The transition to Almost Home Kids (AHK) has been fairly smooth and successful. Training for Marcus’ care is progressing well. Team Marcus is learning to administer his medications and day-to-day care, in addition to CPR training, infection control, and skin management.  

Marcus’ first week of outpatient therapy began at Shirley Ryan.  He now works for three straight hours from 9-12 Alaska time.  Each day he has speech, occupational, and physical therapy. This week was full of evaluations since he has new therapists at the outpatient facility, and they are now familiarizing themselves with his tendencies and how to communicate with him. They worked on offering him choices, and he used his chin to decide which of the choices he wanted by clicking a button. The choices varied from liquid drinks to food items, music, or whether he wanted to take a break.  

Marcus did well, and although a week had passed since his last inpatient therapy, he got back into the swing of things quickly.   However, the back-to-back therapies tired him out, and he napped every day after returning to AHK.  

Since we have to transport Marcus to therapy, he gets fresh air daily, and it’s been pretty cold and windy in Chicago, but he has handled it well. It’s getting colder though, and minus temperatures are anticipated this week. 

Thank you for the letters Marcus has received from a number of you.

P.S. If you haven’t gotten a chance, please take a look at the recent blog post titled “8teen Approaching” if you want to help us celebrate Marcus’ birthday.