April 3 Update

I've had several folks reach out to me and comment that they haven't seen a blog update for awhile.  Perhaps the main reason for no updates is that by the time things settle down, we are interested in watching a movie and we've been using the laptop to catch up on our favorite shows on Xfinity, watch movies on Netflix or rent DVDs from Redbox.  This evening, after catching up on last Sunday's episode of Game of Thrones, I commandeered the laptop to pass along an update.

Yesterday, Shirley paid her bi-weekly visit to the OR to have her wound vac dressing replaced.  The surgeons decided that the healing was sufficient that they sutured up the outer 3 to 4 inches on each side leaving just the center. They indicated that there is still at least one more OR visit on Friday to do the next change, but that if they can suture up another couple inches on each side, future dressing changes can be done in her room.

The sutures have left her very sore, and after going a week or more on just Tylenol for pain control, she is using a little morphine again today to stay comfortable.

Shirley continues her OT and PT.  Today, the occupational therapist took it easy on her since she was in pain.  She used a couple of aerosol cans as weights and had her lifting in various positions to build up arm strength. For her PT session, she went up to the rehap gym again and walked the length of the parallel bars and back twice.  She held on to the bars for balance, but as able to support her weight while standing for several minutes.

People have been asking when Shirley is going to get out of the hospital.  There isn't a good answer at this point.  I've heard phrases such as "in a few weeks," which is vague, but it's the best we have right now.  Bottom line, Shirley isn't sick any more and it all comes down to how fast she can regain her strength and energy.  They say that for every day you don't use your muscles, it takes two to rebuild. She went over two weeks without being able to get out of bed--so that suggests four weeks to get back (with one down).