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By Grant Falk

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

My Dad is home from Alaska!

My dad got home on Friday night. He came through the locks about 9pm. He was suprised to see my standing at the dock, waiting for him. I was barley walking with that walker when he left. I don't even use the walker now. I barely am using the wheelchair they gave me. I'm still having a hard time getting up stairs, but everyday its getting easier.
I'm hoping to go to the Fred Hutch School when it starts. I hope I don't have to have a tutor all alone and can go to their classes instead. I'm tired of being stuck inside all the time. I really want to get outside & run around. Soon, I hope.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

2 Weeks Home - Feeling Good

I have lots of appointments downtown at SCCA that take a long time and are boring. They are doing all the same tests they did at day 80 because of the blood clots. I think everything is going ok so far, and they will release me back to Childrens' Hospital soon. I am going to rehab at Experience Momentum in Lynnwood. I have a therapist name Shannon. Hes' very nice so far. We played a Wii game and I beat the record. I like working on the machines, and I ride a stationary bike at home too.
I wish I could see more of my friends. I seem to have lost touch with a lot of them since I've been so sick. I wont' be able to go back to school at my regular school for a while yet. I wish I could. I have been going to the mall and the movies. Anything is better than the hospital.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Home is much better than the hospital!

That's the understatement of the year!! We've had a good weekend. Gone to the movies, Games Workshop (at the mall to paint little Lord of the Ring guys), out to dinner at Red Robin, and sleeping in. We did have appt's today, downtown at SCCA. Blood checked....blah, blah, blah! Grant does have a few symptoms of Graft vs Host Disease (gvhd). He's been throwing up. So, he has to get an endoscopy soon. That should be no big deal, he's had 2 already. They put him to sleep and it's done in the clinic at Children's. We're used to getting one more thing! Hopefully, this'll be it. I'm not sure I can take "one" more thing.
I don't think I mentioned before that the ultrasound of his legs a week or so ago, showed some signs of blood flow in the main arteries. The clots are still there, but are diminishing. Do you think they can get absorbed by his body at this late date??? Of course, that would be ideal, and probably not realistic, but.........what do the dr's know anyway? They haven't been right so far, so....I remain hopeful. Grant marches to his own drum, so his body will decide.
So far Grant improves daily. He gets around the house without help. Going up the stairs at bedtime are still difficult, but he hasn't been taking any naps lately, so he gets pretty tired at night. We're still doing the magnesium infusions nightly, but we are hoping to get him to pills soon, so he can get that central line taken out. While that's there we always have to worry about infection.
School is approaching. Yikes! I think I will be contacting the Fred Hutch School again for Grant. He can't go back to public school again until after 300 days, which is in December. He really wants to go to school, and is looking forward to high school. He practically missed all of middle school, so it'll be tough for him.
I'm procrastinating, so I better get back to work. Enjoy.

Friday, August 8, 2008

GRANT IS HOME!

Yep, it's true. Grant is out of the hospital and home at last! He cruised through re-hab in four days. He could have stayed longer, but we all thought the best therapy would be going home! He will still have P/T as an outpatient, but he's having lots of O/T at home. He had to be able to go upstairs before he could come home, but he was determined, and did everything so quickly. We had appt's today downtown at SCCA, and now we have the whole weekend to enjoy ourselves.
We got out last night & Nick F. came over and watched a movie. Had fun with the dog and even his brother Coleman. We are all so thankful we get more time with Grant. We are truly blessed with a miracle. He continues to get stronger every day. Hopefully I can get him to take over this blog again soon.
Of course we have a long road ahead, but this is a big step forward. Take care & thank you everyone.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Grant is Truly a Miracle! He's recovering nicely!



Sorry for not posting lately. I've been meaning to daily, but life is so busy lately! Grant is a miracle! Every day has shown progress. Today, he's finally been cleared by the insurance to go back to the Rehab Unit here at Children's. Now we have to wait for a bed.....no idea how long that will take.


We've been getting out of the hospital on 4 hour passes every day for the past week or so. First day we went to see Indiana Jones. The next day we also went out for dinner by Greenlake at Zeeks' Pizza after we went and bought new shoes. We had a little going away party for Matt. He went back fishing last Sat. There are only about 3 trips left, so now that Grant is doing so well, he might as well go make some money while he still can.


The past several days he's been just coming home. We brought his computer downstairs yesterday, so he's back to playing online.


He has PT, OT & Speech therapies most days, and he's workin' it! He's walking with the help of a walker. He's really working hard to get his life back. I can see the old Grant coming back everyday. It's truly been a miracle......and boy, are we thankful!