Journal Entry 2/17 From Kristi

Today was SUCH a full day. Wonderful, full, and hard classes for Zac that really extracted everything from him.

At 10 am, he started with a workout in the Peak Center. At 11 am, he got set up in the Standing Frame where he was brought to a 45-degree angle and then used his arms with electric stimulation on his back extensor muscles to pull himself to a fully upright position. He said it was one of the most intense workouts he has done so far. Thank you, Jesus!!

At 1 pm, he had Pool Therapy. It was incredibly exciting as the instructor began to evaluate lower abdominal and hip flexor muscle movements - confirming that she thought (off the record) some muscles contracting. It would be just like the Lord to bring more movement to Zac in the very place, the waters, which first brought his paralysis. Certainly, our God can exchange beauty for ashes!

At 2 pm he had BAM class, Balance and Mobility. Class was over-staffed so he had four personal trainers working with him! And they worked him hard on the therapy mat!

At 3 pm, he returned to the Peak Center for FES Bikes with electric stimulation on his quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes.

At 4 pm, he had an Upper Extremity working out his triceps, wrists, and finger extensors with the electric stimulation again. (I love those muscle zappers!! Trying to figure out how we can bring one home!)

We spent the evening saying goodbye to Shane, who is getting discharged tomorrow. We will miss him. He has been such a joyful friend to Zac. I snapped a picture of them together giving me their “thumbs up”. It is a blessing to be able to laugh at weakness.

It is snowing hard tonight. I can't wait to see the beautiful snow in the morning!! And Friday, since Zac can move his toe, he gets to "walk" on the Locomat Robotic Walker - how cool will that be!!! I can't wait to see those beautiful legs moving again!!! Good things ahead!!

We are on now our two-week home stretch and it feels things are beginning to tumble forward fast!! We’ve been living in hospitals for the last three months; it will be strange to go out into the real world. In fact, I haven’t cooked a meal in three months! Yikes! I’m in for a shock very soon! Time to stock up on cold cereal. We will discharge to Craig’s Outpatient program in the apartments next door for at least four weeks to learn to do life on our own while visiting the Peak Center for workouts.

The same faithful God who has led us this far will continue to lead us, for we serve a God who never changes.