Update Thursday afternoon 9/1

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for our son.  We know God is hearing your prayers on Dale's behalf and is answering them daily.

The past few days have been busy and wonderful.  Some days it seems Dale's improvements are tiny and some days they are huge.  We are thankful for both kinds!  On Tuesday, Dale's occupational therapist (from now on OT) wanted to test his memory skills.  She brought out a game that had big cards with objects pictured on them and smaller individual cards that matched the big cards.  Dale was supposed to look at the big card for a moment; then the OT put the card face down on the table and told Dale to pick the smaller cards that matched the big card.  He absolutely refused to do it!  The picture was a "See Jane run"-type of drawing of a girl and a boy.  Dale would not pick up the girl card; he kept choosing the boy and a dog.  When the OT tried to show him the difference between the girl on the big card and the dog card he was holding, Dale simply put the dog over the girl on the big card!  At first we thought he was having trouble recognizing the objects, but he made it obvious he considered this beneath him.  The OT conducted another activity with Dale, and he did great.  She then pulled out the first game and he again routinely chose something other than what was pictured---he simply changed the picture to what he wanted!  He can be a stinker!

On Wednesday, the doctors conducted another swallow study with Dale.  He was tested on all types of food and drink, and he passed everything except thin liquids (water consistency).  So his meals now look and taste more appetizing, and he can drink nectar-thick liquids using a straw!  This helps him want to eat and drink which shows the speech therapist (SP) improvement just in the week that he has been at Good Sam.

Today our schedule was completely rearranged because Good Morning America was here filming Dale as he went through his therapy classes and interviewing us afterward.  My husband and I prayed about the interview before even agreeing and also to ask God's help in our actions and words today (and every day).  I believe the taping was successful and will give people a chance to see God's miracle in progress.  We were asked what one thing we have been most excited to see as Dale progresses.  Our answer:  There's simply no way to choose just one thing.  Less than a month ago, he was carried lifeless from the ocean.  Today he dressed himself, brushed his teeth, and fed himself.  He can climb stairs, walk up and down the hallways, use the bathroom properly (usually!), build Legos, read, write, count, speak (some words), and countless myriad things we take for granted every day.  Each of these things is exciting and we praise God continually for all He does.  By the way, if you want to see the interview, it will air Tuesday morning.

Again, thank you for all your prayers, love, support, cards, letters, gifts, and more that you have poured out to our family.  We are so blessed to have been the recipients of such care and concern.  May God always be uplifted and glorified in all our hearts, every hour of every day, rain or shine, good times or bad.  After all, He is Lord---and He is good.  Kirsten

Psalm 18:46  "The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted."