May, 2007

May, 2007. We continue to praise the Lord for being kind and gracious to us in regard to Antonia. She continues to make small but noticeable gains in various areas, which are always joyfully welcomed. Antonia has recently had a prosthesis made for her mouth in order to lift her soft palate and help her speak better. We were very hopeful that this would help her enunciate much better, but the results have been more subtle than dramatic. The doctor said she probably needs to have it built up a little more, but the speech therapist thinks it is ok and that she needs to build up her diaphragm strength—I think she needs both. With regard to Antonia’s speech, this is an area we could use some more prayer. If Antonia could speak a little more clearly and quickly it would then take some frustration away she experiences and it would make easier for us to help her with her needs. Antonia has also had some oxygen treatment in a hyperbaric chamber recently. She has had seven sessions, between 40 min to 1hr. each session. This was intended to help get oxygen into the small capillaries in her brain, and thus rejuvenate some cells that were alive but in a stupor state because there are receiving minimal oxygen. It was the kind of situation that help out to us more promise that it delivered, and caused us to question whether we should continue to pursue it. Because of the questions we had we decide o discontinue using it and look at other options. A great friend and help from the church designed and built Antonia a standing frame. We are trying to put her in it everyday for around twenty five minutes a day, and are seeking to extend that so she can stand for 25 minutes several times a day. This is an important aspect to her recovery, as she uses various muscles she hasn't used in some time, and stretches the tendon in her left foot, which was shortening due to her lack of standing. Something quite amusing happens one day while she was in the standing frame, Antonia was holding on to the frame, looking out the window and wobbling all around when she quipped, "I feel like one of those bobble-head dolls." The most Recent development has been some interesting discoveries of what is happening with stem cells (no need to worry they are not fetal/embryonic stem cells). We have spoken with a Dr. in California, and have done some research on the internet, about some new stem cell therapies that use a person’s own stem cells from their bone marrow. They extract bone marrow from the patient, begin manipulating the cells toward—in Antonia’s case—a neuro cell and then inject it back into her close to the area of need. The cells then go in and repair the damaged cells they can get access to. This doesn’t mean everything gets fixed, but it does repair cells that are accessible through the blood stream. This is also a very expensive procedure, so please pray regarding this procedure as it is very costly. Thank you for your faithfulness in praying and your monetary giving. We are forever grateful! Blessings, Dean and Family