Happy 22nd Birthday Ashley

Yes Ashley has reached the ‘double duce”. As you can see Ashley celebrated with the therapists this afternoon. She has received a bunch of cards and phone calls. On behalf of Ashley, “Thank you!”

Ashley's Favorite-Carrot Cake

Since our last update we have a lot of exciting Ashley news.

Standing and Balancing – Ashley is now able to stand up under her own strength from the therapy table and not only that she is able to balance without anyone, or thing, supporting her. Ashley has stood on her own without assistance for more than two minutes. Way to go Ash!

On the therapy table Ashley was also able to go from being on her hands and knees to raising her self to being on her knees. Again without any assistance. At times it seems like Ashley’s progress is moving too slow, but when we see her do things like that it reminds us that we are on God and Ashley’s time. We just have to keep the faith and provide Ashley with the tools and support she needs to continue to improve. Thanks to all of you that keep her in your prayers.

We had front row seats to the IU Western Michigan football game when we went down to visit Austin. What was neat about that is the handicap seating is behind the visitor’s bench which enabled us to see Austin at the top of the press box where the IU videographers are. In turn he was able to see us and his grandparents that were further up from us in the same section.

Ashley is in the front row while Austin is at the top of the press box.

Spotting Austin

There he is at the top with the red shirt with white sleeves. Below him are the announcers from the Big Ten Network.

Following the game we did another first with Ashley. We went out to dinner, nothing new there, but we ordered off the menu for Ashley and she ate pasta. This is the first time we have gone out and not had Ashley’s food pureed. Her serving was easy to work with to get to the texture she needed.

Ashley has had more medications removed. Ashley from now on receives two meds and both are at very low levels. When she came home from Chicago Ashley was on thirteen different medications. It certainly makes a difference in her energy level.

Ashley had a complete workup and all of her levels were in the normal range. When it came to things like cholesterol and blood pressure she has readings most of us could only dream of. When you couple that with the motivation Ashley has it means there is no stopping her.

We have a busy fall lined up for Ashley. We are going to make a trip over to St. Mary’s and Notre Dame on October 24th when they host Boston College. We are looking forward to seeing Ashley’s classmates that are in their senior year. We are also planning on going to Columbus, Ohio in early November to visit Sandy and Pauline and to meet Al who was struck with ADEM but is now in medical school.

Have a wonderful Fall.