Summer Flew By: An Overdue Update!

Hello friends and family!

Our apologies for not posting in so long!  We have so much to share, which is partly to blame for our silence on the blog.  

Since our last update, we have not been idle!  Thom's continued progress has been assisted by diversifying his rehabilitation activities.  Over the summer, to improve torso strength and balance, we started hydro-therapy (pool) once a week.  Exercising in the water allows Thom to be more independent in his movements and the water also provides resistance which improves muscle tone.  

Ekso training

At the same time, Thom has been using a new piece of equipment called the "ekso," a free-standing eksoskeleton that assists with standing upright and walking.  When he first tried it, he could barely take any steps in it, but after many months of practice and patience he is now taking hundreds of steps per session.  The machine can give anywhere from 0% to 100% assistance to each leg; this number can be tweaked by therapists as needed.  Thom is down from 100% in each leg to 75% on the left and 70% on the right.  His stride length is also improving and his legs no longer cross over each other when he is walking.  The ekso stores data from his activity each session, which is extremely useful feedback, and he continues to see improvement.  

A couple weeks ago, Thom was measured for AFOs: these are braces for his ankle and calf that will provide him additional support when walking in therapy.  We expect these to arrive next week and he is really excited to start using them!

On the OT front, his left hand continues to improve slowly.  His therapist told him it is beginning to be difficult to find new challenges for his left hand. He is up to the point of being able to use chopsticks in that hand, which is a big deal!  Perhaps even more exciting is that, 14 months since the accident, Thom's right hand is showing signs of recovery(!!!).  He is now able to make small controlled movements with his thumb, which is how his left hand began to recover one year ago.  

Please continue to pray to St. Francis that Thom might regain movement in both his hands.

Over labor day weekend we had a great visit with family and friends in Michigan.  It was our first trip back since the accident.  Neither of our families' homes are accessible to Thom, but we found an accessible hotel to stay in and hosted everyone there.  It was wonderful to catch up with our close and extended family, and with so many friends that we had not seen since our wedding last April.  Travel there and back was both a challenge and an opportunity to further learn how to navigate planes and cars with his wheelchair.  

Since coming back from Michigan we have been preparing for what promises to be a very busy fall.  I am returning to writing my masters thesis and Thom is taking on some new projects as well.  He is excited to find his energy and stamina returning for intellectual and physical activities.  We're looking forward to a productive fall and hopefully more frequent updates to all of you :) 

We continue to receive notes and prayers from so many of you.  Thank you so much!  Your encouragement and steadfastness on our behalf mean the world to us.

A Most Happy Birthday (and an Early Birthday Present!)

Today is Thom's birthday and tomorrow is Natalie's birthday. Thom wanted to share a couple thoughts on the happy occasion:

Well before my accident last summer I changed my Facebook settings so that I would have to personally approve every time someone mentioned me in their status update.

Because of this setting I have hundreds of status updates to approve, stretching back to the accident last year. So earlier this week I went through and read dozens and dozens of posts from my family and friends asking for prayers and sharing updates about my recovery (and setbacks) as they happened. Of course my wife did relay this activity to me at the time but I was in a different mental state then. 

Rereading them this week reminds me how blessed I am to be alive today, and how lucky I am to be able to celebrate a birthday this year. And of course, how grateful I should be (and am!) for all the prayers and assistance I have received and continue to receive from my wife, family and friends.

I can't say it any simpler and clearer than this: thank you, thank you God, for my birthday!

We have some other happy news to share -- Thom recently received his manual wheelchair! We will post a photo of him in it soon. It was somewhat ironic that the day he received it he used the chair mostly as a seat to practice standing with his therapist's assistance and spent the rest of the session working on walking! Still we are so happy he has it because this means additional mobility opportunities including more car travel. Also this is the first time he's been in a chair that's actually made to his measurements so it is much easier for him to get around in the apartment and outside -- an early birthday present.

We're both so excited to discover what good things God has in store for us this year!

PRAY + SUPPORT + SHARE

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Our Grace-filled Pilgrimage

Dear family, friends, and supporters,

Our apologies for not posting an update sooner!  Since our return, we have been busy  with recovery, getting back to therapy, and preparing to host family.  We have also needed some time to pause and reflect on our whirlwind travels.  Going to Lourdes was an extraordinary and powerful experience, which stretched us to our limits and was truly unforgettable.  

