A long overdue update

I can't believe Kevin has been home for 5 months now. Its been a long journey but he has made so much progress from where we were at back in January. I know I've been slacking on the blog, but when Kevin came home that's when all the real work began. Ok on to progress... Since June when Kevin came home. We had both an Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist come to the house for home heath care. That lasted for about 2 months. Then we moved on to the outpatient rehab center we've been going to twice a week out in Sun City Center. Kevin enjoys it there. He started out 3 hours a day. An hour each with the Speach Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and the Physical Therapist. Kevin has recently graduated from Speach Therapy so we were able to transfer the unused ST sessions between PT and OT. We only have about a month left and then he will be done for the year. Its possible he will get another 60 visits available when the year starts over, so Kevin will get a few weeks vacation for the holiday then back at it again in January.

It had been so long since I've updated the blog, it required me to go back and read some previous posts to give you all accurate updates. I found myself starring at the computer with tears in my eyes, realizing just how far he had come. I remember telling you how Kevin did not use his wheelchair the day he came home, and I tell you to this day that thing is still folded up next to my dinning room table. Never used, not even once!! He used his hemi walker for a while, but as of last week he has just been using a regular cane. He can get himself dressed for the most part, and in and out of the shower by himself now. His speach is fantastic and his memory is almost perfect. He remembers everything up until the day he got sick, then his memory fades until he was doing the inpatient rehab at the hospital. Frankly I'm glad he dosen't remember that part of it, as it was a time I wish I could, but never will forget. So he's got about a month and a half of blurriness. Is that a word? lol I'm going with..sure. His range of motion in his right arm has improved so much. He can raise his arms over his shoulders. He never lost his grip. Its a vast improvement to the time we were waking him up every hour to beg him to move his thumbs. He walks still using his leg brace when he goes outside. He actually got in trouble the other day for not wearing it around the house by one of his therapist. I definitely told on him. HA! He's been keeping himself busy by doing puzzles and playing games at home. He just finished a 1000 piece puzzle, and also plays the Wii. We even found one of the Wii games he used at the hospital online. I ordered that, and another trivia game a few months ago and he has enjoyed playing them. Maya even plays with him. She is also doing good adapting to everything. She has a birthday comming up. She will turn 4 on December 4th. ( I'm soooo not ready to be the mother of a 4 year old!!) Kevin has even started helping me with her more. He is able to pour cereal for her in the morning and even helps change the garbage bag. Never take for granted the little things like that because you don't realize how helpfull they are until you loose them.

As of now the hardest thing we have to deal with are the finances. Kevin finially got approved for disability, but it goes so fast its crazy. That whole process was nothing less than horrible and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy....well, maybe my absolute worst!! Im constantly telling them to talk to me like I'm 29 because I'm convinced you have to be over 50 to understand anything they have to say. I'm hoping to be able to go back to work after the new year.
At the end of January exactly one year from the day Kevin got sick Progressive will officially terminate his status as an active employee which means we will loose our insurance then too. I'm hoping I will be able to apply at Progressive then because if that worked out, Kevin will be able to keep his coverage the same. Pray on that one for me please.

Above all else we continue to be blessed everyday for all the miracles we've seen take place. Weather it be thru Kevin's continued progress and improvement. Or thru family and friends that have helped us along the way. We are thankfull for all of you. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. God Bless

With love,
The Deramo Family,
Kevin, Kim and Maya