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

See what others are saying about #IStandWithThomasPeters Day.

Update on #IStandWithThomasPeters Day!

Dear Friends,

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Last week's #IStandWithThomasPeters day was a huge success! We raised $48,491 in individual contributions. Paired with the $12,000 Catholic Vote raised through it's email campaign our current total is:

$60,491

We had hoped to raise much more than our posted goal of $25,000 for Thomas' continued recovery, but your support blew us away. We are grateful and feel so blessed to have witnessed such great love and support during our #IStandwithThomasPeters campaign. 

Here's a quick recap of the highlights of the day:

TWITTER

Over 1500 individual tweets, an estimated reach of 113,000, with countless RTs! Around lunchtime, #IStandWithThomasPeters was trending in DC — briefly even in 1st place!

Tweets were posted by prominent political figures and members of the media — including: Gov. Mike Huckabee, Michelle Malkin, Josh Duggar, Rick Santorum, Tony Perkins, Gretchen Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Katie Pavlich, and Jim Hoft. 

Members of the conservative movement and Catholic new-media tweeted throughout the day, including: Tim Carney, Ryan Anderson, Lila Rose, Tim Stanley, Kate Bryan, William Newton, and Kathryn Lopez.

But most touching of all were the hundreds of people who sent personal messages of support and prayer. Thomas and Natalie were overwhelmed with the prayers and love!

BLOGS

We have full coverage over on our PRESS page, but we wanted especially to share the beautiful piece by Kathryn Lopez: 

"I don’t pretend to know every step along the way, but I knew, unexpectedly standing behind Thomas the other day that I was in the presence of the scene of a miracle — he embodies the power of prayer, the reality of the supernatural; he and his wife are a testament to faith. Good doctors, of course, play no small role in his being alive and improving, but the hope and gratitude he and Natalie demonstrate is rooted in something eternal."

Many people throughout the Catholic blog-sphere spread the word, encouraging support and most of all prayers — special thanks go to Lisa Hendley, Deacon Greg, Catholic World Report, Pat Gohn. (If you posted about #IStandWithThomasPeters, please include the link in the comments or on the Press page, and we'll be happy to add you!)

Many people who supported #IStandwithThomasPeters on Twitter, were hit by the "twitter trolls" (people who attacked you or attacked the campaign). We're sorry you had to go through that, and we thank you for ignoring these messages and bearing them with charity. William Newton has a quick message about all that: 

"The message I hope that you take away from #IStandWithThomasPeters Day is an overwhelmingly positive one, one which you will share with others. It is a story about hope and love triumphing over suffering and sorrow, first of all, but it is also one about the powerful good that media can work in the lives of those in need. ... For everyone involved, it turned out that the fruits of this effort will not just benefit Thomas himself, but all who have witnessed what can result when people of good will are able to reach out and connect with one another."

FACEBOOK

Facebook doesn't have easy tracking but our feeds were certainly FULL with #IStandWithThomasPeters coverage, #IStandwithThomasPeters images, personal stories, and messages of support from all over the world. 

We particularly loved the photos from some of Thomas and Natalie's friends in Michigan in famous Ann Arbor settings — sending a little bit of love from their home state!

Look forward to an update from Thomas and Natalie soon. Thomas started out-patient therapy this week, and is already working hard on his own two month challenge. Meanwhile, we ask you to continue your prayers for Thomas and Natalie, and we assure you of our own prayers, and theirs, of thanksgiving! 

With Love + Thanks,

The #IStandwithThomasPeters Pit Crew

#IStandWithThomasPeters - The Two Month Challenge

Pass it on!

Did you know that the recovery window for SCI patients is relatively small?

According to Thomas' doctors, the majority of mobility/independence the patient regains will happen within the first 6 months following the injury. Well, folks... we've got two months!

Help Thomas on his road to recovery, during these crucial two months: the best way for any patient with this injury to achieve the best recovery, is to have as much therapy as possible -- and can be afforded. Following that, the next 6 months (leading up to the year anniversary), is when the recovered mobility is fine-tuned with the help of more therapy.

