Finally I am getting a chance to sit down and write a little. Things have been moving along in Kissler land. Dad had a great time Seafair Sunday at the Firnstahls house. It sounds like they were even able to lower him into the water a bit off a lift attached to their dock. Josh and I went down on Thursday and had a nice dinner with him and watched some of the Olympics. He was pretty out of it. He just didn't really try to talk and his response time is very delayed. He was also very focused on the TV, but it was still a nice visit. Most of my visits have been pretty brief lately as I've had a lot going on this summer so I haven't noticed too many new things. I did notice however that he was again having a really hard time swallowing. He keeps food in his mouth for a really like time and just can't seem to get it small enough to actually swallow it :/
He had a doctors appointment last week that I believe went fine. They suggested he starts PT twice a week... which he was in at first but wasnt making his appointments so the the trainer got frustrated and asked him to take some time off. Today he was scheduled to have a consultation about doing surgery to just one side of his brain. I received the following text this morning from my mom asking me to update everyone:

"I just had to cancel today's consult appt for Mike. He refuses to go. He feels to lowsy he says. He is lowsy. Poor man, pooooor pooor man!  Absolutely everything in his life is horrible. We were all set for a brain consult RE: Brain surgery to stop the tremors in one arm. He doesn't have the energy today. Breaks my heart. Johnathan came over and watched Olympic closing ceremonies with us last night. I think it was really hard for Johnny to see/watch/hear his dad cry throughout the whole show. Hard to tell how much is part of the disease where the patient simply starts crying because emotions are so raw and how much is Michael responding to wonderful memories and history of his life experiences and the people in them. He was very emotional throughout all of the ceremonies but especially saddened with their depiction of the war years, military uniforms on stage always move him immensely as he thinks of his wonderful father in his World War II uniform, both formal and aviation."

As we've all said, MSA sucks, but I did respond to mom and tell her that he is lucky he has such fond memories and has been able to watch his family grow up and although things are rough now he has had a pretty full life.  We don't have a clue what else this disease will do or take from him but one thing we are trying to show him now is how many people care and have been such solid support systems over the years. He is a lucky man in that regard.