January 7th

Ashley continued to build momentum on her gains from the previous week. While we know Ashley has a long way to go on her road to recovery we are impressed by her progress. Both her communication and eating skills improved. At the same time she appeared to experience less pain from muscle spasms.

We are consulting with the doctors to determine if additional steps should be taken at this time to reduce some of the muscle rigidity and cramping/toning. The rigidity issues are with Ashley’s neck and right arm. That said her right arm is improving. She has much more flexibility in her elbow, wrist and fingers than she has had in the past. Ashley use to wear a brace on her right wrist and hand at night, but now we are finding it unnecessary.

On Saturday half a dozen friends from her high school days paid her a visit. There is a picture posted to the home page which also is the first picture of Ashley since her temporary upper teeth brace was removed. One of the gifts they brought Ashley was a video of several friends at a party the night before. Each friend spoke to Ashley on the video. Ashley requested seeing it again on Sunday and I am sure will want to view it often.

When her friends left she got a bit emotional which is both understandable and healthy. I am sure she was thinking, “I should be heading back to school just like they are.” Ashley does not show very much sad emotion. Her spirit is so strong. Even after six months of being cognizant of her condition she is still focused on improving and directing her energies toward her efforts to recover.

We have met several other patients and their families while we have been at RIC. Ashley has been the only one with an injury related to an auto-immune disease. The majority of the other patients have fallen into one of two categories, auto accidents among the civilians and battle injuries among the soldiers that we have met at RIC.

We have formed a bond with many of the patients and their families. We all have the same focus, seeing a loved one through recovery. The primary guiding force among those that we have met is faith in God. There is a young Muslim man from Kuwait who was injured in a car accident. His mother and Mary have spoken on several occasions. She has told us she and her family back in Kuwait are praying for Ashley. We have assured her that we are also praying for her son.

Over time we have found that the prayer support for Ashley and our family is growing. This blessing has provided us all with the strength we need to achieve our goals of bringing Ashley home and continuing her recovery.

We are still targeting Ashley’s homecoming for this month. A couple of things might extend her stay. If we pursue an additional treatment for Ashley’s muscle stiffness and spasms it could add a week. The other issue is Ashley’s uncanny tendency to spike a fever the day a transfer is scheduled. She did that both for the Virginia-Fort Wayne move (twice) and for the Fort Wayne-Chicago move. As such it might be a good strategy to keep the travel date a secret from Ashley. A big difference with this move is that there will be no ambulance involved (air or ground). We will be driving Ashley home this time.