So...Rob has some great news to share-he stood on the parallel bars yesterday! He was able to stand for 1 minute at a time before becoming fatigued but he was able to do it 5 times. He was supported by a leg strap but he did use his leg muscles in addition to his arms. His therapists were AMAZED. Tomorrow, he will try the bike that fires electrical impulses and I understand that for those that have sensation, it can be quite painful. Hopefully, it will be a ‘good’ kind of pain. On another note, Rob’s collar was removed yesterday which is excellent because now he can regrow his hair Part of the reason he shaved it was because his hair kept getting pulled or so he says. He has been experiencing some neck pain since the collar was removed but that is to be expected. He is keeping himself busy organizing a poker game for some of the patients who are being discharged. He was recruiting me to dress up like a cocktail waitress and serve ginger ale but thankfully I have to work the date of the party I’ll post more when we have additional news.

Okay, get cozy people...this one is going to be a doozie! First, several new photos have been posted. The captions should explain the photos but any questions are welcome. Now, onto the gains...Rob is able to kick his right leg off the wheelchair without the assistance of his hand. His balance and upper torso strength continue to improve on a daily basis. This morning, he was able to pedal the bike without assistance from his hands. He got an x-ray last Friday which is currently being reviewed by his surgeon to determine if his collar can be removed. Keep your fingers crossed as he is beginning to diagnose himself with TMJ. He continues to amaze his doctor who just today came to visit him in the gym to discuss his newly revised long term goals which are 1. Standing using the parallel bars 2. Riding a bike which outputs electrical stimulation to fire leg muscles (this is a therapy normally reserved for outpatient only but b/c of his improvements they are allowing a trial run). 3. He couldn’t remember but it was a good one. His doctor believes that the gains in his left leg will translate into more time at Kessler. Suffice to say, he is glowing (and no, it’s not his scalp) as is his treatment team. Thank you all for your support, he insists that without it none of this would be possible. Enjoy the new photos. Sorry for the delay in putting them up…our house is a technical disaster with Rob gone.