James’s Ataxia Blog

April Fool

April 1st, 2009

Well today is April Fool’s Day and if you think that is just an American thing – think again.  Jack – remember the picture of Jack and the other translators – is in his element.  He started early this morning and is having a great time.

Jim did real well in physical therapy today.  Jason kept high-fiving him and telling him in what little English he knows how well he was doing.  After he got back to our room, we got the Professor and his contingent of doctors.  They have Jim lay down and all gather around.    The Professor puts him through some simple exercises and then lectures to the other doctors.  The Professor told him he was making progress.  Jim asked if he was going to get the use of his right arm back.  They Professor nodded and told him he has to exercise every day and he feels sure he will get it back.  (certainly hope that is the case).  As we reported before, they say the stem cells are active and splitting and working for a year so who knows what can be accomplished with a little work.

I must tell you about the school kids here.  There must be a school down the street from here because the kids go by morning and night.  They are all in the same clothing so I assume that is a uniform.  They have dark blue pants with a stripe down the leg and white jackets with a blue stripe.  Male and female.  Some are riding bycicles, some are jogging, some just walking and a few riding on the back of a motorbike.  None of them are being driven and dropped off at the front door by mom and dad.  They go toward the school (and from the look of them, I am assuming they are junior high age) at 6:30 am and they  go back toward home at 6:00 pm.  How is that for a day at school?  I don’t think half of that day is spent in football practice either.  We saw one gentleman riding a 3-wheel bike with something that looked like a pickup bed on the back.  A youngster was sitting in the bed, back to his father, and what was he doing?  Reading a book!  They really put a great deal of emphasis on learning.    I think some people had better start looking this over and taking a lesson from it.

Oh, another thing.  Kite flying is very big over here.  How long has it been since you were out flying a kite?  I think Roy got a good picture of one when we were at the seashore.  They were flyng all over the place.  Really interesting looking kites.

Child's Kite

Entry Filed under: ataxia,Uncategorized