Thursday, April 12, 2012

Day 30: “We Don’t Need no Stinking Walker” - Thursday, April 12, 2012


No Ventilator
No Staples
No Catheter
No Feeding Tube
No Monitors
No Roll Strap
No Supplemental Oxygen
No Trach
No Wrestlemania

And today, NO WALKER!

PT has graduated Scott to be able to walk assisted without walker.  They have taken it away.  The assisted part is just hanging on to his gait belt in case of emergency.  He is doing all the work and gaining strength by the hour.  He still has a wheelchair that is used on occasion but only until he regains stamina.  Here are a couple videos of Scott walking back into his room:


Our next  big celebration will be the removal of Scott’s “Fall Risk” warning bracelet, hopefully early next week.


Today in Speech therapy he repeated an exercise that he struggled to work through yesterday.  The exercise asked him to identify names of furniture from scrambled letters.  Scott had difficulty associating the furniture topic with the words he was trying to unscramble.  Today he was given a list of scrambled US State names and he not only blew right through them but wrote them all with his right hand.





Great focus Scott!! (Sorry for the background audio noise)



Ashley and Scott were given instructions and rehearsed getting Scott in and out of the car for tomorrow’s trip to the eye doctor.  Big Grins!!!  Because of the distance needing to be traveled, Scott will still be required to use the wheelchair.

We have had to move again today.  Unfortunately the wonderful single room we were in was in a special ward for unruly and contaminated patients.  Today the unruly patients got so severe that they had to lock down the ward.  It was obvious that Scott no longer belonged there so he has been moved to room 2R08, right across from the East Nurses station and the gymnasium. It is a double room but for now Scott has no roommate and because he is considered “contaminated” may not.  However, Ashley is dreading the thought of not being able to spend the night with Scott and is hoping that the double remains a single.

So what would be the first thing you say when asked to name items you find on a beach?  Scott’s immediate first response:  “WOMEN SUNBATHING”  (atta boy!)

Lastly, during the move today Scott was overheard saying to the Practice Manager, “I’m the least mentally ill patient you’ve ever seen here.”  This was said just before Scott wrapped up his afternoon therapy sessions.  The last of which was an hour long session as a patient helping teach PT students.  He volunteered gladly saying “I’m all about student learning.”

And the gifts keep coming.

Best!

-- Mickey Moore

6 comments:

  1. Oh my heck!!! I have only been gone 2 days and he is showing such MARKED improvement! I know I shouldn't be surprised, but.... it is so striking!

    2 days ago he could walk without the walker, but he was still unstable and required routine assistance. I can tell that he is still hyperextending his right knee, even though it doesn't show in the videos. The little limp that he has is due to R knee hyperextension (which is due to weakness of the right quad that is unable to adequately control body weight forces when he is standing on his right leg, so... to keep it stable, he hyperextends and rests on the ligaments.) But.... His gait is soooo much better and sooo much more stable.

    And... his right hand use was still extremely limited 2 days ago, rarely using it, and unable to do much with it when he attempted to do so. For sure, he was not able to write with it, or feed himself, etc. What does his handwriting look like?

    His conversation has been improving rapidly, but he still was halted and slow with his talking 2 days ago. The conversation in speech therapy seemed quite fluid, comfortable, and more natural. He had pretty good facial movement when he spoke.

    I am sooooo grateful for the videos! Thanks! I don't feel like I am missing as much.


    Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Handwriting was very good. The Speech Therapist actually questioned whether he was really in Med-School due to the ability to read his writing. It was certainly much better then the prior day when he was writing with his left hand.

      Delete
  2. LOL, and then tears in between. Welcome back Mickey and thanks for the superb report and INCREDIBLE VIDEOS.
    Not all doctors have illegible hand writing.
    I think the word "hemiparesis" does NOT apply to what we are witnessing on these videos. THIS IS SO VERY EXCITING.
    Watching the miracle of Scott's recovery reminds me of the time-lapsed videos we've all seen of flower blossoms opening. Scott is opening up and displaying his beautiful glory right before our eyes.
    THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Mickey, for the videos. I feel like I'm taking every step with Scott along this journey since I've been there before. Love you and keep up the good work, Scott, Ashley, Mickey. Grandma M.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Welcome back Mickey and thank you for the videos. Thanks for making us all feel like we are part of this journey. Scott you are so determined and have such good manners! I am sure you are the best patient at Barrows and inspiring to all. Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yay!! That is SO great! Wonderful progress. Woo hoo!! :D

    ReplyDelete