It's been twelve days since he fell and the bruises on his face are healing nicely. He's starting to look like himself again.
The bruises inside must be healing as well: he's regaining strength and range of motion in his limbs. What has been really hard is that he hasn't been able to move his hands. This is a guy who can type faster than he can talk and at the moment can't move his fingers. We've kept up the massages, straightening his fingers out so they don't atrophy into claws while his spine heals. Last week, the therapist suggested we hold his hand up so he can see it and have him concentrate on moving his thumb. The hand/eye connection will actually help the brain/nerve connections rejoin, like a Jedi mind trick. Dad actually chants "thumb; move" as he stares at his hand.
Today it worked.
IT WORKED!
I was with him in his room. His voice has been soft for a few years and it's softer than ever since the surgery, in which his vocal chords were wrenched around, so I was standing pretty close to his chair while we talked. I was watching his hands when I thought I saw his right thumb twitch. I picked up his hand and said "Dad, move your thumb."
And he move it. HE MOVED IT!
During the next half hour, he practiced raising his thumb every few minutes and each time, he was able to move it further.
Connections are being re-established!
Before dinner time, he was able to gently squeeze Mom's hand with his left hand.
It was a good day.