Christmas

We want to take this time as we honor our Savior's birth, to thank everyone who has supported our family in thought and prayer over these past months. We are thankful that Aron is still with us, and still recovering. The road ahead will be long and difficult, but we see progress each day. Please continue to hold Aron in your prayers - that he continues to progress in therapy and that his speech will return. We have hope.

Merry Christmas!

The Shubin Family
Tom and Jill
Candace, Tony, and Augie Johnson

meeting outcome

My parents and Aron met with the neurologist this morning. The meeting went well, and Aron will be getting an EEG and an MRI to determine if it is safe to lower the anti-seizure meds. The EEG is scheduled for this Friday, and the MRI will be scheduled soon. The doctor also ok'd stimulants, and my parents will be working today to see what can be introduced.

Therapy continues, noises continue - and he continues to slowly improve. Thank you for your ongoing thoughts and prayers.

slow progress and meeting with a neurologist

Aron is still slowly progressing in therapy. Through the use of heavy equipment, Aron is held in a standing or walking position in attempt to stimulate his central nervous system and get him to hold up his own body. His neck stability continues to improve, and he is regaining some of the strength in his arms. He is also able, with assistance, to do things with his hands and arms. Things he can do with help: touch the top of his head, nose, mouth, and point to the ceiling. His therapist continues to be positive, and recognizes his tiny improvements.

My parents and Aron are meeting with a neurologist on December 14 to discuss possible treatment options. One thing my parents are campaigning for is a reduction in the anti-seizure medication, which can make him apathatic and drowsy. They are also hoping to get a stimulant perscribed, to see if that will aid in his progress during therapy.

We all continue to remain hopeful - each day Aron fights through the fog and participates in therapy, even if his responses are minimal - shows he can understand and he's trying, and that is really all we can ask for right now.

therapy and noise continues

We're all dealing with Aron's situation in our own way - mine has been to stay away and focus on my family - while I'm not at the hospital with Aron, I call my parents each day for the update. My dad is with Aron every day now during therapy and spends time with him in his room and out on the patio.

The progress is slow, but things are still happening - very small things like looking the correct direction when told or doing simple things with his hands. Aron is still making noise, but clear words have yet to form. It is also important that he consistently follows commands - during each session and from day to day.

Aron continues to be physically healthy, and my dad keeps emphasizing how normal he looks.

Please continue to hold Aron up in your prayers, and with him my family, his friends, and Amy.

Thankful

“I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”— I Corinthians 1:4. In the spirit of this season of thanksgiving, I wanted to write a quick post to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support.

I also wanted to share a verse that Aron had just sent me in June. It was something both of us were meditating on:
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 2:1-4.

For me it has been an absolute blessing and an honor to experience the body of Christ at work. The way that fellow believers have come around us, lifted us up, prayed with us, cried with us, and just been there for us has been overwhelming. For me it’s been a beautiful picture of the body of Christ at work, and I know it’s been the same for the Shubins and for Aron’s friends.

I was finally able to get away from school to visit Aron today. He is still tolerating the tilt table and physical therapy really well and has continued to make progress and noise. We played thumb war. He won. I told him how proud we are of him and that he can’t get frustrated but just needs to keep working hard. He gave me a thumbs up and later smiled and squeezed my hand.

Please continue to pray that Aron regains his ability to speak. Once Aron can communicate more clearly, we will better be able to understand his wants and needs.

The Shubins and myself have been so blessed by the kind words of encouragement, the overwhelming outpourings of support, and the continuous prayers and visits from all of you. So thank you.

making noise

Yesterday during speech therapy, Aron started to make noise. The therapist got him to make noise for almost five minutes. Unfortunately, no one was there from my family to witness this, but when the therapist recounted the incident to my dad, she was very excited. Apparently, making noise like this is a first step to regaining speech.

three hours

Aron is doing much better after his cold.

He's continuing to receive therapy on the tilt table, and he also spends quite a bit of the day up in a wheelchair. The therapists are working towards getting him to tolerate three hours of therapy a day. By tolerate I mean: staying awake and responsive and maintaining good vitals (pulse and blood pressure). If he can continue to improve and tolerate the therapy he increases his chances of being a candidate for a specialized therapy facility which is where my family REALLY wants him.

Please continue to hold Aron in your prayers.