April 17, 2007 - Erik's laughter...

Hello All - Well, Easter Sunday (4/8) Erik had a seizure that required his emergency medication. This made him fairly unresponsive through Tuesday. When he started coming around on Wednesday, we received a gift. Yes it happened. Last Wednesday (4/11/07) Erik was full of laughter! It was amazing to hear! He has "chuckled" a time or 2 over the past year or so but he has not laughed like that since Sunday - April 24th 2005. We remembered this day when he laughed last week. That date was a Sunday and we actually thought about taking him to church because he was doing so well. Little did we know that the next day he would have a seizure that would last all day. The laughter he had on Wednesday lasted several seconds each time and was a full, "belly" laugh. It was AWESOME to hear! He laughed when we said "boo", when we tickled him, and when we were laughing. Smiles were countless. It was a great day. Thursday he was doing fine and smiling but no laughter. Friday through today, he has smiled some but no more laughter. Please pray for the laughter to return and sustain! This gift of laughter is just what we needed as a reminder that God is with us. It was like a promise from God letting us know that Erik is healing and that he is still full of laughter. We know the days when Erik will once again laugh all day long are quickly coming. This "taste" of what we know God has coming was WONDERFUL! When you read this, laugh a good laugh (at least once) for Erik! Thanks for lifting us up! Erik's Family Psalm 30:4 (The Message) 4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.

April 3, 2007 - Things are going well here...

Hello All! Things are going well for us here in Apex, NC! Erik has been stable and lots of fun these days. He contracted a stomach bug last week which was somewhat challenging. He is much more interactive on a daily basis and appears to be responding positively to therapy. He received treatment for his right elbow/wrist/thumb last Thursday (to relax the tone) and we are already noticing increased relaxation and use. This is great to see and the effects should last 3-4 months! During this time we will increase his therapy in these areas in an effort to strengthen and lengthen the muscles which should decrease tone and increase use of the targeted muscles. This is all good! His sodium remains low therefore we are adding a nephrologist to our team. We are excited about this since we have had concerns with his electrolyte balance for some time now. This balance is essential and needs to be stable particularly for Erik as he continues to make progress. Please keep this in your prayers that we will be able to stabilize his sodium/potassium levels in the NEAR future! Love in Christ and HAPPY EASTER! Erik's Family