and how big his muscles were. Zeke's smile lit up the room and he was so proud of Dr. A noticing how strong he is. Dr. A was very impressed with Zeke's head and neck control, and was blown away when Tally told him that this was actually one of his weaker days since he has just been through the ringer. "You should see him when he is 100%," she said. 

Dr. A identified a few areas of focus:
(1) left side neglect (he doesn't flinch when you put your hand toward his face on the left side.

(2) instead of Zeke's hamstrings being a concern, Dr. A noticed that it is more clearly presenting as the tendon. The spasticity in the hamstring is totally gone and now it is just strong muscle. It is the TENDON that is keeping the knee bent. It's the same treatment - the stander - with the same outcome if we don't continue to address this issue (surgery). So this is an answer prayer and a shift in the request all in one! 

(3) We will be working on vertical tracking with Zeke over the remaining days and most likely in my in home plan. Apparently the vertical tracking is where the different sides of the brain work together. 

Dr. A was also very gracious with me, as always, and is willing to work with me to ensure I have all of our therapeutic priorities in order. I always appreciate hearing his perspective and he often gives me such good counsel when it comes to next steps and priorities for treatment.

Tally did an amazing job working with sweet Zeke today without over working him. Even when he wanted too! He wanted to stay in the stander for much longer and cried when we needed to take him out. She was able to calm him down (this is amazing b/c very few people can calm down an upset Zeke) and bargained with him to go back in the stander for 15 minutes after Dr. A leaves and they could play with SHAVING CREAM! He was so excited. The stander and the shaving cream are two of his favorite things at this intensive. 

She also continued working on cutting with him and using his fingers and hands to reach, pick up a game piece and put it in the right place. Zeke is getting more proficient at this, and it is so much fun to watch. 

All of this is amazing news, right?!? But wait! There is more!

God moved in the heart of an individual to reach out to me and told me that they would front the money for us to be able to buy the stander outright. This is a HUGE blessing and I am blown away at the kindness of this individual. 

This is also an answer to prayer, b/c we looked into all the options, we saw that every option would make us wait several months before we received the stander. As you know, we don't have several months. Time is of the essence with lengthening this tendon. Just to give you a picture of what this is doing for him...

The angle of Zeke's knee is at -42. The angle should be 0. After 2 days in the stander, the angle of the knee was -36. This is AMAZING. And since this is a tendon thing, we aren't done once it gets to 0. We have to KEEP doing it so his body and brain will allow the tendon to work as intended. 

So here is the plan. 

- This individual is going to front the money so we can buy the stander asap. 
- I am going to try and fundraise as much money as I can through this page and this is where I need your help!

Would you please share this page with at least 10 people by Thursday? And ask them to consider donating - any amount helps. Whether it be $5, $10, $50 or $1000 every bit helps. 

My hope is that we can raise all the money before the end of the intensive so that we can pay this individual back. 

And just a moment of full vulnerability - it is HARD to ask for money. Like really hard. But what I have found on this journey is that pride completely takes a backseat when you're advocating and fighting for your child's wellbeing. Zeke really needs this stander.