Sunday

Dad prayed long and hard yesterday and has decided to keep up the fight and begin radiation soon. He will remain in Freedom Inn where they can also continue to care for him. Dad had a very good day today as their special friends Ray and Judy came today for lunch with homemade Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and gravy. This was specials reward for Dadnwalking about 6 feet on Friday with a walker. Today was also a fun filled day as it was Route 66 day at Freedom Village with special food and entertainment from the 50s. Large numbers of guests were present. Visitors are always welcome to see Dad but we ask that you limit your visit times to 5-10 minutes.

Tim

Saturday

We presented the options to Dad this afternoon: 1. Radiation and continue the fight but without the opportunity to rehab or get much more left mobility and have the possibility of not feeling so well 2. Continue rehab and feel better and possibly live a lesser time. All tough options. The family will be content in what ever Dad decides. This has been a lot for Dad to absorb this afternoon so he asked if he could go back to bed to think about it and rest. Please pray that Dad can process this and make the correct decision for him. My comments to Dad were " Pray to God and ask him for wisdom to make the right decision. Boy what a tough few days for Mom, Dad and the family. Dad would like both Radiation and rehab but that will not be a possibility. Thnnks again for all your thoughts,prayers,comments,cards etc.

Gods plan is perfect.
Let Go Let God

Tim and family

Friday-pray for wisdom

Please pray for the family in the coming days. Dad was not approved to move to Mary Free Bed. Pray that we can meet as a family with Dad tomorrow to present the news. We will ultimately let Dad make the decision on what he wants to do to proceed. The Drs. report that Dad would not be able to handle heavy rehab and radiation. So we will have to decide on what root to take. As Dad said again tonight: "I have no regrets". What peace this man has. I have done so many great things. Dad continues to be very funny. He was also able to walk 6 feet today with a walker:) Pray for Mom as this is so tough.

Tim

Monday report

Dad has been a little depressed the past 2 days. He is being too hard on himself and for the left arm not responding. We never said this was going to easy is our response to him. It has been quite hard the past few days as patients were not allowed outside of their rooms do to the flu outbreak. Staying in the small rooms can get depressing. Today has ended on a joyous note for Dad. Dad was so happy and also crying after he was given an autographed Hope College basketball and cap. Mr. Andy Mulder was so nice as to arrange this for Dad from Coach Van Wieren and the team. He has been given an open invitation to front row seats whenever he likes at the new area. Pause as I am crying as this is being typed. We pray that Dad will get that opportunity before the season is over. He truly is missing all the Hope games and the many other sporting events he would take in a week. Sure glad he does have cable TV with all the ESPN stations at Freedom Inn.

Love his sporting buddy,
Tim

OH WHAT A GLORIUS DAY

FLU OUTBREAK AT FREEDOM INN-THEY ARE ASKING FOR NO VISITORS

Oh boy has Dad had a good day. Today, Dad was able to stand in the shower and bath himself. He was able to wash his hair with one hand and almost completely dry himself off. Wow is that neat. Yesterday we witnessed him lift his left leg off the bed and wiggle those toes. The doctors have stopped all painkillers for Dad and believe this improvement has a lot to do with that. Dad will begin radiation treatment on Tuesday. He will most move to Mary Free Bed later next week. Who knows how good he will be doing by then. He has a true desire to get out of these rehab places so he go home and hopefully get to some sporting events soon. Oh how I wish I could see Jarod play basketball were his words the other day. Jarod scored 8 points for his grandpa that day. You know my parents, they have never missed any events Jarod had been in. It wasn't that long ago that Jarod struck out a batter in Williamsport baseball for his grandpa who was rehabbing from knee replacement.

Thanks for all your continued thoughts and prayers.

Mom is so pumped.

Tim

Wednesday

Dad has had another good day. He was able to kick his leg out in therapy and again in bed tonight. Mom and Dad visited with Dr. Lowry today. They will be working real hard to get Dad to Mary Free Bed soon. The Dr. definitely feels that Dads rehab will go much faster there. He definitely believes that Dad will be able to walk again in the future. It does appear as though the left arm may not regain much use. They will also be accessing Dads treatment needs : radiation an/or chemo soon. We do not want to waste too much time before treatments start or extensive therapy continue. Dad continues to be very good spirits. Great sense of humor and sharp as a tack. Dad looks like his old self again. It seems strange to see him in bed as Dad was not much of a sleeper or napper:) He has gained enough strength now to enjoy sports on TV and radio. There was quite a void in that area for a while:) Oh what a joy for him. Thanks again for all the cards,prayers thoughts and visits.

Tim

Monday update

Dad has had another very good day. He was able to stand 3 different times today. He was also able to sit in a chair with no sides or back. It is nice to see that he is gaining strength by being able to sit. His attitude continues to be very good. He is working very hard for all of us he says. Dad will be meeting with the neurologist one last time this Wednesday. At this time, we should know what the next steps are. Mary Free Bed is now evaluating his files to see when he can transfer. Thank-you everyone for the visits,thoughts and prayers. Special thanks to my parents wonderful neighbors who took care of the snowy driveway twice today. Our thoughts and prayer also go out to the Boeve family in this day. As their son(father) and grand child were taken to be with the Lord after a morning car accident.

