As we progress through March, Marcus continues his therapy sessions, striving to reach specific milestones. His doctor has indicated that if he achieves particular goals, Marcus will be referred back to Shirley Ryan as an inpatient. This will allow the therapists to progress to a more advanced level of therapy.

Over the past ten days, Marcus has experienced some discomfort. We initially thought it was stomach issues related to a new medication, but it turns out it may actually be extremely painful kidney stones. Therefore, we have ordered tests to determine the underlying cause.

Marcus appears to be making greater strides in communicating with us. As we were cleaning his mouth during a teeth-brushing session, after wiping his face with a cold towel, it sounded as though he exclaimed, “That’s cold!” Despite our efforts to encourage him to repeat this response, he did not. This observation is significant, as it suggests that he may be experiencing positive sensations although he is not yet replicating them consistently. He also communicates through moans and groans. For example, while he was showering, the water was turned off, and he groaned loudly, indicating he wanted more time. We turned the water back on to give him more time. Similarly, when he was taken outside on the rooftop, he indicated that he wanted to stay longer than the hour he had initially been outside. We gave him additional time, and he did not resist when we tried taking him back inside. While we may not observe the same positive responses consistently, they are still encouraging. His doctor is eager to hear Marcus speak.

Depending on our conversations, he smiles and smirks, and that’s a great thing to witness.

Team Marcus