Ilan is making strides

Since the last posting Ilan has made many strides forward in his desire to improve.  He is moving his left leg and hand on request; with his left hand he shakes hands, he grips a ball and places the ball from one spot to another,  he stacks cups (in color order repeatedly), he reaches and points to his shirt selection for the day.  On request by his brother he now lifts his head high off the pillow.  His right hand and leg are making slight improvement so far.  Also, Michal taught him to shake and nod his head for no and yes and he will very often give us 'no' in answer to everything and then laugh. 

This has led Ilan to a lot of mischief.  He throws the covers off him in the middle of the night even though it is cold and then loudly calls out "Ma" for Estelle to replace it;  while he is in the van he lifts off the safety hat restraint  from his head even though he is requested not to do so; he refused to swallow during a recent crucial swallow test and laughed when the doctor gave up and said to reschedule; and last weekend he pulled out his feeding tube in the middle of the night which later caused him a lot of pain and discomfort when the doctors took a while replacing same the next day.  This led us to make Ilan start to eat "foods" and have started him on a daily routine of a small amount of pureed fruits - he puts up a fuss but gives in and eats his alotted share!

Last week, Ms. Greene and Mr. Pennay from Sinai Akiba visited with Ilan one evening after school.  They are Ilan's favorite teachers.  Even though Ilan later said that he enjoyed their visit, apparently he was very quiet during their visit not making much eye contact.     

Just a few days ago Ilan went to see his  neurologist who he had not seen in 2 months.  She was amazed and excited at the improvement in all arenas that Ilan showed her.  Ilan confidently shook her hand and nodded to many of the questions she asked him.  She was very glad to learn that Ilan will be going next week for a rehab evaluation and, like all of us in the family, she is anxious to learn the results which could put Ilan on a faster track to better recovery.  She also suggested that, due to his recent progress, she would check into a new program for Ilan of magnetic brain stimulation at USC Medical Center.

Please do us a favor and inform us if you know of, or can suggest, any new exercises or routines that will help Ilan in his recovery. 

Sinai Friends Come for a Visit

When we told Ilan that some more of his friends were coming to visit last weekend he became very excited.  He helped select the chips and sodas that he wanted served to his friends and had a smile on his face all afternoon before they arrived.  He was a little shy when they did come but he managed a few smiles and furtive glances at them.  The girls that visited were all classmates from Sinai Akiba and also from Milken.  He really enjoyed their company, their smiling faces and discussions with him.  He actually played a joke on them because when they asked him if he remembered them he responded with a "no" using his eyes.  Yet after that when we gave him the wrong names for each of the girls and asked him if that was their name, he shrugged his shoulders and laughed!  When they left Ilan grew quite sad - we asked him why he was sad and we were able to find out later it was because he was not able to speak with them! 

Ilan is looking his best in a long time and has an interested look on his face at all times - he is also becoming very keen on improving his ability to move and communicate.  Just this weekend he learned how to shake his head to respond "no" and nod his head for "yes".   He hasn't lost his humor - he has played a few pranks on us by giving the wrong answers on purpose and chuckling loudly when we look at him with a perplexed look.   Also, now that he has better control of his left arm he is able to shake hands well and give and receive a ball; these are huge steps for Ilan!! 

Ilan goes for an evaluation in February to determine if he is able to proceed to the next stage of his rehab - we believe that he is now ready and hope that the doctors feel the same way.  

Dad-Brian

Hannukah Party

Last Saturday, a bunch of Ilan's friends came over to spend time with him. The highlight of the day was a video they put together just for Ilan, which had friends and teachers from Milken wishing him a happy Hannukah. Ilan really enjoyed watching the video, but I think his favorite part was seeing familiar faces and being a part of the excitement. I'm attaching a few pictures of the fun day.


I figured now might be a good time to update on Ilan's progress, as it has been pretty amazing. Ilan's control of the left side of his body is getting better every day. He can move his arm pretty much on his own (into shirt holes and to arm wrestle with one of us), and he can bend and move his leg with ease. As some of you may remember, we used to communicate with him with blinks. Now, he has incredible control of his head in moving it from side to side so we try to use that instead. For example, instead of asking Ilan to blink twice if he wants to watch the Laker game, we now ask him to look at Michal. It makes it easier for us to understand what Ilan is saying, and also gives him good practice working out his neck muscles.

Ilan has some pretty amazing therapists working with him (some of whom might even be reading this). The big exercises for Ilan in physical therapy right now are sitting holding himself up on his own with his arms, and rolling his upper body over. He is also working on holding his head up on his own and doing more things with the right side of his body.

Thanks for reading and Shabbat Shalom!

- David

Trip to Milken

Sorry nothing has been posted for a while, but we'll hopefully be writing more especially over the next few days. Ilan has been pretty busy lately, hustling around for appointments around town. More importantly, he looks great. Ilan is smiling and laughing, and goofing off at every opportunity. He is moving his head on his own and loves being the center of attention.

