Tony and Bonnies challenge

Dear Friends and Family


by Maeghan Jason Kennedy on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 8:24pm

Well we've been here a week now and out of the hospital for 3 days. Bonita (her spanish name very fitting here) is just in her 2nd therapy session. She had immediate results after her prodedure. We were reluctant to report immediatly because we just wanted to make sure this was real. We tried to hide it from the kids but they were demanding answers and I have a big mouth. I want to try hard not to exagerate because although some improvements may be small they are huge and exciting when you've lived with this disease. Some are flat out amazing. I guess it doesn't really matter how you see it. We are on a ride...... Surgery was completed about 1 pm on Tuesday and the she spent rest of the day recovering. I had a cot in the room. About 4 am we were both awake and Bonnie said .....hey I can lift my arm up over my head.....wow that was great news ..........exciting....that arm hasn't had that mobility for years. she was awake the rest of the night. During the night she found she could plant both feet and lift herself up.....another breakthrough this time the left leg was kicking in (pardon the pun) ......as you probably know both left arm and leg have been reduced to near uselessness for years......all this and not out of bed yet.

We agree now that we were not expecting much and not much more than this......we didn’t know what to expect I guess......we knew a ton of people were praying.

BUT...... now the catheter and iv were removed and it was time to walk to the shower.......oh my

she immediately said Tony my leg is moving..........I choke up just thinking about it.........her leg that just dragged along for the ride for sooooo many years had decided to join the party!!!!!!!!!

lthough not in perfect control it was bending at the knee and ankle instead of swinging from the hip.

I can hardly write this so you can imagine the emotion at the time.



Now..... we decided not to tell anybody for a few days. I don’t know ...in case it was all a dream I guess. If it is don’t wake us.



But we phoned Maeghan and she put the pressure on........ what's going on? does she notice anything? I tried to stay cool but cracked.....couldn’t talk I had to give Bonita the phone.

Both kids have been crying there eyes out with each new e mail report and picture.....the Italian blood plays out big time when the emotions kick in.

All these things are relatively subtle to meet the eye but should get more defined as therapy and practice continue.

Her walking is getting straighter .......she did 20 minutes on the bike and 2 10 minute sessions on the tread mill. along with assorted weight machines.

She noticed that she can put her foot in her shoe......she never had the control before.


she can cross her leg without picking it up with her hand.

She came down a small flight of stairs without a cane or handrail.....(she seems to enjoy the applause )


NOW she can go up some stairs the same way unless she's over tired or exhausted from the gym.


She carried 2 plates of food to our table at breakfast (the left hand is working great)......yes I like the service .....hope I can attach the picture


I know Maeghan will have some stuff on her facebook and we will let you know of any changes from time to time


We hope to winter in Phoenix although do not have a place yet......

Our kids and grand kids gave us so much support and encouragement

Maeghan spent sooooo much time searching and calling ......getting the information and details.



Glen put us in touch with people that came here and gave us the confidence to do this.



Soooooo many pledged to pray.

And a mighty God blessed us.


Love


Bonita and Tony