 |
[Continued from previous page.]
He was also sitting up much better on his own, and what amazed me most of all was that he was able to eat on his own; keeping the food in his mouth and swallowing were no longer a problem--that was the work in progress when I last saw him in Vogtareuth.
During the three days I was in Sioux Falls Karl's ability to grasp objects improved noticeably. During breakfast one morning he was able to hold a banana in his own hand and move it to his mouth for a bite, beaming as he did so. And he started learning to operate the lever on the model train in his room.
He also got the chance to play with another little boy his age, Eli (I sincerely hope I have spelled that right). It took Eli a while to figure out how to interact with this other relatively immobile boy, but when he found something that worked, he stuck with it. Karl couldn't drive the matchbox cars around as Eli could, for example, but he sure did laugh when Eli drove them around on him! And Karl couldn't run around chasing the football like Eli could, but it soon became clear that Karl could "pass" the football, allowing Eli to intercept it and run. Over and over again, Karl slowly grasped the football that was offered him by Eli and, when he was ready, "threw" it (he let it drop a few inches to the floor). Eli's willingness to stick with this game and to accept Karl's drop as a "pass" impressed me to no end. Both boys had a great time, and just during that football game Karl's ability to grasp and drop the football improved dramatically, taking less time each turn. I'm sure it was not only the repetition of the action, but also the fun he was having that contributed to this. I hope he gets more opportunities to play like this.
Things are not all positive. There are also times when Karl "spaces out," staring off into space, not responding as quickly, not sure of what his response should be when he sees that one is expected. Apparently this is normal, and still a part of the waking up process that started many months ago. And sometimes his gives a response that is just plain wrong. And he also gets tired. He gets cranky, and stubborn, and very frustrated that he can't communicate or have any control over his surroundings.
Although Karl may not cognitively be "all there" at the moment, and Anna expresses these very legitimate concerns in her e-mails, his personality is definitely there. His mischievous grins are there, his delight whenever I clumsily dropped a ball or spilled his food, making a mess. He recognizes people he hasn't seen for a long time, and is happy to see them. He likes the same foods he liked before (and then some!). Most of all, he is a very determined little boy, sure that if he wants to do something, he can do it. Even though he can't control his body and express himself now, he wants to, and is sure that he can do it, and what's more, is good at it. I was not surprised when his Oma brought him home from therapy and reported that the therapists had said they had never seen a three-year-old work so hard. Even before the accident, when he was trying out new words that nobody understood, he didn't give up. He tried to explain what he meant, to use hand motions, to take you somewhere to show you what he was trying to say. Those experiences stand him in good stead now.
I have had confidence in Karl's recovery from the beginning, even from the day after the accident when I saw him lying in a coma. The progress he has made since then only confirms this. The unflagging love and attention he gets from his mother, the affection of his sister, and the care and concern of many other friends and family contribute to his contintued improvement. I, like Anna, hope for a full recovery, for Karl has much to offer the world and should not have to suffer so. But I also know that this boy, even as he is right now, through his own ability to experience joy is a gift to anybody who meets him.
Amy
God bless you Amy.
And from my uncle:
Anna---I just read over the statement I sent re our responses to Karl and see that I made a significant mistake. I meant to write "mobile" but somehow it came out "immobile." Sorry! If you use those for more than the circular file, please make the appropriate correction. You cannot have lively eyes and an immobile face.
David
He's got a point.
[Continued on next page.]
|
|
