Make a fist!

Alex's hands have been "stuck" straight out, his hands, fingers and forearms are "flat".  Over the past several months he has been getting movement in his fingers, he can move them up and down, wiggling them.  But hasn't been able to curl them or make a fist. UNTIL, we met Jared Gough.  Jared is a local sports Massage Therapist, I heard about through a co worker (Thanks Nicole).  I left a VM for Jared, saying "I want to schedule an appointment for my son".  When he called me back, he said "tell me about your son"  I told him "my son was one of the boys that was struck by lightning outside SCHS last fall"  He got so excited and said "I have wanted to work on them since I heard about the accident, I would be honored to".

He's worked on Alex twice now and made HUGE improvements! Alex's shoulder blades use to stick out like 2 sharp chicken wings poking out of his back.  After working on Alex's muscles he was able to get his shoulders to look and feel the way they are supposed to.  Then today he worked on Alex's hands and he can curl the fingers on his right hand.  Amazing.  Jared said it felt like the muscles had just melted together, describing it like a box of crayons sitting in a car, they would hold their shape but melt together. That's what he thinks happened when the lightning went through Alex's body, giving Alex's hands and forearms the "pancaked" look.  Which makes sense, in the ER at IHC the doctors told us Alex had 3rd degree burns on 40% of his body, when we saw him, we said "he doesn't look too bad".  They said "his body is cooking from the inside out."
His left hand/fingers didn't improve as much, but that's because the left side of his body is weaker due to the "stroke" in the right side of his brain.
Now I'm bugging Alex every few minutes "curl your hand", "show me a fist"  I don't want it to stop working!
Kaleen  aka Alex's mom

Apparently Lightning Strikes In St George More Often Than We Realize

Malibu Cleaners on Hilton Drive 

struck by lightning

Written by Joyce Kuzmanic on September 11, 2011 in Local
 News, News - 1 Comment

ST. GEORGE – The roof of Malibu Cleaners, 324 West Hilton Drive
in St. George, caught on fire after being struck by lightning.

A St. George dispatch officer said that no persons are known
to be at risk and fire  fighters are responding.

Sirens were audible in surrounding areas around 9:40 p.m.

Exciting Week!

Alex started College! 

He will attend Dixie State College for the next 2 years while he continues to recover.  He's doing great and once again learning to adapt to his situation.  Since his hands/fingers still aren't fully functioning he is finding out there are some pretty big hurdles to jump over at College.  Yesterday was a trying day, he went to take a test and since it wasn't available on line I got the opportunity to help him.  I was so nervous, I didn't want to mark the wrong circle. lol -  It was a multiple choice math test and he did all the problems in his head all I had to do was color in the A, B, C, D or E.  

Alex attended Driving Instructions and he Passed - He will now be able to drive himself around - wahoo!  This is exciting for all of us, now we just need to find him a car!  His instructor, Dave from Southern Utah Driving School, said that he is a good driver, both mentally and physically. He had heard so much about Alex and said it was a pleasure to meet him, and that whatever Alex decides to do in his future he will be successful at it.  I already knew that but its SO good to hear it from someone else.  Lightning will not beat him!  Kaleen aka Alex's mom

Check out the license plate

He did it! He did it!

Alex RAN his first race this am! 

He ran the whole way and finished!

  I guess some of his PT's had bets whether or not he would even finish.  AND he did!!!  I ran it with him but I cheated, I only did "the loop" once and then I cut through a parking lot so that I could be with Alex when he crossed the Finish Line (I'm soooo out of shape, but hey I ran about 2.8 miles).
Watching him run was SUCH an inspiration. Now if his hands and fingers would catch up with his feet and legs he would be "perfect".

We didn't get to meet Megan though, she was put back in the hospital Friday night.  We are sad for her and I feel for her mom.  We wish her the best and will continue to pray and support her.
Kaleen aka Alex's mom

Alex will Run his first race Saturday 8/13/11

Alex's PT's & OT's work with Megan Birks mom.  When Alex heard her story he decided he would make it a goal to have her Charity Event his first race.  Tomorrow morning,  10 months 8 days after he was struck by lightning he will run in a 5k race.  I'm so proud of him, whether he finishes, wins or not, he attempted it.

Ready, Set, GO!

Good things have come from the Strike

We have met SO many amazing people that we Never would have met if it hadn't been for the strike.  Most of the people we have met have been in the medical field, where they go out of their way to take care of Alex.

Spero Therapy has helped with Alex's nerve pain.  Spero uses a machine called the Calmare.  This machine is a new technology that relieves nerve pain through a low level electrical signal (kind of ironic since it was an electrical signal that started all of this)(LOL)  that is carried through the patients nervous system to the brain.

In December 2010 KSL television did a story on Alex and Calmare.  It aired December 23rd http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=13770113  while Mindy Johnson was at home watching TV.  She has a son,Taylor, that suffers from nerve pain.  KSL just aired a story on Taylor and his Miracle.  Its so good to see good come from bad.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=16580318

http://sperotherapy.com/images/PainTherapy-DeseretNews-7-31-11.pdf

The Professor is in Town

When the Boys were at UMC Professor  Richard "Dick" Blankenbecler contacted Leslie after seeing a News story on the strike.   He was struck by lightning over 20 years ago and went onto be a Physics Professor and currently lives in Las Vegas. He felt an instant connection with them not only because they were all struck by lightning but also because of their love for physics.  Dick was in southern Utah last week for a Conference so we all met for lunch at Red Robin.  It was so good to see him and listen to a very intellectual conversation between he and the Boys.  He gave the Boys some great advise about College and learning.  We are so grateful for him in our life - through this strike we have met sooooo many wonderful caring and giving people.

Kaleen aka Alex's mom