Even at the outset, there was so much grace surrounding this opportunity and which helped us make the journey in the first place.  Last winter, when the Knights of Malta "interviewed" us for the trip, we were nowhere near ready to make such a voyage; Thom was far too weak, and we had no experience of traveling in our new circumstances.  But, piece by piece, as the trip approached, necessities came into place.

In the days leading up to the trip, numerous of things beyond our control went wrong.  The day before departure, Thom's new manual chair wasn't ready, despite the company promising it would be.  While we waited, they constructed a temporary chair from spare parts in their warehouse.  When the airport shuttle showed up the day of our trip, the wheelchair lift was malfunctioning and would not work.  We had to ask people passing by to kick and jump on it to make it work.  Once we arrived at the airport, all of the printers at the ticketing counter were malfunctioning.  Our group of 400+ pilgrims waited for hours while they worked to get them back online.  Once our group boarded the plane, there were mechanical difficulties, and 5 hours later, the flight crew had to cancel our departure altogether.  At 1:00 am our group was back in the terminal and needing a place to stay.  Amazingly, the Knights managed to find transportation and rooms for all of us in Baltimore.  It was a grueling ordeal -- it was after 3:30 am before we got to our hotel -- and yet all the pilgrims remained kind and patient with one another and with everyone they encountered.  It was a truly heroic display of virtue. 

The next day, our group celebrated a private anointing Mass at the Basilica in Baltimore.  It was a beautiful, uplifting experience that made everyone realize the pilgrimage had already started.  And even though we hadn't managed to yet leave Baltimore, our adventure had begun.  Travel that day went off without a hitch!  And after a couple hours of sleep on the airplane, we arrived in Lourdes.  

That week in Lourdes was extraordinary; not only by fully participating in the rich and traditional devotions of Lourdes, but by being part of this annual pilgrimage with Knights and Dames of Malta from all around the world.  Over 30,000 Knights, Dames, companions, and sick (malades) gathered in Lourdes and participated in pilgrimage with us.  

A highlight from the trip was most certainly having the experience of washing in the baths.  This opportunity alone was miraculous.  Since we arrived a day late, we unfortunately lost the reservations that had been made a year in advance for our large group.  But somehow that day, despite the overwhelming crowd huddled in the pouring rain, we both managed to gain entrance.  Other highlights include, taking part in the nightly candlelit rosary procession, the Eucharistic procession, and the massive international Mass on Sunday in the underground church.  We also visited the one-room cachot where St. Bernadette lived for a time with her family and attended Mass in the church where she was baptized.  

Every day a different Knight & Dame were assigned to care for Thom.  They pushed  his wheelchair and served in every way they could.  Truth be told, this was a sacrifice for us because we didn't have much time to ourselves to share and contemplate the experiences of each day -- were were always in motion in seemed.  There was also not much time for sleep.  The days began very early and there was a full schedule.  By God's grace, we managed to arrive at the start time every day because we did not want to miss out on any spiritual opportunities.  Thom managed to survive on about half as much sleep as he needs, but that was something to offer up as well.  To say we came back to DC exhausted, would definitely be an understatement.  

Daily meals were shared in common with our group and these events were a great chance to get to know our fellow malades and their companions, to hear their stories and pray together throughout the day.  For us, these individuals were a powerful example of hope and trust, and another reminder of the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of struggle.  It was humbling to meet so many faithful members of the Knights of Malta and to be a recipient of their endless generosity.  We had our share of difficulties that arose during the trip, inevitable consequences of such an undertaking, but through these moments and more, the Knights did their very best to care for us and see to our needs, always with patience and kindness.  We will never forget it.

While we were in Lourdes, we embraced many opportunities to remember all of YOU in prayer -- all of you who have supported us, prayed for us, and prayed with us ever since the accident last summer.  We brought a list of these names to Lourdes, and placed them on the altar at the Grotto during a private Mass offered for our group on the Saturday we were there -- almost a 1,000 names in total.  We also lit a votive candle for all of your intentions.  