Will you help Thomas achieve the best recovery he can?

Thomas has 2 months left for his first 6 month window and he is striving to work as hard as he can. He has come leaps and bounds since the injury, and is more determined than ever to recover as much as possible.

With your help, Thomas could go to more therapy sessions, and more therapy means a better chance at a fuller recovery. Please considering donating now!

We are grateful for those who have already donated money, time, and talents! But, here's the beauty of social media-- you give $10 and send to your friend who gives $10, who then sends to their friends who give $10. Every dollar counts and will help Thomas in his recovery.

Even if you can't give, please pray for Thomas and Natalie, for those who suffer similar injuries, and in thanksgiving for those who have already given their support.

#IStandwithThomasPeters, do you?

PRAY + SUPPORT + SHARE

See what others are saying about #IStandWithThomasPeters Day.

Showing Support

When Thomas was first in the hospital, and visitors were checked into the Shock Trauma Center, they were given bright pink visitor bracelets. The visitors continued to wear these bracelets as a sign of support and physical reminder to pray for Thomas, Natalie, his care team and others in similar situations.

Friends of the couple commissioned the design and production of silicone bracelets for those who were not able to come to the Hospital!

The design of the bracelets include the following elements:
THOM & NAT PETERS - SHOCK TRAUMA PRAYER TROOPS
+ IHSV {IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - In this sign you will conquer}
AMERICAN PAPIST - FIAT MIHI {Let it be done unto me}

We are going to begin a mailing of these bracelets to past donors who have given $100 or more.  Going forward, any donation of $100 or more will receive one as well. 

We are grateful for all of the love and support that Thomas and Natalie have received and these are meant to be both a thank you and physical reminder to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

"Rejoice always.

Pray without ceasing.

In all circumstances give thanks, 

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Join us in prayer!

Weekend Recap

It’s been quite a full week for both Thomas and Natalie since we last wrote! 

Thursday brought two welcomed events and kicked off a really great weekend!

First, Thomas’ trach was taken out - completely!  Yes, he is completely breathing and talking on his own!  Over the next few days, speaking was a little more challenging, as air escaped out of his trach site, but he was still able to speak and the site is nearly closed!  Another victory -- and something that, early on, was thought to be unlikely! 

Second, the last of the Zmuda/Peters family were able to visit him in DC!  Natalie’s older sister and husband, along with one of their two children, were in town from Thursday evening until Monday evening.  They enjoyed a wonderful reunion and spent as much of the weekend outside as possible, exploring the beautiful outdoor garden at the rehab facility.

{With special thanks:  This trip would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of a caring donor who used miles to purchase the tickets!  We are so very grateful for this!}

TUESDAY
Thomas has 18 of the 20 staples removed from his posterior incision (the one at the back of his neck) and his doctor said everything is healing very well!

PT introduced stomach work on the mat, which included planking and push-ups!  Thom did well and continues working hard!

With the nifty assistance of his “helping cuff,” for the first time Thom completed his entire teeth brushing routine by himself from start to finish.  It’s incredibly exciting to see the small steps of each day’s therapy build up to the successful completion of a task!  He also fed himself lunch for the first time!

Thomas met a couple other C-6 SCI patients and really enjoyed the chance to hear the stories of other men with the same injury.  Both of these men have been in rehab longer than Thom and were incredibly encouraging about the process and are making great progress!   


Join us in prayer!

Thank You UMMC + Off to Rehab

Thomas was released to rehab yesterday afternoon. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank the medical staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center, especially in the Shock Trauma Unit.

We'll be quiet on the blog for a few days as Thomas settles into rehab. In the meantime, please join us in prayers of thanksgiving for all those who took care of Thomas these last 42 days.

Donate Online!

It is finally live! You can now donate online via PayPal!  Again, all funds go directly to Thomas and Natalie for them to use for meals, travels, lodging, medical expenses and bills.

We truly appreciate your willingness to help them in this time of trial.

“Everything fades away, but not our gratitude. We shall always pray that God will abundantly bless those who have been so good to us."
- St. John Bosco