From: Russell
Date: Thursday, March 9, 2000
Dear friends and family,
It has been a rather busy week here in the Riggan household. We have been to outpatient therapy 3 times this week, and are hopefully going to be on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule starting next week. Lynne spends one hour with the occupational therapists, who are charged with everything from the waist up. They are spending quite a bit of time helping Lynne gain strength in her hands, plus develop and retrain her hands in the fine motor skills. They do this by using an assortment of "board games, clothespins, etc.,to help retrain the muscles in her hands, plus some strength training using weights, muscle stretches, and an overhead contraption using ropes and pulleys.
Physical therapy is concerned with the waist down. They are using parallel bars that Lynne stands between to help with her balance, plus weight bearing. Her right ankle that was broken, dislocated, & otherwise torn up is doing well. We went to the orthopedic trauma clinic this morning before therapy, so they could have a look at how she was doing, but this is another story for another email! Anyway, she is now up to about 5 minutes on the parallel bars standing with little assistance. They are also doing leg and feet stretches on the elevated mats, plus about 10-15 minutes doing the Kinetron, which is like a stair machine that you sit at and work your feet and legs. This is for leg strength and conditioning. If given half the chance, I think she could crack pecans between her knees!
On Tuesday, after going by the orthodontist for the boys' monthly visit, I took Lynne by her office. We were going to spend about 2 hours up there, but it ended up being nearly 3 hours. She visited with her new boss, her co-team leader, and The Senior Vice President, who excused himself out of an imortant meeting, just to tell her how glad he was to see her, and convey how much he wanted her back, in her time. He was very supportive, and we are grateful. We are looking at bring her a computer from work, complete with voice-activated software soon. We also checked her work email. Now remember, Lynne has not been to her office since December 23. She only had 617 emails; 49 of them from the System Administrator, telling her that her mailbox was full! We got it whittled down to just under 300, when it was time to go home. Many of the folks at Aquila were very happy to see her, & are ready for her to be back all the time. We may be looking at going to the office a couple of times a week, for 2-3 hours on non-therapy days, since these days take their toll on her stamina.
Eric and Aaron are getting ready to go to Purgatory, Colorado for 4 days of skiing. This is he annual church youth group and family ski trip. This the second year that they have gone, and the first time that they will be so far away from home, both time and distance. Needless to say, we are concerned for their safety, but we have to leave it in Gods' hands (plus the sponsors). We made the trip last year, but after riding on a bus for 44 total hours coming and going, we bowed out back in October.
Soon after the accident took place, Lynne's boss offered to have someone come clean our house once a week. My painting project, fireplace rebuilding, new carpet, put this nice gesture on hold for 3 months. We have been blessed with Gloria, who it seems is the unofficial housekeeper of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ. She cleans houses for several of our church members, and comes highly recommended. she did our house for the first time this afternoon, snd will be coming by every Thursday Afternoon. God is good! Our house is FINALLY CLEAN after 3 bachelors, one fireplace, and a dog destroyed it. There were a few occasions that it had a motherly or a sisterly touch, but it really sparkles!
Please continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts, as we continue to wait on God, His plan for us, and in His time.
For Lynne, Eric, & Aaron,
Russell
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Date: Thursday, March 9, 2000
Dear friends and family,
It has been a rather busy week here in the Riggan household. We have been to outpatient therapy 3 times this week, and are hopefully going to be on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule starting next week. Lynne spends one hour with the occupational therapists, who are charged with everything from the waist up. They are spending quite a bit of time helping Lynne gain strength in her hands, plus develop and retrain her hands in the fine motor skills. They do this by using an assortment of "board games, clothespins, etc.,to help retrain the muscles in her hands, plus some strength training using weights, muscle stretches, and an overhead contraption using ropes and pulleys.
Physical therapy is concerned with the waist down. They are using parallel bars that Lynne stands between to help with her balance, plus weight bearing. Her right ankle that was broken, dislocated, & otherwise torn up is doing well. We went to the orthopedic trauma clinic this morning before therapy, so they could have a look at how she was doing, but this is another story for another email! Anyway, she is now up to about 5 minutes on the parallel bars standing with little assistance. They are also doing leg and feet stretches on the elevated mats, plus about 10-15 minutes doing the Kinetron, which is like a stair machine that you sit at and work your feet and legs. This is for leg strength and conditioning. If given half the chance, I think she could crack pecans between her knees!
On Tuesday, after going by the orthodontist for the boys' monthly visit, I took Lynne by her office. We were going to spend about 2 hours up there, but it ended up being nearly 3 hours. She visited with her new boss, her co-team leader, and The Senior Vice President, who excused himself out of an imortant meeting, just to tell her how glad he was to see her, and convey how much he wanted her back, in her time. He was very supportive, and we are grateful. We are looking at bring her a computer from work, complete with voice-activated software soon. We also checked her work email. Now remember, Lynne has not been to her office since December 23. She only had 617 emails; 49 of them from the System Administrator, telling her that her mailbox was full! We got it whittled down to just under 300, when it was time to go home. Many of the folks at Aquila were very happy to see her, & are ready for her to be back all the time. We may be looking at going to the office a couple of times a week, for 2-3 hours on non-therapy days, since these days take their toll on her stamina.
Eric and Aaron are getting ready to go to Purgatory, Colorado for 4 days of skiing. This is he annual church youth group and family ski trip. This the second year that they have gone, and the first time that they will be so far away from home, both time and distance. Needless to say, we are concerned for their safety, but we have to leave it in Gods' hands (plus the sponsors). We made the trip last year, but after riding on a bus for 44 total hours coming and going, we bowed out back in October.
Soon after the accident took place, Lynne's boss offered to have someone come clean our house once a week. My painting project, fireplace rebuilding, new carpet, put this nice gesture on hold for 3 months. We have been blessed with Gloria, who it seems is the unofficial housekeeper of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ. She cleans houses for several of our church members, and comes highly recommended. she did our house for the first time this afternoon, snd will be coming by every Thursday Afternoon. God is good! Our house is FINALLY CLEAN after 3 bachelors, one fireplace, and a dog destroyed it. There were a few occasions that it had a motherly or a sisterly touch, but it really sparkles!
Please continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts, as we continue to wait on God, His plan for us, and in His time.
For Lynne, Eric, & Aaron,
Russell
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