Since returning home, Thom has had some of his best days of therapy!  Last Wednesday, for the first time, he was able to take a step with his right leg!  Natalie was holding the walker and got to see this leap of progress firsthand.  Needless to say, his therapists are very excited and so are we!  His occupational therapist has also been focusing more on the fingers in his right hand, which are beginning to show faint signs of recovery.  As always, all of this progress means more work and more patient effort, but we have so much to be thankful for.  Truly.  

There is more to share, but for everything that we have yet to discern, and still don't fully appreciate ourselves, we thank you for your patience and continued prayers as we continue to be open to the Lord's Will and Our Lady's intercession.  

Here are some of our favorite photos from our trip!:

Names of family, friends, and supporters left at the altar of the Grotto during our private Mass

Eucharistic procession

At the start of the candlelit rosary procession

Candlelit rosary procession, every night in Lourdes

International Sunday Mass in the underground church

Farewell dinner out in the countryside (beautiful Pyrenees mountains!)  

PRAY + SUPPORT + SHARE

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From Thomas & Natalie: 6 Month Update

Thomas has been benefiting greatly from steady and regular therapy over the last few weeks and we have seen his recovery accelerate. 

In OT, after focusing on his right hand for a few weeks, his right thumb and pinky are starting to move very slowly.  His therapist is optimistic that they can get more of the fingers to follow suit, it will just take a lot more time and effort.  His left hand continues to gain strength; they are working on isolated finger movements and he can now compress up to 15lbs (a few weeks ago he could also squeeze 3lbs). 

But it's over in PT where the really exciting work is happening.  While his left leg has been gaining movement, starting from the toes up, his right leg is waking up from the hip down!  Without getting into all of the technical distinctions and details: both legs are waking up!  Over the past couple weeks, his physical therapist has been getting really excited about this progress in his legs and they have been focusing more and more on rehabilitating both legs.  Some of the new exercises include a max-assist stand, next to the mat, where one therapist supports his knees and another therapist supports his upper body, and Thomas holds his arms on a walker.  With this support they help him stand, and he is even working on small squats and shifting weight from side to side!  Of course to stand it takes more than just leg muscles, so they have been intensely focusing on his lumbar and core muscles in tandem.  These muscles give one the strength to stand upright and shift weight from leg to leg.  There are almost a dozen different types of exercises he now does to identify new muscle groups and strengthen existing ones.  This is all very exciting, but a huge number of challenges remain and we are taking it one day at a time.

To even be able to contemplate standing and walking is worlds away from where we were six months ago in Baltimore, hoping Thomas would survive the night.  We cannot put into words how grateful we are for everything and everyone that has been a part of our story these past six months.  In a spirit of thanksgiving and joy we will be praying at a Holy Hour this evening joined by some of our close family and friends -- we will be praying for all of our friends and family, and you our dear readers, who have sacrificed so much on our behalf.  We ask that you keep us in prayer on this the six month anniversary.

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An Update from Thomas & Natalie

Thomas and Natalie share what has been happening recently: 
We may have been quiet but things have certainly been busy these past couple weeks!

On November 25th, Thomas had an in-patient medication procedure to see if he would be a good candidate to receive a baclofen pump. The procedure consisted of Thomas receiving a lumbar puncture, where his doctor administered a small injection of baclofen medication into Thomas' spinal cord (baclofen is a medicine that treats muscle spasms, and is prescribed not only to SCIs but also patients with MS and CP). Thomas was then monitored over the course of 6 hours by his doctor and therapists.  The trial went well; Thomas responded well to the medicine and his spasms were reduced during the 6 hour period.  This procedure is only the first step.  We continue to do research into the baclofen pump to discern if it's right for him, and in the new year we will be consulting with specialists (it's a permanent implantation, with pros and cons of course).  We would appreciate your prayers as we discern this surgery.

Unfortunately, one of the common side effects of a lumbar puncture is an intense headache when sitting up. Thomas left the trial with a bad headache that persisted for several days.  He was able to get some relief by lying flat on his back.  Eventually his doctor scheduled him for a blood patch to fix the problem, but the first attempted patch was unsuccessful. Thankfully, the second patch was a success, but Thomas had missed quite a bit of therapy in the meantime.

