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Arrowhead Update from his daughter Lisa.....

I wrote her to check on the flooding in the Austin area. They are not IN Austin, but near a big lake.

Thank you so much for writing with your concern - I have been meaning to send an update about Dad for quite some time, but wanted to make sure I had all of the most current and correct information.

With all the rain in the Central Texas area, neither Mom nor the CORE facility were hit very hard. They welcomed the rain upstream and I understand that the lake came up a bit, but I believe it was the downtown area that was hit the hardest. Thank you very much for your concern, and I am happy to report that all is well with the nasty weather they encountered.

Dad is still at the CORE Healthcare facility in Dripping Springs, and will be there though the month of December. He still has therapy sessions with PT, OT, and Speech, and during my mom's October monthly meeting every therapist said he had the best month yet. (And yes, he still loves being out in the hallways and rolling around the facility in his wheelchair.) They all said he was more talkative, his voice was stronger, and he was eating 25 or so bites of soft foods every few days....peaches, pears, applesauce, etc. These very small bites he chews in his mouth and swallows without much coughing. Below are a few brief notes from his different therapists:

Occupational Therapy: "Mr. Schwausch is participating OT tasks with much greater efficiency as motor planning deficits have reduced from severe to moderate. With the findings from MRI's, Occupational Therapy goals have transitioned to building strength with available range which may then provide additional range. Significant improvement has been noted."

Physical Therapy: "Mr. Schwausch can transfer pivoting bed to and from the wheelchair with assistance depending upon his ability to concentrate (ie. eliminate distractions) and his level of fatigue. He can also transfer sit to stand using a walker with assistance. He counts 1, 2, 3 prior to the transfer and pushes from the armrest with one hand while holding onto his knee with the other hand. This helps him to lean forward, put his weight through his legs and improves his balance during the transfer. He has been very consistent with his improvements this month."

Speech Therapy: "Mr. Schwausch names basic items with definition or phrase completion cues with 30 percent accuracy. He has inconsistently consumed 20 trials of thin fruit puree and 18-22 sips of water with independent or minimum cues for throat clearing. Named basic level associations with 90 percent accuracy. Named basic opposites with 90 percent accuracy. When seen with family members, initiated conversational questions with moderate-maximum cues."

Unfortunately, the newest concern has been the sudden appearance of seizures, which started a couple of weeks ago. Since then he has gone from having one every few days, to one every day or so, and last night he had three. In each case he is taken to the local hospital and seen by the doctors there, and after the all-clear he is sent back to CORE. He is on a low-dosage anti-seizure medication, which will hopefully become a higher dosage soon. I will continue to update on the seizures if they get worse (or - hopefully - better!) and about his progress from his therapists. I will be able to go down to Austin for the week of Christmas, so I will go to CORE numerous times and I'm sure will have great stories.

Thank you all very much for the continued support and your concerns. Please pass on to The Canteen FReepers my most sincere thanks for your dedication, sacrifice, and service to our great country on this Veterans Day. Like many, I am forever grateful for our men and women who have served in the armed forces, both now and in the past.

Have a blessed week.

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It would be really nice for him to get lots of cards and letters for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Cards can be sent directly to Arrowhead. And if anyone would like to visit, give a holler and I will get your request to Lisa and she can let you know his schedule.

John Schwausch
c/o CORE Health Care at Hilltop
400 Old Hwy 290
Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Thanks Everyone...please keep those prayers and cards coming.