Happy Halloween and Update on Mark!

Happy Halloween and Update on Mark! It's been another week of progress for Mark. He enjoyed his kids and Zoey coming to visit in their costumes. Mark is getting more movement in the trunk of his body, starting to be able to sit up on his own, able to get in a wheelchair 3 Xs a day, & watching more movies. He is ope...n to having visitors! Can't wait to have him come home but have no idea when that will be!

-Martha Spencer
(Mark's Mother)

Update on Mark!

Update on Mark! The Pioneer Valley Hospital is great! Service is excellent, he needs anything & a nurse & CNA are right there! His kids are welcome anytime along with friends & family. His room is spacious! He sat up by himself for just a few minutes yesterday! He's dressed all the time now! He is working on being ...able to feed himself & move his arms more. We appreciate so much your interest & prayers!

- Martha Spencer
(Mark's Mother)

Mark all dressed up!

Mark is surprised!

Mark is surprised! Physical Therapist wheels him down to the gym where his family and friends are waiting for him along with players. Sister Wakefield brought a boom box & we all sang the Cougar Fight Song and he was given shirt & poster. He had a great send off this morning by Bro. & Sis. Wakefield, Parker Mangum, Russell Tealavia & Fono Vakalahi came to visit! They brought a poster & a shirt and invited Mark to a Thursday Hero Day where he will be honored, see a practice and meet with all the players & coaches of the BYU Football Team! As soon as he is in a wheelchair & can make the trip! Great motivation!

-Martha Spencer
(Mark's Mother)

New rule at the hospital

With the new rule at the hospital that 14 years old and under can not come in and visit, we have had a very sad house. But this last Thursday we made plans to have them bring Mark outside so we could visit. It was kind of cold so they let us come in to a side room. It was great to have the whole family together for a little while. This is our families first picture together. We didn't have one taken before Mark got sick. (Gabe was only one week old.)

- Joann Spencer
(Mark's Wife)

Today was an awesome day!

Today was an awesome day! I came in late because I was looking at rehab centers to send Mark to next week. But when I got there Mark said "Look what I did last night." So he slowly moved his arm up his body and touched his head. It was so amazing to see!!! He said that his nose was itching and there was no one to itch it for him. So he thought I'll just try. He said that he didn't even know if he scratched his nose he was just so pumped that he was able to move his arm so much! I know I say every little bit counts but today this was a pretty BIG one! Way to go Mark!!!!

- Joann Spencer
(Mark's Wife)

Good News!

Good News! Mark was moved into Med Surgery @ UVSH today. Making amazing progress! Can now eat potatoes, gravy & Jamba Juice. Hopefully feeding tube will come out soon! Will leave that hospital first part of next week! Going to another rehab ctr! Has good movement in top half, weaning off meds, waiting for movement from knees down! Good recovery so far for G.B. patient. Staff credits his support group!

-Martha Spencer
(Mark's Mother)

It's been a busy week!

It's been a busy week! Update on Mark! He is having an amazing recovery! Still flat on his back but more movement every day! Wed. had his trach removed and can breathe on his own! He can eat pureed food, such things as sandwiches, meat, vegtables & fruits! Sooner he does that feed tube will be gone! Outgrown his acute rehab ctr, looking for new place! Thanks for your prayers!

- Martha Spencer
(Mark's Mother)

Today was a good day!

Today was a good day! Mark said that his meds were working better. Mark was able to twist his wrist back and forth yesterday. Go Mark! The Dr. came in right before I left and said that Mark was doing so well with his breathing that they were going to take the trach out tonight. Which is a big thing! Because they pulled... me aside and said earlier that Mark just needed to get off the trach and be able to handle 3 hrs. of therapy a day and then he will need to be moved to a different rehab center. So they gave me names of places to check out. So now that he is off the trach, he’ll just need to work up to the 3 hrs. Which I would say he is about 2 hrs and 15 mins right now. Things are moving along. Thank you for all of your support. We really couldn’t do this without you. You guys are amazing!

- Joann Spencer
(Mark's Wife)

I'm not saying that you shouldn't get the swine flu vaccine. But Guillain Barre is a side effect. If you do get the vaccine please keep in mind what to look for. The sooner you get to the hospital the better.http://healthtools.aarp.org/adamcontent/guillain-barre-syndrome?CMP=KNC-360i-GOOGLE-HEA&HBX_OU=50&HBX_PK=guillain_barre_syndrome http://healthtools.aarp.org/adamcontent/guillain-barre-syndrome?CMP=KNC-360i-GOOGLE-HEA&HBX_OU=50&HBX_PK=guillain_barre_syndromeRead More


AARP - Guillain-Barre syndrome
Source: healthtools.aarp.org
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a serious disorder that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system. This leads to nerve inflammation that causes muscle weakness, which continues to get worse.

Mark had another bad day yesterday.

Mark had another bad day yesterday. It was because they changed his meds. So hopefully they have fixed it all and today will be a better day. Yesterday they talked about getting Mark into the shower this morning. I hope all works out and that he can feel refreshed and new after a shower. One month without a real shower would be hard. Thank you guys for your thoughts I have been reading them to Mark and it really does help.

- Joann Spencer
(Mark's Wife)