September has brought about so many positive rehabilitation changes for Jacob. As of September 9th, Jake’s new physical therapy rehab location and schedule has been increased to 4-5 hours of PT/OT/ RT/Speech per day, and the OT and PT scheduled is now including dedicated hours in the AM and PM. He takes several 20-30 minute breaks in between some sessions to rest, lay down and have quiet time for his healing brain and body. By the end of the day he is very tired and ready to go to bed and go to sleep by 7:30PM in the evening.[...]

Many of you, your friends or family members are heading back to school for the first time, as it is the Tuesday after Labor Day. This time is so exciting for your kids, grand kids, students and university students. It is a first of many and many of you document the special occasion with a first day photo.  Well today is the first of many for our son Jake. No it is not his first day back to school or his first day of college, instead it is his first time earning his one year promotion from the US Army. On this special day, Sergeant Q. from Fort Riley and Captain Andrews traveled all the way from Kansas to provide and honor Jacob with a special ceremony in Minnesota today. They brought along with them an offical US Army hat as his uniform, and the rest of his uniform will be a direct chip to our home for future occassions of celebration. Jacob also earned a PFC patch to to document his promotion and distinction of now being an Private First Class E3  Fire Support Specialist with the US Army. His new title is now Private First Class Harm.[...]

Friday Greetings from Red Wing, MN!

Jake is continuing to make great strides with his personal social, emotional and physical development skills. Brace number #3 was removed today and he had an opportunity to wear two new tennis shoes for the first time during PT- and engage in several PT activities. These activities included the following:[...]

Jake has now been at the Red Wing Health Care Facility for two weeks, and he has made great progress in this transitional care unit.  Within five days at this new location two out of his three braces were removed and they have progressed greatly with PT/OT/Speech and Recreational Therapy. As you can see from the photo gallery section on the Post Hope site,  Jake's PT accomplishments are making great strides. OT is working closely with him - with range of motion in his left arm and hand as he has about 50% functionalty wirh it, and working on daily life skills of dressing himself and daily hygiene, sequencing of step by step procedures for keeping himself safe, and good decision making choices. Speech is working on comprehensions skills, sequencing of playback of stories told, and regaining memories. Recreational Therapy allows for him to join in on a group social setting to venture out into the community, play games, trivia, ice cream socials, etc. And the Nero Doctor is working closely motitoring Jacob on his TBI condition. Jake has definite long term and short term memory losses and needs repeated instructions and reinforcement to guide him with daily living skills and activities that come second nature to all of us. This is why Jake will have 100% support from Jeff and I to help aid in his continued TBI and PT/OT healing and guidance towards a life of independence.[...]

Day 120 Since Jake’s Accident, Day 82 at Bethesda Hospital and Day 1 at Red Wing Health Care Community.

It has been a whirlwind of healing and progression the past 10 days for Jacob. He has reached level four for his food stage with eating. This means Jake is eating the same food you and I would eat. He has also transitioned to normal liquids where before he was taking liquids that were nectar thick. Getting to this stage now allows Jake to take all of his medication orally and in pill form- instead of through his stomach tube which is called a PEG. On July 30th the doctor gave the OK to remove Jake’s PEG as he no longer needs the feeding tube- YAE![...]

The past 10 days we have been very busy with an increased PT/OT/RT/ and Speech schedule with Jacob. He is making gradual improvments and he is putting forth consistant effort and tries so hard.  Jake is in the stage of level VI on the Rancho Los Amigos - Revised - Levels of Cognitive Functioning. He is becoming more aware of the nursing staff and about 50% accurate of naming them when they care for him but need cues and prompts for consistency.[...]

It has been a marvelous week of great wellness gains for Jacob and his personal interests showing through. Jake's PT/OT/Speech/Music therapy schedules have been increased to 5 times a week instead of three times a week. This health wellness increase of participation is assisting him to build his core and leg strength to eventually walk, his daily personal daily living skills, increased speech and communication dialogue, and the beginning stages of drumming and playing the keyboard. We are so proud of Jake's wellness and personal interests gains and he is so determined to walk again and be independent.[...]

Thanks to Jacob's, Aunt Renee and Uncle Rick and their kids Damien, Jesse and Sage for providing the inspiring colorful banner for Jacob. This was originally created around Jake's 19th birthday and Renee shipped it to Jake in St. Paul, MN this past week. He enjoyed seeing it and we hung it up in his room to add some color and positive words with fresh flowers again- to keep up the positive message of never giving up during his stay and rehabilitation at Bethesda Hospital. [...]

Going through all of Jake's baby photos and the first one is one of my favorites. He had heavenly blue eyes as a baby, a two year old and all through his childhood and teenage years and still does today. The nurses taking care of him enjoy his good looks and handsome blues eyes we are told daily  They are very very protective of him and we as parent are so glad they are keeping him safe morning, noon and night to aid in our comfort as parents, even though we are there for Jake each and every day. I can't wait to see his big full smile again someday and hear his quick witted words to really speak what is on his mind. Even though his speech is limited- he "sees" and "hears" what is going on and knows what is happening all around him. His gestures and his eyes tell a true story for him now. Jeff and I know when he is in pain, when he needs something in particular, when he needs to be adjusted with a seating postion, and when he is in distress due to anxiety caused by outside and negative influences. I am so glad we can aid in his comfort and turn another chapter in his health and wellness journey very very soon,[...]

Greetings Friends and Family Members, 

Jake is continuing to make great progress as his speech is improving to put two or three words together during his day, but not sentences or paragraphs. Pronunciation of a lot words is difficult yet. He goes in waves where one day he may be real talkative and then the next day he is quiet. It depends on the type of influence from individuals or interactions during his day that can affect his physical and emotional state of well-being. [...]