Update from Training Camp

From Joanne's Dad:

Seven days into rookie fall training camp and all is well – some soreness, but nothing broken.  On Friday, July 29^th, Joanne’s PT (Sylvia) threw us a long pass by suggesting we take off a couple of weeks to work on new exercises she demonstrated to her Head Coach (Toben); Offensive Coach (Kay, mom;, and her Personal Trainer (Papa Chuck).  So, I (Chuck) have joined Joanne early each morning at her gym (garage) for a 1-2 hour workout that consists of about 17 different exercises.  Most require that I both position Joanne as well as talk her step-by-step through the repetitions (GO Joanne!), but some allow me to continue reading her Spurgeon’s morning devotion, and George MacDonald’s Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood.   How blessed we were to read yesterday (through the character of the Vicar Walton), “Nothing I repeat, so much as humble ministration to your neighbors, will help you to that perfect love of God which casteth out fear; nothing but the love of God – that God revealed in Christ – will make you able to love your neighbor aright; and the Spirit of God, which alone gives might for any good, will by these loves, which are life, strengthen you at last to believe in the light even in the midst of darkness; to hold the resolution formed in health when sickness has altered the appearance of everything around you…”  (Of course, when my neighbor is my oldest daughter, my humble ministrations are not only a joy, but a true privilege that I would have never been afforded but for her stroke.)

Being there every day makes it hard to see progress, but yesterday (Aug 5^th), when Toben took Joanne for therapy, Sylvia (PT) had some very encouraging words for Joanne about her decreased muscle tone and increased ability to control one muscle at a time in her left leg, rather than the post-stroke tendency to move hip, knee, and ankle all together.   Thanks Sylvia – that’s sufficient inspiration to get us through this next week.  Where would we be without your guidance?  And in that short hour, Sylvia had Joanne walking even better and made a very encouraging prediction about her ability several months from now.

Joanne is now also doing” three-a-day” 30 minute sessions in her “JAS” (Joint Active System) – which is a polite name for a medieval torture boot with a screw jack mechanism to stretch her Achilles tendon.  Just picture James Bond under the hands of Ernst Blofeld.

Please continue to pray that someday she and I will be doing these same kind of exercises with her left arm – which today is only range-of-motion passive stretching since it remains paralyzed.

God bless all you faithful praying friends!

Chuck

 

Comments

[R.elliott]

thank you so much for the update....I pray daily for the whole family...you all are an inspiration....praying for Hope...endurance....healing...
Blessings~

[holly smith]

Oh Mr. F, what encouraging words. I am thrilled to hear of her progress and continue to pray for your dear girl, my friend. Thank you for modeling Jesus for us...for loving your daughter the way Father loves us. It does my own heart a world of good.

[Jan Maniatis]

Go (huff puff) Go (sweat snarl) Go (growl strain) What a super team you have to help you succeed. Continuing to pray for that left side and victory of all your body working together as He speaks of in Scripture. Hugs, j

[Kathleen T. Jaeger]

Thanks for the inspiring update. Still reading and still praying for all of you...go JoAnn & Team Joann.

[Kathryn Champion]

I seldom have to time to comment but Joanne and you all are continually in my prayers. So nice to read this update. Still praying for that left arm, too :)

[Marena Sheffield]

Thanks for the wonderful update. It helps me (to pray) when I can visualize what she is going through. Her left arm better get ready to move, cause I know a lot of people are going to be praying for it!

[Patti]

Thank you for the encouraging update. I check almost daily for those updates, they keep me praying for Joanne. I think it is awesome that she has so much support both spiritually and your physical presence to help out.

[Amy]

Continuing in prayer for all of you, especially Joanne. What a wonderful praise report here. Made me emotional in part b/c my dad has MS and works with a physical therapist. I wish I could do with him what you're doing with Joanne! Truly a blessing.

[Child of God]

I am so glad to hear that there is progress! Thanks for the update.

Always praying for you Joanne.

<><

[Brandie Brown]

Joanne, I came across your blog early on after your stroke. I have followed it daily and pray often for you and your family. I am a PT that has worked with patients that are post-stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and lots of other diagnoses. I am always amazed at the strength and determination not only of the patient, but also of the family after a patient has had a stroke. Thank you. Thank you for inspiring me, thank you for renewing my faith, thank you for strengthening the relationships I have with my loved ones, Thank you for making me a better mommy. Thank you. Keep up the hard work!

[Dedra]

I love you girl... and family and have not stopped praying for even a day. He is doing a MIGHTY work through you. Big HUGS! - D

[Michelle]

Thank you so much for the update. Prayers from our little family in Australia will continue for Joanne and her amazing support team. God Bless you all.

[Jen]

Hi Joanne,

Just checking in with you to let you know I am praying for you daily. You are so strong and I love to hear about your progress.

Much love from Redlands CA

Jen Medeiros

[Julie (Johnson) Powell]

It is a wonderful thing that the gifts, experience and talents of all the family are just what you need, Joanne. And that you all see the ministry you're called to, and are serving each other as unto the Lord. You all bless me, and I thank God for it!

[missi]

I prayed for Joanne last night, specifically about her left side. So, it was nice to get your message this morning about her progress. I know Joanne is going to have great success! Missi

[kristi walker]

Prayers of healing and complete restoration coming from our family!

In Him,
David and Kristi

[Lora Osburn]

What a beautiful picture of the fathering heart of God. Love you so much Joanne. Praying and believing God with you.

[Pam James]

What a beautiful post. So enjoy hearing from Dad. Joanne, you are so blessed to have such a great team. Praying for you daily.

[Kim Feth]

What an inspiration you are to all of us. Continuing to pray for a complete and total recovery.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Siesta
Apex, NC

[linda]

what a sweet update... from an even sweeter dad... be encouraged - your hard work is paying off, although i fully understand it's frustrating. be blessed and thanks for being so transparent with us... hugs from a siesta sister...

[Karri Piecora]

Dear Joanne,
I met your friend Marla at Pillow Talk last night and she told me about your blog. Along with that she prayed with me and was such an encouragement. I have been suffering with neurological Lyme disease for almost 4 years now. It was undiagnosed for a long time. At first they thought it was MS, Lupus, etc. I was paralyzed on my left side, bedridden for months and months and am still struggling with my illness due to the bells palsy, tremors,and my left side. I have a blog also. The Lord has blessed me greatly through all of this and I have and still am learning to see his purpose, but it is still hard since I am still so ill.
I will continue to read your blog and pray for you and your family. I hope what I have written makes sense to you. My brain doen't always process things the way that it should.
God Bless,
Karri Piecora