----- Forwarded Message ----
From: kathy tennyson <kathytennyson@hotmail.com>
To: alicen phillips <alphillips@chartermi.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:42:36 AM
Subject: Gregg Update 6/23/09

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
Yes, I'm a Stones fan....but Gregg was Beatles all the way, lol
 
Hello to All of You!
 
It has been 2 months since my last update so here goes....Gregg ended April with some problems.  He aparently aspirated and ended up with pneumonia again.  After 7 days of meds he was fine and continues to be so.  On the 29th he had his 3rd seizure while I was with him.  He recovered quickly and we waited to see what this 'reboot' would do for him.  Tony, his massage therapist who has been doing cranial sacral massage for him now sees him twice a week and we are seeing good things, i.e., realignment in the spine, facial twitching indicating some nerve regeneration and more movement in his right leg..  Gregg falls asleep with every session so at least he's relaxing!  April was a really quiet month for him verbally.  Actually he rarely attempted to talk which was a concern. 
 
The month of May brought a change when I had the aricept discontinued.  This med was supposed to help initiate 'things' such as his speech, but as that didn't seem to be having any effect (and I'm not one for too many meds), it was ditched.  Two days later Gregg started talking again.  His voice is still quiet and hard to hear much of the time but at other times he comes out with a louder raspy voice, especially when he wants something like water. Guess if he wants something bad enough, he WILL let you know, lol. I spent a month at home in MI but we talked every day on the phone and reports continued that he was having more and more good days.
 
On June 1st Tony called me to let me know that he was seeing more good things with movement in both arm and leg on the right side, symmetry in his facial expressions, responses to questions quickly - and that blood flow and pulses in the left (injured) side of the brain were now equal to the right side.  While lying on the treatment table and also in physical therapy Gregg was also pulling both of his legs up and bending his knees.  I returned to Ohio on the 9th of June to meet a new Occupational Therapist who has a whole new set of ideas we are anxious to get in place.  Deanna re-evaluated Gregg and has moved him up - into Level 6 of the coma scale....YEA!  We have continued to bring Gregg home on either a Saturday or Sunday each w/end I am here.  He is doing really well getting into AND out of the car now. We had a really good Father's Day with a cook out at his sister's home and his son Brandon was able to get the day off to spend time with his dad. 
 
Overall Gregg is still taking those slow steps back to health.  His two main obstacles remain to be some depression and STUBBORNESS.  Over this past year it has become really apparent that he is a 'people person' and visits are really important in his continued recovery.  I REALLY encourage those of you who have a history with Gregg to try to visit.  Those old stories and jokes are what he needs to push him along right now.....and...yes, the bikes.  His head turns every time he hears that Harley rumble.  A visit and some good conversation will help him push past some of the down times that he is trying to deal with.  I'm told that while not an absolute - we are looking at a 2 year window for recovery.  We are more than half way through that period so stop by....he would love to see you!  If you want to plan a w/end visit I can let you know where to find him.  Call me anytime    906-286-2409. 
 
Until next time.  Take care and be safe.     Kathy