Stephen Langman His Progess So Far

February 16, 2009

Dear Friends;

It has been 2 weeks since Steve had his last hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and many of you have been anxiously waiting to hear how it went. Having so many of you asking us how it went makes us realize how many of you care for us. It is really a good feeling for us as we feel so loved and supported.
The therapy was quite expensive but we felt it was worth it. I noticed a difference in him on the very first day of treatments. We were driving back to our friend’s house at the end of the day and Steve seemed so alert and chatty. He normally isn’t talkative and will only say something if he needs to. Our conversations usually end quickly with his, “yes, no, I don’t know” answers but this time he was contributing to the conversation and even initiating it. This was exciting for me because our relationship has been a concern to me. It is hard to work at a relationship when communication is strained. At the time of day that we were driving home, he should have been very tired since he hadn’t had a nap. His speech is usually slurred and his face drooping when he doesn’t nap but he wasn’t like that.
I figured that his condition would be like that just on the days that he had therapy so I was watching closely when he returned after the second week of HBOT. He still needs to have quiet time on most days but I noticed that he isn’t as tired. Less fatigue has so many benefits. His speech is better, he doesn’t get confused very often and he is able to cope with our daily life much better. That last point has been the best one since we have a full and busy household and it is hard to keep everything running smoothly and calmly all the time.
I wondered how he would be away from his routine but he immediately took to his new routine and seemed to enjoy the time in the chamber. I was able to go in with him and we would play chess. Or should I say, he would beat me at chess! After the morning session we would eat lunch at the Bedrock Diner across the road and then head to the mall to get some exercise and a strawberry milkshake until it was time for his afternoon session. It was a nice time for Steve and me to be together with out the kids. It was like a little vacation for us that was long overdue.
I was only with him a few days of each week while family and friends filled in the rest of the days. It was a bit of a holiday for us back home as well as we could run around and make noise without worrying about how Daddy was coping.
We only did 2 weeks of HBOT which is half the recommended number of treatments. We weren’t sure if it would do anything but we knew that it wasn’t going to hurt him so we gave it a try. We would like to do the full treatment schedule at another time, perhaps in the spring.
For those of you working on your prayer lists you could pray for Steve’s emotional healing as well as his physical healing. I know it is going to be a long road and in many different stages. Some days are just harder than others.
Will has recovered fine from the inhaled blow dart incident. No infection in his trachea. I think that whole incident may have taught him a few things. Not to use homemade blow darts is hopefully one thing he learned! It also helped to put him in his Dad’s shoes in a small way. I also think it helped him to understand why I had to be by his Dad’s side when he was hospitalized. All little steps to healing for all of us.


In His Grace,
Donna Langman