Ilan and I have been arm wrestling on a fairly regular basis, and the strength in his left arm surprises me every time we battle. Lately he's been a little shy in doing it, but he might also be bored with beating me every time.

On New Year's Eve, the whole family went up to Milken so Ilan could hang out at his old high school. He really enjoyed being up there, especially when we stopped by a few of his hang out spots. I'm attaching some pictures, of us in the amphitheater and Ilan making note of his trip on a whiteboard. More to come in the next day or two, so keep an eye out.

- David

Ilans Bday

On October 4th (Ilans bday), some of his friends came over to celebrate with him. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing all of his friends and hearing all the stories they had to tell him. A couple of his friends brought him a huge scooby doo balloon which is still in the room.

Later, we went downstairs and my dad found some old family videos. The ones Ilan and his friends enjoyed the most were ones which Ilan and his elementary school friends were playing basketball and soccer. Then we brought out Ilan's cake and sang happy birthday. After helping Ilan blow out all of his birthday candles, Ilan's friends left. We all had a great time!

A Great Big Hug with a Fantastic Smile

My parents tell me that Ilan has been receiving additional vitamins and medication over the past 2 weeks. He is much much more alert and wanting to participate in everything with us.

2 nights ago I went to give Ilan a goodnight hug. My Dad put Ilan's hands around my back - Ilan
held on to me and began to speak by 'cooing' his appreciation. Later I went to hug him again and this time my Mum helped Ilan hug me - again he held on to me and had a big smile on his face.
This is a tremendous achievement for Ilan.

Ilans progress has been a slow but steady one. The past month or so since Ilan has been home
have been steady but worth it. He has been more aware than ever and responding everytime we ask him a question! Earlier this evening (September 16,) Mrs. Lipman and Ms. Greene from Sinai middle school, came to our house to visit Ilan. Both were so excited to see eachother. Ilan wasnt having the greatest day my mom said, but i noticed that he was more aware as his teachers came. After his teachers left our house, I asked Ilan if he wanted to watch my mom do her work on the computer. He anwsered me with sound for the first time ever!! So i put him up in the chair! After that i asked him if he wanted to try and type on the computer and he responded with uh! Uh! With his VOICE!! After that it just kept on going uphill! He kept on talking to us for about another cuple minutes or so, and after that we decided he was getting kind of bored of sitting there watching my mom type, so we took him outside to breath in the fresh air. When we brought him inside after his outside extraveganza, I showed him his old room, my room, Jarone's room and even David's room, and he had a huge smile on his face.

Labor day weekend

On labor day weekend my dad went to Santa Ana to rent a wheel chair accessible van (from a Sinai family's company) so we could take Ilan out of the house. Ilan's first trip was on Saturday with my dad, sister and Ilan went in the van to visit my Grandma, Grandpa, and cousins. For his second trip, my family thought of taking Ilan to Ocean blvd. to see and smell the beach. My sister, dad, and mom left Saturday evening with Ilan and walked down Ocean blvd. Ilan got to see the sun setting, while watching the rides at the pier light up as each person went on the ride. So Ilan could get a better look at the ocean and the sun setting we went on a part of the pier that was elevated. Ilan could not get his eyes off of the sunset and ocean. Before it got too dark we took him back into the van because it got so cold.

While deciding what we wanted for dinner, Ilan was already done with his, yet smacking his lips on a lollypop. He came with us to go and pick up dinner on 3rd street promenode, bringing back old memories from going there with his israeli exchange student. We gave him a smell of our hamburger and french fries and his mouth openend wide as he wanted us to put some right in his mouth!

On Sunday we went to Ocean Blvd. for the second time, as it was much easier on his eyes to see all that there is special. After our exciting journey Jarone came home and we let Ilan rest for a little. Then my dad decided that we should take Ilan to our old stomping grounds, the Mirabella apartment. We took him up to the apartment, but more excitingly we took him down to the pool. We walked him around the pool deck and the jacuzzi so he could look at where we used to swim as youngsters.

Monday we went to the valley for Michal to meet up with some friends before school to get some clothes and also to get a TV for Jarone. We dropped Michal off at Target while my mom, dad, Ilan and I went to get lunch before looking for a TV. At the restaurant Ilan took a little nap while the rest of us ate. Then we went looking for TVs (making sure Ilan approved my pick) and then got one. We picked up Michal and went home because Ilan was getting tired. After resting we took Ilan to see my apartment down next to USC. Although he was really tired he saw my room and stayed while my dad and I put my TV together.

Tuesday Ilan went to a doctor's appointment with my parents. Afterwards, my parents took him to Century City into Borders and the Container Store. Then while my parents sat outside and ate lunch Ilan was looking around and enjoying the time with my parents.