Most parents can't wait for their children to learn to talk and then spend the rest of their children's growing years telling them to "shut-up". Matthew longs for the day he would ever even think that again. Orion takes a deep breath and concentrates on what he is saying, patiently repeating himself if he is not understood. When his jujitsu (martial arts) instructor, Miss Anna, gave him a megladon tooth, he told every person who walked into his room about the 50+ million year old dinosaur. Wow! I'd say his thought processes are very much intact.
His physical therapist walked with him around the room and had to remind Orion not to look at his feet while walking, saying he needed to teach himself to do some things without looking. Immediately I thought I should probably get some physical therapy for my typing - I always look at my hands. Thanks God for the genius who invented spell check!!
Orion is progressing fantastically with his speech although his walking, double vision, balance and coordination have greatly been affected by the AVM's pressure on his brain. As I understand it, the bruising will go away and with Orion's determination and with time, he will get back to normal. No telling how long he will be in rehab. We had been told approximately a year but then again we were told he would take much longer to do everything he has already accomplished in less than half the time predicted. Way to go Orion!
We are going to see if there is anyplace in Austin where the cute little red head can have inpatient services for his rehabilitation. Hopefully this can be sooner than later. Will let you know. Please keep up the prayers! They are lazar lights to heaven, brightening Orion's path to getting better.
Love to all, Orion's Nana Colleen
