The Lizzy Report by Lizzy (with commentary by her mom)

1. Lizzy likes to sing, "Will you, oh will you be my munchkin, munchkin . . . " I don't really know the tune, I think she made the tune and the words up the day before the stroke. She sang it all day the day before the stoke and she started singing it again only a day or two after. She sings it often when she is silly - which is a lot!

2. Lizzy can now walk on her own! She still needs her cane, but only needs to have some one near her for safety, but her safety person does not have to support her at all.

3. She still has to sleep in a dumb bed that has bars on the side and makes her think of a crib. She talked the nurse in letting her sleep with her bed elevated though, only because she promised to keep the bars up, so I guess there is something good about the bars.

4. She can move her arm much more. It is getting stronger daily. If her arm falls to her side she can lift it into her lap and she can, with effort move her arm up while bending at the elbow.

5. She can move her wrist slightly and has feeling in all her fingers and starting today, her thumb (nothing really moving yet)

6. She is talking much, MUCH, more - sometimes too much? Haha

Lizzy is doing well. She has set a goal this week to walk without anyone near her at all and to be able to hold a pencil for at least 10 seconds in her right hand. She held one today for one second - but we didn't even think she could do that, so we were very excited.

We have an estimated go home date of Friday, April 22nd. Hooray - home for Easter! Starting the Monday after that she will be in a rehab facility here in KC during the week, but will get to go home on weekends. We don't know how long she will be there, but it will be a number of weeks. Still, it will be wonderful to be out of the hospital, and great to be home even for a little bit.

Once again, we appreciate all of your prayers, love, and support! What a wonderful community we live in. We have fantastic friends, family, church family, co-workers and neighbors and we are grateful to you all. I have learned that there are many people out there following Lizzy's story that we don't even know. Please feel free to forward the blog address or this email (or any of the others) on to anyone you know who is interested in how she is doing.

We are excited and grateful for the auction on May 6th. Much thanks for all the items and services that have been donated. It sounds like it will be quite a night! Thank you all - have a great week. Julie, Tom, and Lizzy Smith