Father - Son night at Spaulding

It's Columbus Day Weekend and the Butterworths are strewn all over the place. It's Harvest Festival and Amy is dutifully overseeing the Opportunity Dress Shop, helping to raise thousands for the Berkshire Botanical Garden (which you must visit the next time you're in the Berkshires). Jancy and I worked this morning and then Jance headed off to Belchertown for a soccer game, while I headed east on I-90. Tomorrow (Sunday), Jancy will somehow join me in Boston, and then Amy heads out Monday while I head home. Good lord.


That was just a little editorial aside while I thought over what news I'd share about Tim. I arrived to find that the lad had moved to room 928. Nice of him to let us know! Anyway, he's in good spirits (what Sox fan wouldn't be) but going a little stir crazy at the same time. The strength in both of his legs continues to improve. The first thing he showed me was very interesting, but I should have taken a picture, as this explanation is a bit tricky. Here goes. Tim backed his chair up to a wall railing and then stretched his arms out to the side and gripped the rail. Using his arm strength and his left leg, he was able to lift his butt about 3 inches out of the chair. Very significant. On his right side, his adduction muscles seem to be working better and better - moving his knee left and right, and he saw some wiggling in his toes.


I asked him if he'd thought about standing again, and he said that he has to be careful asking for that, because it would use up a full PT session and he might miss out on something more beneficial. Still, he is pumped to do it again.


As you might guess, Tim has a pretty good handle on what's going on with his overall program. This week, someone on staff noticed. The head nurse on the 9th floor was scheduled to make a presentation on patient care to a group from Partners Healthcare and asked Tim to give her notes a review and fact check them for her.


We continue to be grateful to all those folks who reach out to Tim in various ways. Yesterday, cousin Paul stopped by for a nice visit and Tim received a postcard from Aunt Merrilyn and a nice note from the O'Malley's. I brought a card that had been mailed to our home from Elizabeth and Adolf of West Stockbridge - two people who have not met Tim, but share their support and prayers. It's very humbling.


We also reviewed the news clippings I brought along. Tim was excited to learn that the Monument / St. Joe's game was being filmed tonight. Maybe a DVD is available? And, saddened to learn about the fire at Baba Louie's.


The day ended on an high note with a visit from Conor, his mom Mary and friend Ethan. Conor is in the drum line for the BC Eagles and they are having a hell of a year, today kicking some Bowling Green butt. Marching band is keeping Conorooman very busy this year, but his mom was glad for a three day weekend so that she could bring him back to Richmond for a couple of days.

Take me to the river.

Tim gave me a call this afternoon to get caught up on last night's game. He said that Josh Becket was unbelievable - the ball was just "twisting" out there. And yes, he felt like he got up a couple of inches out his chair when David Ortiz cranked one.

Grandpa came up to visit during lunch and joined Tim on a Spaulding outing to Half Time Pizza. He brought up a beautiful hand sewn Red Sox blanket from our long time friends, the Halpins from Los Angeles.

Tim took advantage of a Spaulding recreational therapy program today - canoeing on the Charles. He joined another resident and two therapists for a paddle through that dirty water. The boat was rigged with a "bungee paddle" that allowed him to use just one hand - his left.

A couple of other developments to report. Today Tim was able to perform a two new ADL's (remember that acronym? - Activities of Daily Living). He pulled on a pair of pants and put on his shoes, tying the left one. He is also noticing improved hip adduction strength, and is able to pull his right knee in towards his left. Little by little.

Kickin' Back

Tim was nice enough to call me today at the office. He needed my credit card to purchase tickets to tonight's opening game of the playoffs. 6:37 vs. the Angels. Brendan, a PT aide was going to accompany him. We got that out of the way and talked a little bit about the last couple of days. He continues to do work with the Locomat, FES Bike, Bioness and Fluidotherapy unit, as well as spending time in wheelchair "group."

He hasn't tried to stand again, but did have another significant development. Last night, while lying on his side in bed, he was able to "kick" his right leg back behind him just a little bit, which is a little bit more than the day before.

Communications from the outside world included a nice card and note from Paula & Preston of West Stockbridge.

So, as I write, he's at the game, gave us a quick call just after the Sox went up 4-0. I wonder if Big Papi's two run blast got him up and out of his seat with the rest of Red Sox Nation?

"Put one foot in front of the other...

...and soon you'll be walking out the door!"
Couldn't resist calling upon the words of the infamous Abominable Snowman and risk dating myself(Rudolph c. 1970 +/-), but the news is sooo good and the not-so-graceful but ever profound image of you taking steps conjured sweet childhood images. Let's hope this will be the subject of your next video!!?? My deepest conciliatory GRRRR goes to your dad for missing it all by seconds. You'll just have to do it all over again, and I bet you anything you will!!! Well done, Tim!!! Love from Aunt Carolann, cousin Tascha and Allott.

Audi Inspiration - #8

We believe in proactively planning for the future rather than reacting to whatever comes our way. We always have.

** This is a direct quote taken from Tim's new book on the history and philosophy of Audi.

wow!

Tim! I can't believe you stood! That makes me so happy, I'm proud of you!

Keep up the good work!!

-Alex

Get up, stand up. Don't give up the fight!

