Update 07/05/08
(I intended to update this more regularly and I will try to be better at doing that. You can subscribe to this feed so that you get a notification when the page is updated by clicking on the little link at the top that says “RSS Feed”. If you need any help with that, ask me and I will be happy to help.)
John is using a wheelchair more frequently now. He should have his custom made one within the month. Right now he is using a motorized one that they received on loan from the ALS association. It really can cruise and supposedly the custom one will be even better. Things are happening around the Vleck house to prepare for John’s growing needs. A sidewalk is being made from the driveway around the side of the house to the walk out family room/den on the lower level. The lower level will be remodeled to accommodate John’s wheelchair needs. Steph and John’s new bedroom will be on this level. A room has already been converted into a closet/dressing room. I will try to get some pictures of this from Steph and John to post on the Photos pages. It is a really awesome closet/dressing room. They will be converting the bathroom downstairs to make it accessible to John in his wheelchair, including a “roll in” shower. Things are happening rather quickly with regards to the remodel.
John had his most recent appointment at the ALS clinic on June 26th. His appointments, at this time, are every three months. At his appointment, they said his breathing capacity is at 77%. When it is at 50%, they will have Bipap, a breathing apparatus that helps people get more air into their lungs. John is still doing well with swallowing and maintaining weight, but they would like to put in a feeding tube (g-tube) by the end of the summer because they want to do it before he needs breathing help. At this time, physically, his greatest challenge and deterioration is with his hands. He has increasing difficulty in using them.
He is still working at Medtronic full time. The plan seems to be that he will possibly cut down to 32 hours a week with complete retirement coming sometime in October or November.
I added some photos to the photo pages of some of the things that they have done so far this summer. Mainly they are of a weekend trip they took to Grand Rios in Brooklyn Park in mid-May and the weekend of Memorial Day when they went camping. They were fun family times with Steph’s extended family. I encourage anyone who has other photos of John with friends and family to please email me with them. My email link is in the sidebar.
Some of the things coming up:
- John’s 41st birthday, August 3rd
- August 8th, 9th and 10th, John and Steph will be going on their yearly camping trip with friends and family at the Apple River where there is always good times and tubing. This year Kip and Shannon will be joining the group for the weekend.
- August 18th, Stephanie and John will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary.
- August 29-September 1st John and Steph will be going to Nancy and Terry Nielsen’s cabin with family and friends for the Labor Day weekend.
Through all the challenges John faces, he manages to keep his sense of humor. If you were to ask anyone who spends anytime with him on a regular basis, what is the most amazing thing about John’s way of dealing with ALS, they would say his sense of humor. Just about everything is funny to John. John is hilarious. It is an inspiration to be around him and Steph.
July 05 2008 | John | Comments Off
