The theme for today is: Hard Work.

It’s been cool to participate in some caregivers workshops and enrol in a series of caregivers courses. One thing that’s been emphasized is that for those with brain injuries, therapy is hard work. Hard work that results in fatigue. Neuro fatigue. It’s important for family members and loved ones to remember this.

Therapy is hard work. Zach knows this. He’s used to hard work. Zach loved hard work. He had the right perspective of work. He saw work as a calling. He believed work is a gift from God. He thanked God for work. For hard work.

A Christian loves work. A Christian loves hard work. Working hard is a matter of witnessing. Working hard is a matter of wisdom. Working hard is a matter of worship. We are workers created in the image of a working God. So, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward” (Col. 3:23–24).

Keep working hard, Zach! Fulfill your calling with diligence, determination, and delight! Soli Deo Gloria!

Today’s Updates:

Zach has shown a lot of smiles and interaction this week, but he has also been tired, or agitated and on guard a couple of times this week. When he is agitated, he resists nursing care, often doesn’t want to be in his wheelchair, and looks afraid. Please pray that Zach will be able to communicate to us why he is feeling agitated or afraid. Pray that he will feel safe on his unit and at his therapies, and pray for the peace that comes from God to rest on him at all times.

In physio, Zach has been practicing rolling to one side or the other, along with improving his trunk strength. In OT, they’re working on fine motor skills with Zach during some of his sessions, like using a spoon to scoop beads into a cup. Zach has been doing well in physio and OT. Please pray that he will have enough energy for these therapies and that he will continue to work hard at his exercises.

Zach is now cleared to drink any kind of thin fluid, including milk, broth, juice, and water! Please join us in thanking God for continued progress in Zach’s eating and drinking. Zach has been doing well eating puréed foods and pudding during his speech therapy sessions as well, so we are hoping that he will be cleared to eat puréed foods as part of his meals soon!

Speech therapy has also been trying lots of strategies to get Zach to regain speaking and vocalization skills, but this is very difficult for Zach. Pray that he will continue to work hard in his speech therapy sessions and that God will heal his brain and allow him to communicate verbally again one day. It is still hard to establish a consistent communication strategy for Zach, as he is reluctant to mouth words, and when presented with options, he tends to default to one choice and refuse to select others. Please pray that Zach’s communication will improve soon, and grant him patience while he tries to communicate in the mean time.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please keep Zach in your prayers, and continue to pray especially that God will heal his brain. Pray also that he will be approved for the long-term neuro rehab centre in Ponoka so that he will receive more opportunities to recover and improve.

“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)