Monday, December 27, 2010 11:26 PM, CST
Our trip started a little bumpy as we did not arrive at our hotel until 2:30 AM due to flight delays from bad weather throughout the country. Gabe then had ear issues from flying and did not sleep much at all last night L. As a result, we were expecting a horrible day today at Dr. Rhodes’ office. However, Gabe slept during the actual consult while sitting in my lap. As Dr. Rhodes video taped Gabe running, getting up off the floor, hopping on one foot, hopping on both feet, jumping, etc. thoughts went through my head from all degrees of any spectrum. Is this equivalent to the “fountain of youth”, could this be the “real deal”, is this a “Christmas miracle”??? Not sure what the answer is but I do know that Dr. Rhodes knows what he is talking about and he seems to believe that he is going to do something that so many before him have failed to accomplish. Regardless, here we are in Corpus Christi, Texas with all of our HOPE in the hands of a podiatrist! Oxymoron intended. Gabe did extremely well today and essentially he sat there watching Despicable Me while he received his treatment. At the end of the treatment I was shocked to find out that his core body temperature increased 6.6 degrees and during his night treatment it increased 7.3 degrees. This is extremely important as lower body temperature means reduced blood and oxygen flow and allows atrophy to set in sooner. I am not sure what is psychological at this point or factual but what I do know is his calf muscles feel a little different (starting to jiggle) and his demeanor tonight has been incredibly good. Dr. Rhodes says the machine makes these kids feel better and will help in cognitive development as well as behavioral development. An example of this is when we went swimming tonight in our hotel pool (indoor) when I said Gabe it is time to go to the room he said no once but then said o.k. No melt down, screaming, and kicking. It was actually nice! We are trying to be realistic and grounded but Traci and I both seem to comment on the same positive changes. We shall see…I received many texts today and messages and thank you for all the kind words and prayers. We have a long way to go and this is a tremendous commitment as it is 80 minutes in the morning and 80 minutes in the evening every day for the first 30 days and then 80 minutes in the evening after that. We have many great supporters around us and for that we are so fortunate! We will need you all going forward!! I am so proud of Gabe as he stepped up and cooperated with the doctors without question. At times he looked like one of the prototypes in the movie called “The Minority Report” but he did not complain…too muchJ. He is my hero and stepped up like a champ today and tonight! Think about if you were 5 years old and someone hooked you up to 8 electrodes (4 left/4right) and told you not to touch them, disconnect them, cross them, not to move a whole bunch, not to eat anything or drink anything, etc. I couldn’t do it but Gabe did!!! You are my hero Gabe! Gabe’s Dad
Our trip started a little bumpy as we did not arrive at our hotel until 2:30 AM due to flight delays from bad weather throughout the country. Gabe then had ear issues from flying and did not sleep much at all last night L. As a result, we were expecting a horrible day today at Dr. Rhodes’ office. However, Gabe slept during the actual consult while sitting in my lap. As Dr. Rhodes video taped Gabe running, getting up off the floor, hopping on one foot, hopping on both feet, jumping, etc. thoughts went through my head from all degrees of any spectrum. Is this equivalent to the “fountain of youth”, could this be the “real deal”, is this a “Christmas miracle”??? Not sure what the answer is but I do know that Dr. Rhodes knows what he is talking about and he seems to believe that he is going to do something that so many before him have failed to accomplish. Regardless, here we are in Corpus Christi, Texas with all of our HOPE in the hands of a podiatrist! Oxymoron intended. Gabe did extremely well today and essentially he sat there watching Despicable Me while he received his treatment. At the end of the treatment I was shocked to find out that his core body temperature increased 6.6 degrees and during his night treatment it increased 7.3 degrees. This is extremely important as lower body temperature means reduced blood and oxygen flow and allows atrophy to set in sooner. I am not sure what is psychological at this point or factual but what I do know is his calf muscles feel a little different (starting to jiggle) and his demeanor tonight has been incredibly good. Dr. Rhodes says the machine makes these kids feel better and will help in cognitive development as well as behavioral development. An example of this is when we went swimming tonight in our hotel pool (indoor) when I said Gabe it is time to go to the room he said no once but then said o.k. No melt down, screaming, and kicking. It was actually nice! We are trying to be realistic and grounded but Traci and I both seem to comment on the same positive changes. We shall see…I received many texts today and messages and thank you for all the kind words and prayers. We have a long way to go and this is a tremendous commitment as it is 80 minutes in the morning and 80 minutes in the evening every day for the first 30 days and then 80 minutes in the evening after that. We have many great supporters around us and for that we are so fortunate! We will need you all going forward!! I am so proud of Gabe as he stepped up and cooperated with the doctors without question. At times he looked like one of the prototypes in the movie called “The Minority Report” but he did not complain…too muchJ. He is my hero and stepped up like a champ today and tonight! Think about if you were 5 years old and someone hooked you up to 8 electrodes (4 left/4right) and told you not to touch them, disconnect them, cross them, not to move a whole bunch, not to eat anything or drink anything, etc. I couldn’t do it but Gabe did!!! You are my hero Gabe! Gabe’s Dad
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