Even with the corona scare, Nathaniel continues to make progress. In physical therapy, he is learning to stand. To get strong enough for this action, he does a lot of squats. He is also learning to transfer from the bed to the chair and back without using a lift. This requires standing, pivoting, and then sitting again.
His right hand and leg are moving more. I put a ball in his left hand, like we do before he goes to sleep so that he doesn't scratch himself. I then put my hand into his right hand. I told him to squeeze my hand. He first tried to use his left hand to move his right hand, but because his left hand was covered, he couldn't. He actually moved his right thumb and index finger. Squeezing is easier than "unsqueezing".
Still working with forcing him to move his body more, I asked him to move his left leg. He could do it on command. I then asked him to move his right foot. Although not as pronounced, he was able to do it. I am trying to think of ways for him to use his legs more than just for standing. I thought of having him kick a ball while he is sitting in his chair, but with the table, I am not sure that he can see what he is doing. Maybe a bigger ball? Maybe something else.
Nathaniel has always liked numbers, and he still does. We are now using playing cards to help him recognize numbers. He can almost always differentiate between two cards to tell which one is higher or lower. He is pretty good with three cards as well. We are working with him to play the card game "War". It is a pretty complicated game and has many components to it. He has to turn over only one card from his pile. If his card is higher, he has to take both cards and turn them face down onto his other pile. If there is a "war", he has to place three cards face down and one face up. If he wins the battle, he has to turn over all of the cards to face the same way and put that bunch onto his pile.
With corona, everything is delayed and nothing is definite. Still, his major cranioplasty surgery may be within the next few weeks. It depends on Ministry of Defense and the availability of the hospital facilities and doctors. Of course, everything can change at any time.
We've restarted the search for finding a place for him to live. After the experience with corona quarantines and closures, we are rethinking some of our requirements and needs.
Continuing to have Netanel Ilan in our thoughts and prayers. May he see a full and speedy recovery together with all the infirm of `Am Yisra'el - Amen.
Thank you so much for keeping us updated. We keep praying!
Nathaniel is in our prayers in Maryland and we pray for many more success stories. We hope to meet all of you one day. My husband and I met at Hadassah hospital as visitors and were supposed to be in Israel this month. We appreciate your updates. Stay strong and safe.
Nathaniel, we are thinking of you and continually praying for your Refuah Shleima!! We look fowards to reading of your progress !!!!!