Saturday, June 28th
Posted: 06-28-2025It’s been another week of long days in intense therapy sessions for Dallas, and she continues to make strides toward recovery.
One of the most exciting updates is that she’s starting to find and practice with her voice, something we haven’t heard since March 29th. What began as simple noises, produced with significant physical effort and strain, has evolved into a clear “yes!” when asked if she wanted to hold her baby doll. Some of her vocalizations might be perceived as expressions of sadness or frustration, which we believe she wasn’t able to express before. That said, other expressions, like her bright smile, are becoming more intentional and defined.
We’ve seen notable improvements in her fine motor skills this week. Dallas has been able to squeeze her Minnie Mouse bubble maker, setting it off, and grip her unicorn stress ball with impressive force. She’s also taken an interest in her fidget toy and even started coloring, like it was second nature, when Heather casually handed her a crayon. Heather picked up a marker and practiced writing “letters” with Dallas, gently supporting her wrist. Once helped to get started with the “D”, Dallas was able to make the necessary and deliberate strokes of the letters needed to complete writing her name!
We look for opportunities in our daily activities to help Dallas practice her skills. When asked to push the buttons on the elevator, she takes a moment, then extends her pointer finger, ready to help get us to our next destination. She’s also been exploring more with her hands, using them to touch her face and to gently caress or rub our arms and hands, mirroring the comfort we offer her.
Physical and occupational therapy (PT/OT) has ramped up work on standing and practicing steps this week. Some exercises incorporate e-stim, which was instrumental in regaining her arm movements. After repeated practice in a walker-type apparatus, Dallas has started to initiate a few steps on her own—an incredible milestone.
Her head and neck control continues to improve, and she’s responding better to instructions. For example, she took Heather’s arm when asked and attempted to roll over. We’ll keep working on side-to-side movements, including rolling over independently. Once she can move more freely, she won’t need to be repositioned as often during the night, which will lead to better, uninterrupted sleep.
Heather and I are planning and looking forward to our July 10th discharge, arranging outpatient PT/OT/ST therapies to maintain Dallas’s progress. We’re also addressing logistics like equipment and ramps to support her daily life at home. With two weeks to go, we’re all excited to return home, where the real healing will start!
“Little steps lead to big dreams, and every effort lights the way.” — Unknown
16 Comments
Leave a Reply
© 2025 Dallas Neville. All Rights Reserved.
Continued prayers for your sweet girl & strength for you both as parents.
The more I read of this update the more excited I became feeling the big progress this week. Go Dallas Go!
What a wonderful picture of Miss Dallas in her chair. Can’t wait to see her wheeling around the neighborhood. Holding y’all up in our prayers and thoughts.
So exciting!!! Please let us know if we can help with anything at home! 💕
The home stretch! So excited for you guys and happy to hear of Dallas’s continued progress. Thanks for sharing! 💕
So happy your precious sweet Dallas is making great strides, shes an overcomer warrior. Thank you for such wonderful details on her journey to complete recovery. I love you all.
Precious update! Keep going Dallas, you’ve got this 🥰
Incredible update! Finally the light at the end of the tunnel! A date for homecoming. I can’t wait to see her reaction when she goes home…..bless her heart! And for you guys to sleep in your own bed! Brilliant!!!
Best of luck to you all. She’s doing great! Keep the faith!
Praise God for answering prayers! Praying for continued healing. Love you guys!
Dallas is improving daily! How wonderful! I remember the excitement of heading home with Kaitlyn. I cried when the flight nurses left us in Philadelphia and I cried when we left the nurses in Philadelphia. 🙂 You and Heather have done a great job with the updates and I know you’ve both learned so much while up there with Dallas. If there’s anything you need or anything I can do/get for you to help make your homecoming easier, please let me know. Much love to your sweet family. ❤️
So glad to read about how well Dallas is doing! We are sending so much love her (and the whole family) way!!!
<3
Kase and the Cascios xoxo
Continuing to pray for your sweet Dallas and for you both! She is a fighter and I am excited to hear she will be home soon. Thank you for all the updates.
How exciting! So glad she is improving and you get to go home next week
It’s July 4th and I just re-read this post. I think of Independence Day and what it will mean for you both and Dallas as she gets to go home and keeps improving enough to move completely on her own. I send so much love and grace to your sweet little family. I keep thinking of the Scripture that God never gives you more than you can handle but I honestly don’t know how you do it. Blessings !!!!
Prayers for the discharge day, safe journey home. Hope you see the fireworks to night, they will bring a smile to your sweet face. Love and hugs