Update on Ashley Crider Day 84

Good Afternoon! I’m not quite sure where to start. First, Ashley is doing remarkably well and I may be biased but I’m pretty sure she is the cutest and most popular patient at Carle Hospital. There hasn’t been an official vote yet but… 😉

Ashley’s physical progress is going great, keeping all the therapists and staff on their toes. Most days she continues to walk during her therapy and does better and better each day. She went from the podium walker to a basic standard rolling walker to NO WALKER!! Yesterday and today she walked with two person assist and she held her balance very well. She started with 500 feet and today she more than doubled that with 1200 feet!! She also did stairs for the first time today. She stepped up and down a 3 stair platform 4 times. So… physical progress is going amazing.

As I write this, Ashley, for the first time, is putting on makeup. 🙂 

Her mental state (short term memory, reasoning, multi step tasks, etc…) continues to progress but not nearly as fast. Her body is recovering from being laid up in the hospital but her brain is healing and rebuilding from a major trauma and surgery. It may take more time for the mental portion of her healing to show. 

HOWEVER…

This circumstance does not negate the Word of God…. The Word of God and the fact that Jesus paid the price for our physical and mental well-being negates our circumstances. No matter what it looks like in the natural, we know that Ashley’s healing is complete in Christ!

We still have a tentative discharge date of August 27th (if not sooner).

A lot of people have been asking about the kids and they are doing well. We all have our down moments and they’re no exception. Despite that, they are doing well and having a good summer. We bring them up to see Ashley at least 3 to 4 times a week.

Prayer Needs:

• Good sleep each night (Psalm 4:8)
• Increase in memory and focussing on tasks (John 6:63, Mark 11:23)
• (for Matt) Time and opportunity to complete work projects from the hospital. (Colossians 3:17,23)

Thank you for standing with us in faith for our return home! We love you and appreciate you all so much.