Since then he's been making up for lost time.  He continues to gain strength and dexterity in his left hand, and his therapists are focusing on exercises for his right hand as well.  One of his exciting accomplishments this past week was doing a transfer into and out of a car completely on his own.  Just one month ago he needed all the help he could get to do this!  His physical therapist was quite impressed. :) 

Thomas is back to lifting weights in the gym and continues to gain strength. He is also doing more and more exercises with his legs, including a simulated leg press.  Now, none of this means that he can walk again, but if he does regain the ability, it will start with these little exercises!  He is also back to doing the standing frame and other activities he enjoyed while he was an inpatient.  Thomas can now do most transfers on his own and he is adding to the list of activities he can do his own, including combing his hair, brushing his teeth, and taking his jackets on and off (with some help).

Due to the impressive organizational talents of the outpatient team, Thomas will use the last of his medical benefit for outpatient appointments on December 31st.  Thomas and Natalie just found a new health insurance plan with a far greater allowance of rehabilitation services and are hopeful they can transition to the new plan by January 1st.  This would indeed be the answer to their prayers!

Over Christmas break, both of our families will be able to visit for a few days, a great blessing!  We are eagerly preparing for this much-anticipated time together.  Thomas will be in therapy even during the weeks of Christmas and New Years and is looking forward to working just as hard in the new year.

We would like to give a special shout out to the students who recently attended the Love and Fidelity Network Conference in Princeton who surprised us with dozens of get well notes and letters!  Your heart-felt messages were incredibly touching and encouraging! Thank you and God bless!

From Natalie: The First Week of Outpatient Rehab!

Once more we would like to express our gratitude for the incredible support and prayers we received!  The media-thon exceeded all of our expectations!  We had a great time seeing many of you at the #IStandWithThomasPeters reception here in DC.

So what's the latest?  Thomas' first full week of out-patient therapy went very well! He attends three days a week for three to four hours each day. Prior to beginning this program, he was evaluated extensively by a physical and occupational therapist; they established a baseline so that progress can be tracked and we discussed goals. Thomas now works with these therapists one-on-one each day. Thomas really likes them both, they are very creative, demanding, and passionate about what they do. They have high expectations for him and believe a lot can be accomplished with hard work and continued focus. Thomas was relieved to find out he had not lost momentum over the two weeks in between discharge and starting back to rehab -- thanks to our in-home workouts! -- he returned back to therapy even stronger! On days when he is home we continue to prioritize these exercises to keep him strong and limber. With the generous financial assistance we have received we may be adding more therapy to Thomas' rehab days.  

I had to laugh when Thomas said his physical therapist told him that he had completed the initial goals she set for him and is already exceeding her expectations! Rest assured, she is preparing new goals and challenges.

Since coming home we have been practicing daily tasks and coming up with solutions to help Thomas be as independent as possible. One of our personal goals was for him to commute to and attend rehab on his own. With lots of work, we are achieving this goal! I help him get ready for the day and packed up, but then he is off on his own! It's exciting to meet back up for dinner to discuss the day!

We have begun the process of selecting and ordering his manual wheelchair. They took his measurements and the paperwork is rolling ahead. Once our selection is made, it can take up to 3 months to build, so we're getting on it now!  

Despite the cold, we are striving to do more outings together. We had a great time attending a friend's wedding in Georgetown this past weekend (photo above) and Thomas now joins me on errands which is a lot of fun.  

We do not have much of a break for Thanksgiving week (and we don't want one!) but we are looking forward to a cozy Thanksgiving for two with a lovely duck and treats that we brought back from our honeymoon in France. We wish you and your families a very blessed and joyful Thanksgiving! We certainly feel we have much to be grateful for this year!

PRAY + SUPPORT + SHARE

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From Natalie: Pilgrimage to Philadelphia

Thank you for your prayers for our safe travel to Philadelphia and back! 

These days, traveling takes a lot more planning and coordination, but happily all of this went very well on our first trip out of the city! Taking a van, a train, and a handicapped taxi service (with lots of time for delays built in), we made it safely to the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

As we were in line waiting to venerate the relics after Mass, we were greeted by the rector of the cathedral, who recognized Thomas and introduced us to Maureen O'Riordan who is facilitating the US tour of these precious relics and spreading devotion to Louis and Zélie Martin. They offered us the opportunity to have private time to venerate the relics. It was an incredible experience and we came away even more in love with them and eager to spread devotion to their cause.

