10-31-26 Isobel's Baseline & Small Improvements

Over the last few weeks, there has been some small improvements, so I want to be sure to share them now:

Isobel has gotten a little less rigid than she has been because the neurologist placed her on another muscle relaxer and that has been beneficial to her flexibility in her hands and feet, in particular.

She has also been following us around the room better with her eyes, at least partially throughout the day. She has looked more intently at pictures and us as we speak with her and stretch her hands and arms.

She has also started being more vocal lately over the past few weeks as well. She's not speaking, but she has been making more noises with her mouth lately too, which we take as a another positive sign.

Although her being more alert and vocal is certainly positive, she also is more aware of her current condition, which has made her cry in pain and in sadness more often these last few weeks too.

She cannot express much emotion on her face other than pain or sadness and she cannot cry tears at time. She cannot smile reveal much in terms of her facial expressions, but pain and sadness is evident to us, though not clearly to others yet.

Her hands and forearms, in their relaxed state are still at a more acute angle than 90 degrees, but we can stretch them to maybe 125-135 degrees now. Actually, the right arm stretches to that length, but her left arm probably stretches to 150-160 degrees.

Her ankles are not locked, but they don't flex back toward her much, so her feet and toes are mostly pointed forward all the time. Her right

Her knees have been locked and don't bend much at all. Her right bends maybe 5-7 degrees while her left maybe bends 2-3 degrees.

She cannot move any part of her body consistently on command yet, but we've felt that she has been able to move very slightly in her toes, feet, and arms a few handful of times over the past 6 months.

She also has been able to nod for yes and no a few dozen times over the past few months as well, but it's been rare, maybe one a week or so, on average.

So this is her baseline. We have seen very some very small improvements in recent weeks, but as a dear friend of mine told me a few days ago, she said HOLD ONTO ALL OF THE SMALL IMPROVEMENTS that you see. We are doing our best. Thank you Ruth, LOVE YOU!

This morning I told Isobel, "YOU WILL SPEAK AGAIN AND YOU WILL WALK AGAIN" and then I reiterated what I told her when she was unconscious before her first surgery: "Isobel..., you fight this thing! Stay strong..., and focus on Jesus. We love you more than you can possibly imagine. We love you so much"

God bless,

Steven