Ok, call me a sap… call me a hambone… I admit it… I couldn’t help it. My girls humored me with a picture of my first striper of the season just before cleaning it today. I just had to have Noah with me because I believe one day he will be holding up bigger fish than that.

 From the pen of therapists Lisa & Emily:Noah’s head control continues to improve. Hands continue to move more freely. (They must have been in a rush today. This was all that on the notepad.)

Lisa and I have been seeing significant strengthening in Noah’s “transition movements.” Let me explain. When we lift Noah’s upper body to a sitting position, the next step is to put your arms under his arms like a “bear hug.” We then lift him up to a standing position and give him an opportunity to push with his gluts (butt muscles) and thighs. He is at the point now where he no longer has his fanny sticking out, but rather now his legs are close to a complete standing posture and he even looks in the mirror on the wall to admire (usually by laughing) his progress. In the recent past, Noah would lay his head on Lisa shoulder during the transition. Now he lifts his head up, looks around and rotates his head wherever he chooses.

I asked Lisa if he has been eating anything special of late. She gave me one of those amazement giggles… and said, “He ate a whole chocolate covered marshmallow Santa.” Not halfway through the explanation… Noah starts laughing to beat the band. He knows that I can’t eat stuff like that. Just looking at it puts five pounds on me. Knowing that Noah’s impish laugh warms my heart far more than any slight jealousy. And I stress “slight.” Ah huh… 

In times past I have mentioned and pictured Noah on the floor with his therapists. One of the exercises he is expected to do is rolling over from being on his side to lying on his back. Much of it used to be gravity driven with the idea that his brain would eventually be able to respond to the desire to actually roll back to the laying position. Once again, Noah came closer to that goal. Noah begins a synchronized motion of rolling his head, his arm and lower torso until his body is back in the resting posture on his back. The key to all of this is that Noah’s upper body strength continues to improve. It is because we bank on His promise to us. Psalm 84:6, “When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains! They will continue to go from strength to strength, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.” 

Until next week my love and appreciation to you all… david

_____________________________

Last Updated: December 7, 2008 at 10:00am
Next update will be posted December 12, 2008 by 6:00pm

Due to staff illness there are no IT uploads this week for this update. Pastor David will resubmit one next week. Thank you for your grace and understanding.

____________________________

Last Updated: December 11, 2008 at 6:00pm
Next update will be posted December 19, 2008 by 6:00pm

My personal assistant was sharing with me how she recently “walked” her graduation ceremony at ODU completing her BA degree. Next week Noah will be “graduating”… to coin the term from his rehab therapists. They informed us that Noah has progressed to the point where we are now going to take him to a local rehab facility for advanced levels of physical and occupational therapy. Monday is graduation day for Noah!

This will be my last update for 2008 as Christmas and New Years days will find our staff enjoying the holidays with their families and the offices will be closed.

Some quick hits to bring you up to speed:

The portable toilet I wrote about a few weeks ago turned out to be too small for Noah to sit on. Apparently because of his age (13) they sent a children’s size chair with the commode attached. He is simply too big for it. So, back to the drawing board hoping we can get an upgrade to an adult size.

Noah’s body movements continue to improve. One motion that is beginning to show greater frequency is a simple one that we take for granted… lifting our head off the bed to put a pillow under. We have always had to lift his head for him. During rehab this week I heard the ladies cheering loudly for Noah when he would lift his head on his own.

Noah’s Aunt Rebecca was here with us this past week. She lavishes us with her grace and kindness. Lisa told me she decided to film Noah sitting in an oak chair to show her family when she gets back to Buffalo. He sat there unassisted for a lengthy time.

We are taking Noah to the local Bass Pro Shop today so I don’t have a the therapists report. They have an outstanding Christmas display and Noah loves Christmas.

On a personal note concerning yours truly… I have had some close friends encourage me at times to write the story of Noah because of the blessing it has brought to their life. I have pondered that but have kept it in the background for two reasons. First, is the proverbial busyness of my life. But secondly is the fact that it is not over yet… at least not in the sense like my assistant walking to receive her diploma.  When Noah is walking at a future graduation… I will consider my last chapter completed.

Unbeknownst to me, some of the people from our denominational headquarters in Springville Mo. have been following Noah’s journey on this webpage. Three weeks ago one of their lead editor/journalists flew out here and spent a Sunday afternoon with us to take pictures and interview my whole family. When He arrived back in Springfield he informed me that they will be running it as a cover story in the spring of 2009.  http://tpe.ag.org/index.cfm. In addition, he asked me to write a thousand word companion article they would like to publish along with his lead coverage. Please pray that He would inspire my words to bring glory and honor to Him. Tens of thousands of people read that magazine every week. Most of you reading this… have vested rights in this story as well. Because there is no medical remedy for Noah’s recovery, your intercession has paved the road of his return.

Let’s agree together that this scripture would become reality in my life as it relates to this venture. Psalm 42:1 “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Addesa’s to you. Until 2009… our love and deep gratitude to you all… david

____________________________

Last Updated: December 19, 2008 at 1:35pm
Next update will be posted January 9, 2008 by 6:00pm