Russ Canick's Recovery Blog http://www.russellcanick.org Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:22:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Last day of therapy! http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=1001 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=1001#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:22:06 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=1001 Russ had a great day for his last day of therapy. Lauren worked with him on being able to open doors when there is not a handicap button to push. If he can get his strong arm up to the door handle and open it enough to get his feet into, then he just pushes his way in through the door! I will put the video up on my Facebook. I can’t seem to down load videos here.

Lauren also had Russ working on a 10% grade. He is able to push the controls for his chair and put it in HOLD drive so that he can go up the grade with out rolling backwards! It was so awesome to watch!
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Russ told Lauren that now he wants to start DRIVING!!!! That will be another chapter :)

Life is good, and Russ is the MIRACLE MAN! Lauren told Russ that she has never had anyone use up all of her Miracles!!!

Have a GREAT DAY :)

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=1001 2 HOT HOT HOT http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=998 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=998#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:28:57 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=998 It is way toooooo hot outside to do anything.

Russ did not have therapy this week. His last session will be on the 26th. I believe I have mentioned this before. I will try to come on the blog and do updates as they come along.

We have to get an exercise routine set up, so that Russ can continue to gain strength. I have noticed lately that his trunk is getting very strong. He can lean forward while on either chair and sit back up again with ease…..good for him, bad for me….he finds all the little things that make him crazy with his shoe laces and the seams on the bottom of his jeans!

I was able to take Elijah shoe shopping yesterday for his new school shoes!!!! What an exciting and challenging time…He is like shopping with a little girl! It took me 4 stores until he finally found a pair that he liked and I knew he would ware! LOL

Russ is enjoying his new iPad!!! He is playing games, going online, and reading online books. It is good to hear him laugh and enjoy himself. The iPad has been a real blessing for him. He needs no supports of any kind to work the iPad.

Stay cool :)

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=998 1 New arm supports! http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=988 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=988#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:11:32 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=988 Yesterday was therapy….Russ was able to get new arm supports for his big chair! He is now able to exercise both of his arms to get them stronger….between the new chair and these mobile arm supports he should be able to get really buff!!! :)

Russ with new arm supports

Looks as if his therapy is coming to an end. His last day will be the 26th of Aug. Now we will just work on it at home. If anyone wants to come and help Russ get stronger I know he would love your support!

Russ has kind of hit a wall today….he told me that he needs something Big to happen again. I think he is feeling a bit frustrated at his situation today. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

Looks as if there is another Benefit planned for the 10th of October…..It will be at the wonderful Hideout!! Mark your calendars….

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=988 1 Sleepy morning…. http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=975 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=975#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:52:16 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=975 Today Russ and I went down to Madonna to see Skid, he had come down to Madonna with a monetary contribution that had been collected on a Poker Run for him, and all of the Nurses and Therapist we could find. It was like old home week…It was so good to see Skid…I feel like we have known each other for ever!

Russ and Skid at Madonna

We just hung out in the hallway and soon the word was out that we were there….Many of Russ’ therapist were just so excited to see him in his power assist wheelchair. He is just an amazing man!

The day started with Elijah sleeping on his Dad’s shoulder!

Russ and Elijah sleeping

He was really out!!! I love his mouth slightly opened! Elijah is just going to kill his Grandma someday when he sees all the fun pictures I have of him!

Have a great night!!! If you live in Omaha, try and stay cool….this heat is just to crazy for words…

Sandie :)

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=975 0 Madonna friends…. http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=965 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=965#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:06:28 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=965 Russ, Lou and Myself went to Louisville,NE. yesterday for a fund raiser for a friend that we made while Russ was at Madonna. Her name is Margo. She was in a traffic accident last June 20, and was left paralyzed from the waist down. One of the bars in Louisville had a poker run, street dance, food, and bands all set as the fund raiser. They had 340 bikes show up just for the poker run!!!!

It was an awesome night to say the least, and we all had a very good time. Russ enjoyed the time he was able to visit with Margo.

Life is good, and it is so good to see the friends that we have made, progress on the road to recovery. We should never take anything for granted, and we should always thank the Good Lord for his tender mercies.

Here is a picture of Russ and Margo….
Russ and Margo

Enjoy the rest of your weekend….

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=965 0 More Loops for you! http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=943 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=943#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:47:49 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=943 Today brought a great therapy session!!! Lauren worked Russ real hard with the “LOOPS”! He hasn’t worked with them for a few weeks, and so today we saw how much stronger he has become…..It is so good to see him be able to work so very hard….Lauren teased him a little about not working with the loops because he had to get a new wheel chair! HaHa….

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In this picture you can see the determination on Russ’ face to be able to roll from his back to his side….He is able to roll the top half of his body very well and his legs just follow along…Lauren is trying to make him able to participate more in his dressing routine in the mornings.

In these next photo you can see him working on pulling himself up to a sitting position….that is the new goal…..!! How exciting is all of this progress!!!

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Russ is pushing all the time with his right arm during this exercise….I also have to point out that Lauren is indeed helping him balance as he moves. She supports where it is needed. He is a long way from doing this solo, but he really has the desire to conquer all….

Russ is planning on a trip down to Madonna hopefully by the end of this week. Russ is going to try and get ahold of some of our other rehab buddies and see if they want to join him, it is time for some show and tell…..

Sandie :)

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=943 3 Lunch at AFP http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=937 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=937#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:33:54 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=937 I know that Russ had a really good time seeing all of you again. I am sure that if he had working fingers he would be back there in a blink of an eye…..

The cook out was mighty fine…..

Here is a picture!

Russ at AFP

Have a great day!

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=937 0 Moving upward and onward! http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=929 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=929#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:49:45 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=929 Russ had a happy day at therapy yesterday. The only little support he used was to hold his index finger up so that he could type on the laptop! By having his finger exposed he could also use the mouse! He is really excited to be able to get on his home laptop and just play around! All of you who play Mafia Wars on Face book, beware! Russ will be back to play on his own!

He has come such a long way from just a few months ago of using a strap to hold a pencil in his had to type with, to now using his finger and no arm support! He is truly amazing! The Lord continues to bless him with strength and healing powers.

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If you get some time, give him a call or come on over and visit him!

Have a great day!

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=929 0 Ready Set Go http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=926 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=926#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:55:31 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=926 Lou went to therapy with Russ today…..I had my own Dr.s App to go to.

Lou told me that today Lauren had Russ wheel himself around the therapy gym with out anyone helping. It took him 5 mins! I think that is just wonderful. The area we are talking about is a pretty big area. Close to the size of a school gym.

Lauren then took him outside and had him work on going up 5% and 10% grades. He was able to control the wheelchair buttons with his knuckle and this is important because he was able to make the chair hold while going up the grades! Super impressive!!!

Like I have said before, you are all more than welcome to come out to Russ’ therapies……

Have a safe and great 4th of July weekend!

Sandie

]]> http://www.russellcanick.org/?feed=rss2&p=926 0 Thank goodness for the sun http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=915 http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=915#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:55:36 +0000 SandieCanick http://www.russellcanick.org/?p=915 Today was good with just the SON! I think we are all starting to get fins and gills!!!!

Russ had a very hard working day today at therapy. Lauren was working with him on being able to roll over on the mat, and to work with leaning over in his chair and pulling himself back up. The following pictures show this exercise.
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Lauren also gave him some new eating utensils with the challenge to eat 2 complete meals before he goes back next week!!! This progress is just so wonderful!!!!

We are planning on making a trip to Madonna in mid July, so that Russ can show his therapist how much progress he has made since he left them…..

Life is just wonderful!!!!

Sandie :)

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