For more information on the life and devotion of this blessed couple, and how to locate their relics in the United States, please visit Maureen's website www.louisandzeliemartin.org. 

Join us in prayer!

From Natalie: First Update from Home!

Thomas and Natalie spent their first week in their new apartment together - Natalie sent along this update yesterday:

• I am adjusting to the demands of caring for Thomas full-time and this week returned to working part-time from home.

• The discharge process at rehab was chaotic and disorganized; we spent most of Thomas' first days home sorting out prescriptions, medical supplies, and insurance.

• With rigorous practice, we are encouraged that transfers [movement from bed to chair, etc.] are getting better, as Thomas gets stronger. We are beginning to get a sense of Thomas' routine, medication management, and prioritize his daily exercise program.

• In the rush of the past week, we even fit in time to do some cooking: a pork roast, gourmet burgers, and a homemade pasta sauce.

• We try to fit in a small outing each day and explore our new neighborhood together - and enjoy the fall colors that are finally showing up in DC

• Thomas receives one in-home OT or PT session each day of the week to keep him in shape and I have learned how to do these exercises with him.

• Next week Thomas has an evaluation at rehab for the out-patient program and we continue to look into other options to boost therapy. These months are the most critical for his recovery, and Thomas is eager not to lose momentum from his intense therapy in rehab.

• This weekend we're going on an adventure! We're going on a pilgrimage via train to the cathedral in Philadelphia to venerate the relics of Blessed Louis & Zélie Martin, and their daughter St. Therese of Lisieux. We prayed to this holy couple in the days leading up to our wedding and had already made plans to do this trip before the accident. Our pilgrimage is one of thanksgiving for the gift of marriage and blessings received.

Join us in prayer!

It's Moving Week

The following update is from Natalie!

It's moving week for the Peters! -- which explains a lull in our blogging.  Here are some updates!

Natalie and a team of friends are moving the Peters into their new apt this Saturday.  The following day, Thomas has a day pass from rehab to visit the new apartment.  He is very excited to see their new home for the first time and the couple will be able to ensure the set-up is workable for Thomas.

They have been very busy with preparations for his transition home!  He is scheduled for discharge on the 29th of this month, if all goes according to plan!  As we have mentioned before, he will then be in out-patient rehab 3 days per week.  Those specifics are still being organized.  His therapists have been helping them determine what medical supplies and equipment will be needed, including a hospital bed and power lift to help get him in and out of bed.  Thomas' therapy sessions continue as usual, and day by day they see improvement, but there is an even greater focus right now on his occupational therapy sessions focusing on home-skills.  Natalie continues spending sessions at rehab for home-care training and practice with Thomas.  They will take a short break from out-patient rehab during his first week home, so they can settle into their own routine for his care.  During his first week home, they hope to have a home health aide to assist during this transition.  During this week, Natalie will begin a transition back to work and plans to work primarily from home. 

Last week Thomas had an outing to the Metro Access Headquarters here in DC to apply for his disability membership.  He will be using Metro Access to commute to rehab.    

Thomas' episodes of AD have been under control since the last update and for several days now he has had no trouble with his blood pressure.  AD is something that will always be a factor, but becoming familiar with the triggers has been a great help! 

Reminder, it is Day 3 for the Novena to St. Jude!  Keep praying along with us!

Join us in prayer!

Update: AD, Leg Muscles, Fingers + the St. Francis Novena!

Straight from Natalie:

Since arriving at rehab, we have been learning a lot about a syndrome, common to all SCI (spinal cord injury) patients, called autonomic dysrefelxia (known as AD).  AD is very dangerous and can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.  AD can be triggered by any persistent irritant, such as full bowel or bladder, being too hot or too cold, restrictive clothing, stress, or pain. 

Around 3am Monday morning Thomas experienced his first episode of AD.  The irritant  was successfully identified, and eventually they were able to get his blood pressure down, but his headache persisted and he was taken to the emergency room for a CTscan, as a precautionary measure, to ensure that no brain damage occurred.  By the time everything was resolved, Thomas had lost the night's sleep and was too fatigued to participate in therapy that day. The following day Thomas had a normal day of rehab, but later, Thomas and Natalie were enjoying a quiet evening when he had another episode of AD.  After a painful and concerning 2 hours, the trigger was once again identified. 