Rose and family


Tim

Dads doing well

Dad has been gaining strength daily. He is in very good spirits. They continue to work on building Dads upper body strength before standing and walking.He is sitting up alot now in his wheelchair. We have seen where he can flex his upperleg muscles and wiggle his toes. Dad will be moving to the window view in his room. Dad will be watching the Hope vs.Calvin today at 2pm. Thank-you for all your thoughts, prayers and cards. Dad has received 125 cards as of Friday. Mom is trying to read 10 cards a day to him. He continues to enjoy all of them + those with the word BELIEVE in them.
We continue to ask for limited visits or short visits as Dad is still weak.
Go Hope
Tim

Thursday

Improvement is seen. Mel had a slight movement in his left shoulder on Wednesday. Therapy is very hard and he is extremely tired. He listened to the Hope College game on the radio last night and when asked this morning he knew that Hope won. Today, after a shower and therapy he is just exhausted. Please pray for strength each day for him, for continued improvement in his left side, and for a continued positive attitude for recovery. We ask at this time that he has no visitors. When there is too much activity and talking in his room it makes him more tired. He keeps saying that he is a fighter and that he believes in Miracles. Thanks again for all your prayers on his and the families behalf.

Tuesday January 9th

Dad has had another good day. He has been talking more today and joking. He was able to sit on the edge of the bed for 30 minutes today. He even asked for a bed pan, must be getting sick of the oversize diapers:) Therapy has him working on strengthing the upper body before going after more standing and walking. Dad was able to sit in the shower today. Wow his first real shower in 13 days. What a rejuvenating that must have felt. Mom is having a little more time at home these days in the mornings to do all the necessities. Thanks to all who have visited and continue to think and pray for the family.

Tim

Monday report

Dad has had an outstanding day were Moms words a few minutes a go. In an effort to continue to build Dads strength they are having him sitting up alot. He sat up all morning. Another bright spot today: Dad was showing muscle response for the first time in his left arm. This was the first:) Dad will be having 3 hours of therapy 5 times per week. This includes occupational,speech and physical therapy. They will also be electrical stimulation to Dad left shoulder to help with the rehabilitation. We are definitely seeing progress each day. We have come to understand that big steps won't be seen each day. Baby steps each day is good too. Dad really is beginning to look like his old self. His mind is sharp and he can still talk sports. Who would have thought that he wouldn't be watching the national championship game tonight. Dad had really been watching his weight the past year,but he never estimated that he would lose over 20 pounds since the surgery. We will be adding Ensure to his diet to help build his strength also. Thanks to all who continue to think and pray for the family. Mom trully enjoyed talking with all of you at church Sunday. She has holding quite strong through all of this.

Tim

Saturday and Sunday

Mel had therapy on Saturday with no therapy on Sunday. He is sitting in his wheelchair for all his meals and on Sunday he fed himself without too much coaxing. He continues to be very tired. Therapy begins again on Monday. Continue to pray for strength to return on his left side. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

First full day at Freedom

BUSY DAY!!!! Mel sat in a wheelchair in the dining room for all three meals. He also had therapy today so he was busy. It seems good to see him in clothes instead of a hospital gown. Tonight he was extremely tired and just kept saying I need a nap. Rose is asking that there are no visitors thru the weekend. Mel just needs to rest to regain his strength. It was good to see him smile tonight. Continue to pray for recovery for Mel and strength for Rose to face each new day.

Dad has transferred

Dad has now transferred to Freedom Inn. It is nice to be a surrounding that isn't a hospital room. Dad has been seen with many smiles on his face tonight. He starting to look like his old self again. Boy is that a nice thing. They were able to remove Dads staples before he left the hospital today. Boy has it healed nicely. Dad will begin more rigorous therapy tomorrow. He was able to sit and hold himself strongly today. Thank-you all for your thoughts and prayers. We are asking that you limit the visitors for a few days. This transition and therapy will be tougher and Dad still needs a lot of rest and recovery.

Tim

Wednesday evening

Mel had a good day today. He had therapy twice. One time he stood for 15 minutes with the help of 2 therapist. His appetite is very good and he is feeding himself. Mel was smiling tonight and that looked so good. He didn't move to Mary Free Bed today and at this time the first move will be to Freedom Village. Hopefully in the next day or two. He will be at Freedom for about a week or two and then be going to Mary Free Bed for further therapy. Please continue to pray for strength and patience as he travels down this road of recovery.

Judy

Happy Birthday Dad

Dad is celebrating his 65th birthday today. Wow 65 already:) Dad is enjoying raspberry lady finger cake as we type.Raspberry has always been one of his favorites. The ever popular raspberry shakes were enjoyed when Mom worked at Muzzys. Hopefully the surgar has healing effects. He was able to muster up enough energy to blow out the birthday candle. It is now late in the day and Dad is very tired. He was able to watch and sing along with the presidential funeral coverage on TV. Dad was able to stand with the help of the nurses again today. Plans are being made to transfer Dad to Mary Free Bed. He will most likely move on Thursday. We will continue to keep you updated as the details come in. Continue to pray for improvement in strength and elimination of fevers.

the Wolters

Happy New Year

Dad has had a good day. He was able to stand up 2 times today. He is holding himself up strongly and feeding myself very well. He still continues to be very tired after his therapies but is sleeping very well. Not a trait that dad has been good at before surgery. He should be transfered to Freedom Inn tomorrow on his 65th birthday. He is still continuing with a good attitude and we hear fight fight fight often. The doctor is assuming that Dad will not regain much use of his left arm.We can live with that. The doctor does feel that he will be able to walk eventually. Please continue to pray for more healing and regained strength.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers.

The Wolters family