Day Sixty Two

3:03 PM

Don said he slept really well last night. He ate breakfast and dozed until about 10:00. The CNAs got him dressed and into his chair. Don felt pretty good so he decided to see if PT could see him early. The PT said he could do his exercises and the e-stim before lunch and then do his standing and walking after lunch. He finished the exercises and e-stim just before noon and we went to the day room for lunch. Don really enjoyed his lunch. About 12:45 we made our way to the OT and she worked with him pulling weights from a pulley over his head and behind his back. This is to strengthen his arms for walking. She also did other exercises and had him to use a "sock egg" to help him to be able to put his socks on by himself. He did that fairly well. The OT also had him to use several other tools to help get his shoes on. It was very difficult and he struggled a while with that. He finally got it on all but the heel of the shoe. After several attempts using several devices he was unable to get the heel of the shoe up onto his heel. I finally run my finger down behind his heel to pull the back of the shoe up and realized that Don's heel was actually setting on the top of the back of the shoe. If we had realized that a little earlier, he may have been able to do it by himself. His OT said she was very proud of him and that he had accomplished a lot today. He left OT and went to PT and the PT had him up immediately. I took a video with my digital camera (I hope) and I plan to post it to the blog. His first attempt he walked 25 feet. His goal was to make it to the nurse's station. He did without resting. The PT asked Don if he was ready to go back to his room and Don told him no because he was too excited about walking. He rested for only a few minutes and he made it to the double doors between the nurse's station and his room which was another 25 feet. His PT said he had done great and it was more than the PT had expected. He just has to keep reminding Don to slow down. If he would slow down, he could make better steps and not be so tired after each step. The PT said he was finished after the last walk and Don was disappointed to have to stop. He asked the PT was there something wrong and the PT told him no but he just wanted to be safe and not over do it. Don had me to take him out to the lobby to wait until supper or time or his bottom wears out, which ever comes first. He still doesn't have a gerichair. They are checking on it again this afternoon and hope to have one before bed time. It will make a difference in the amount of time that Don will be able to sit up.