What a wonderful day. Amy and Jance headed back on Sunday night - Amy to start the final push to prepare the Opportunity Dress Shop at the Harvest Festival for the Berkshire Botanical Garden, and Jancy for schooling purposes. So, I got a taste of a quiet morning at 9 Willow and headed down to Spaulding to talk with Tim a bit before his day got started. That didn't really happen because Tim slept late, which I approve of. When he did wake up, we discovered that he was scheduled for a outpatient session at New England Baptist and we hadn't been informed. Not a big deal, but off we went in a "Cabulance" for a delightful tour of Boston through Back Bay, the Fenway and beyond towards JP. It was a nice time to "just talk."


The session was routine and when we got back to Spaulding, Tim went off to therapy and I went to the lunch room and did some work on my laptop. I needed to leave around 3:00 in order to catch my bus, so I went down to the gym to say goodbye a few minutes before then.


Tim: Hi Dad. I stood.
Kaye: He stood.


So, there I was, needing to leave almost immediately, and also needing to stay in order to absorb this incredible news. So, I tried to get as much information as I could and headed out. I did call Tim when I returned this evening, and this is the full story:


Tim's right leg was put in a full length plastic brace while he was sitting in his chair, which locked his knee and gave that leg rigidity. Then, using a harness, Tim was lifted out of his chair and onto his feet, with legs bent. Gradually he was lifted into a near standing position - just a few inches shy. Then the harness was loosened, and he straightened out his left leg on his own and was standing under his own power and balance! He was positioned between two parallel railings and placed his hands on them for support. The therapist (Kaye) picked up his right foot and moved it forward, leaving weight on the left. Tim then took a step (not that pretty, but still a step) with his left leg. They did that a couple of times. Wow. I came in a little after that. How frustrating is that? I was checking emails about 100 feet away! Just before I left, Tim pointed to his right thigh and showed me a slight flexing movement that he was creating and controlling.


So, how could a day like this get any better? Red Sox Rally Monday, that's how. Tim asked his friend Emily to come down to Spaulding and escort him to tonight's rally at Government Center, a quick ten minute roll away. His status as a chair rider earned him front row spots and he heard speeches and performances by the Dropkick Murphys and The Standells - including Sweet Caroline and Dirty Water. Owner John Henry even sat in on guitar.


http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071001&content_id=2244399&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos



So, it looks like Tim's week is off to a good start! Meanwhile, back in the Berkshires, some cows got loose in Richmond.

Season Finale

Tim slept late today. Good. When he awoke, he was focused on one thing. He and Jancy were going to the last Sox game of the year. He had called the box office and yes, there was one seat accessible seat left with one companion. So they bought the tickets and away they went. Amy and I accompanied them on the Green Line and the experience was very good (on the way home, too). We feel better and better about using the T now. After we dropped them off at Gate A, Tim needed an Ellsbury tee and then they disappeared.

Amy and I had a nice walk back to the Hill along the esplanade and enjoyed a much-needed nap before walking back to pick them up via Back Bay. It was a beautiful day to be in Boston and we both enjoyed stretching our legs.

When we returned to Gate A, we waited for the entire park to empty out - no Tim, no Jancy. We found them via cell phone - hanging around the players parking lot and watching the team drive away one by one. I think that Tim was savoring every bit of free time outside of the hospital, because tomorrow, it's back to work. On our way back, we learned that the day was great, they loved being together (alone) and that even though the Sox lost it was a good game.

Hi Tim, family and friends,
Lincoln and I have been cruising around Europe for the past few weeks, spreading good Tim karma, to the best of our ability, in places both sacred and maybe, ever so slightly, profane. This picture we like because the trail to the top of this mountain is completely accessible. There are a couple of nice restaurants once you get there, and the views are amazing. Lincoln really enjoyed shooting the bracelet on cool sculptures we found everywhere. I'll post a few more snapshots in the next couple of days, as long as no one thinks that, perhaps, we had too much fun with the blue bracelets!
ciao for now,
Nancy Fitzpatrick

Braceless in Boston

Tim has been dying to get that neck brace off, and last night was a step in that direction. He has been cleared to sleep without it, and I'll find out soon how that went and see what the long term prognosis is.

Amy, Jance and I arrived yesterday as we usually do and spent another leisurely evening on the patio, enjoying the warm weather while we had it. We went through some local news and sports stories from the Eagle and Record. Tim let us know that Marge & Bob, Chris and Liam had stopped by for a visit during the day. He received a nice card from Pat & Bob as well as a tin of "Fat Witch" brownies from Brendan's (his old roommate) sister and her husband. They had spent a lot of time together during the month or so that Brendan was here. That was nice and the blondies were very good.

Tim is popping and holding wheelies now with abandon. Very nice to see. And you will. Now that we've charged the battery for the camera I'll get a shot today and post it. I took a look at the Fluidotherapy unit - pretty much just like the one in the link I provided. We talked some more about vehicles, and will get some images out there as soon as plans are a little more firm. He got a call from Amanda, who is visiting Bonnie in Boston. She was coming down for a short visit with Priscilla and Mika. It was time for us to leave, so we didn't have an opportunity to meet them and thank them for including Tim in their plans. We all continue to be incredibly appreciative of all those who visit, blog, email and send cards and notes his way. Thank you!