AD is very serious, but it is common among SCI patients.  The doctors and nurses at rehab are very familiar with it and are educating Thomas and Natalie about what to do when it occurs.  These episodes are unsettling, but they are a blessing in disguise: the couple is glad they are experiencing this before being discharged.  Every person's system has different triggers and their body reacts differently.  They are learning what triggers AD for Thomas and what his symptoms are.  This will be life-saving in future episodes.

Some exciting news to share -- Thomas has some new muscle groups waking up!  His adductors (inner thigh muscle) and his left calf muscle.  Muscle strength is tested on a scale from 1-5; Thomas' are at a 1 on the scale, but it's one more group of muscles his therapists can begin working on! 

A special thank you to all of you who have joined us in our novena to St. Francis for the recovery of Thomas' fingers (which is still on-going).  This week he has seen some return!  He now has slight independent movement of his left thumb, pointer finger, ring finger, and pinky!  Again, he is a 1 on the scale of strength, but this is incredibly exciting to see!  Today his therapists started stimming his left hand to encourage these new muscles!

Thomas and Natalie continue to have days of training together, focusing on different types of transfers, bed mobility, bathing, and weight lifting.  They have also been busy making preparations for Thomas' discharge home.  There are numerous details to sort out between his therapists and the insurance company to make sure their new apartment is prepared to meet the needs of his care. 

Join us in prayer!

Surgery NOW + A Miraculous Story

Thomas went in for surgery this morning at 7:30 am. Please pray that the surgery may be successful, and his recovery continue! Please keep in your prayers the doctors -- that they be alert and have dexterity -- and for lack of complications during the surgery.

As Thomas is in surgery, we wanted to share this incredible story with you, to show how efficacious your prayers have already been! This story comes straight from Natalie:

The night Thomas arrived in Trauma, Dr. A was the one who spoke to me about his condition, and tried to prepare me for possible outcomes and scenarios that could arise over the course of the night.  He was kind, focused on Thomas, and spoke directly - three things I was deeply grateful for that night when everything was happening so quickly, as we spoke surrounded by the chaos of the Trauma unit.   

Over the last two weeks, I've seen Dr. A nearly everyday along with the larger team of doctors tracking Thomas progress - he is always kind and concerned about Thomas, us, and our families. 

On Sunday evening, Dr. A stopped by Thomas' room; it was his last day in rotation at University Maryland Hospital and he's heading back to his own hospital.  He had a gift and a card for Thomas and he wanted to say goodbye. Thomas was asleep, and rather than waking him, Dr. A stayed and talked with me. He said he wanted to personally encourage Thomas of how truly remarkable his recovery up to this point has been, he said, in fact, it's miraculous.   

Dr. A told me more about the terrible state Thomas was in when he first arrived in Trauma - details I had never heard. Although he didn't say this at the time, he said when treating Thomas that night he thought it very likely Thomas' outcome would be ventilator-dependent, vegetative state. He said through the night they worked to do everything possible. In the early morning he stopped by to see Thomas and when the nurse said "he's awake, you can go right in" he asked her if he was in the right place! He said he could not believe it - Thomas was conscious and so soon?!  HOW? 

He said seeing Thomas every day, Thomas and I together, and our moms, was a powerful reminded of why he does this every day. He believes Thomas has a special path ahead and will have a powerful story to tell - we just don't know what it is yet. He believes Thomas will be an inspiration and already has been. He said he's a Christian and was touched by the faith and prayerfulness of our family and knows full well he may be the doctor but it's really up to the Lord. And the night Thomas came in, the Lord definitely had a plan all His own. He wished us all the best and asked me to encourage Thomas to not become discouraged on the long, challenging road ahead of us, but instead, to be assured that he has already made incredible and miraculous progress. I promised him we would stay in touch and that I would tell him Thomas' story. 

Please continue to pray for Thomas, Natalie, his doctors and his treatment! We'll update as soon as we can post-surgery.

Join us in prayer!