Gains

 Looking for treasures and blessings...no matter what... is Jim's outlook on life. Even now, without all circuits connected and some disconnected wires, he still can get excited over simple things. Strawberry ice cream. A full mug of water. Lotion on his back. Long-sleeved athletic shirts. Warm lounge pants.  Naps. 

He still knows in every part of him, that God does miracles. That God is healing him, has healed him, although he's not always sure what needs healing. "God can do anything, because he's God", he told me. And, that's the thought I asked him to hold on to when he was laying down for the night. To help God work with him to heal and restore. I remind him of all of the progress and gains he has made even if he can not gauge them right now.

Yesterday, we had more to be grateful for. He walked...with the walker... and just one hand on the belt...the length of the hall, around the central nurse's station and halfway back down the hall to the room. That's about two hundred feet. 200.

It was June 10th when he walked five steps with a walker. One month to the day.

And...ta dah...7 more pounds! Weighing in at 147! Is a gain of 26 pounds. Yes!! I've been told he won't get back to his 180 pound weight. That with TBI, we shouldn't expect that. We'll just see about that.

From time to time, I can see his frustrations and concerns about why he can't do some things. He's even made the remarks about needing to be "sharper" or playing the piano better. That's when we have another chat to remind him who he is. How smart he is. And certainly how tough he is.

Walks and weight. Gains for the day. Gains for this journey. I am so grateful for this. And, for the gains to come.