Jenny will most likey be in the hospital for a few more days. Jenny agrees with the delay and has some goals in mind to achieve prior to coming home. She is doing better today and began the day more relaxed until a horrible experience with a respiratory doctor whose lack of bedside manner and negative comments put Jenny into extreme emotional distress that she had painful body spasms that lasted a few hours and had to miss rehab in the afternoon. My stomach was in knots as I saw Jenny sweat and shake as she never has before. This guy’s behavior was more than accidental words or bringing up sensitive topics. He will no longer have contact with Jenny.
As for some good news, Jenny was moving her right arm in a way I never have seen before during some spasms. I could not get her to repeat the full arm movement, but she had definate control of her right thumb to the point of raising and lowering it on my direction (I have video as proof). All I know is that this is the same thumb that I use to control the remote, so her life is going to be pretty good. Seriously though, if this become stronger, it has solved our speaking board problem since the blinking sensors do not seem to work. A finger switch would be much more effective.
JENNY LYNN'S NEWS 
Hi Mark and Jenny, Just got home from visiting with my family and was catching up on the progress. I want you to know that I am glad that you don’t have that thearapist anymore. Bedside manners are very important to getting better and improving. It is that way in all parts of life. I am thankful to a Loving Heavenly Father that lifts us up to the point of improvement in all aspects of our lifes. Encourgement and patience is the best medicine a person can have. I am so thankful that you are standing up for what Jenny really wants. This will mean a lot to you as well as to her. Jenny your progress has been so inspiring to all of us. Your growth is our growth in learning and in faith in our Father in Heaven. Thank you for your great example. Love Rita
Mark and Jenny!!!! I anm sorry to hear that the doctor’s poor choice of words have made her uncomfortable for a long period of time. It sounds like those are few and far between and there is more good then bad where you are.
Jenny—stay strong and contiue to love you husband. He is so strong, Jenny! It is so evident that you two are so in love. What a gift. I pray for you every day dear. I hope you are happy with your progress. You should be very pround for yourself.
Mark–I pray for you and the kids everyday.I hope that this up coming transition is a good one. My frind was much happier and seems more relaxed at home. I think that there are many benifits to having Jenny at home, just make sure that you are ready. It is a bigger vhange than my frinds’ family tought.
If you need anything, please let me know, I am more than happy to help. Ask Carolyn, am a great help 🙂
I love you and think of you often
In love and Faith
Janet
Jenny and Mark,
I met you two briefly at Alcorn’s New Year’s Eve Party. I’m engaged to Cynthia Grover.
It is wonderful to have this website to hear the marvelous progress Jenny is making without having to call and find out. Thank you, Mark, and all of your IT-support friends for posting this information.
I would think that the spasms and pain are excellent signs that additional recovery is possible. If there were no pain and no spasms, I would be very concerned.
Mark, some suggestions would be that once Jenny goes home, give her full body massages and perhaps even use a mechanical vibrator to do it. There are a lot of nerve endings near the skin, and such stimulation perhaps will assist in maximizing recovery by stimulating portions of the brain they are connected to. Give her showers and baths and whatever you couldn’t do in the hospital due to lack of privacy. Try to stimulate any and all nerve endings, muscles, and her mind. The three most important things for maximizing recovery after a stroke (beyond the standard internal medicine routines) are stimulate, stimulate, stimulate. These include physical therapy (muscle movement), massage therapy (surface stimulation), and mental stimulation. I know that doctor’s remarks upset Jenny, and I would never recommend deliberately upsetting her, but the remarks actually did some mental stimulation which in turn generated the muscle spasms, pain, and sweat. If a set of muscles has spasms, there is hope the voluntary movement for that set can be re-established over time.
I think the two of you are making great progress. It may not be evident to either of you, since you are so close to and constantly in the mix of it all, but there is progress going on, and it appears there is more progress to be made with continued patience and perseverence.
Keep up the great work!
Paul Troemner
I feel for Jenny getting someone with a bad bedside manner. But you did the right thing my restricting him from Jenny. My husband had to do the very some thing for me about 3 times through my hospital stay. One of the worst was having someone to transfer me. I almost got dropped a couple times, now thats scary.
KAT