The Date is Written on the Wall

Yesterday, the Rehabilitation team met together after all the disciplines had completed their assessments of Shirley.  This morning, they posted a list of her goals (ones she created) related to what she wanted to be able to do by the time she is released.  At the bottom of the sheet is their projected date for discharge: August 7, 2013.  I had expected a 2-3 week stay, but if she stays on plan, this will be only be 13 days from her return to UW and only 9 days from today!

Shirley has been completing two Physical Therapy and two Occupational Therapy sessions each day. Today, she also got on an exercise machine as part of an "endurance" session that worked her skinny little arms.

Through these sessions, she has been fighting pain that she attributed to the compression fracture in her lower back.  Yesterday, Dr. Smith, the Director of the rehab program had her lie flat on a raised platform so that she could assess the potential causes of the pain.  She watched how Shirley held her body while laying flat and pointed out to her Resident how asymmetrical she was.  Dr. Smith reached over and put her hand behind one of Shirley's hips.  With a single touch she hit a bull's eye on finding the pain point. She applied pressure against this spot for a minute or so and as she did, Shirley's legs and feet moved into a symmetrical position.  It was really interesting to watch.

They've now applied some topical pain relief pads over the hip joint and are having Shirley go back and forth between heat and ice to help relieve some of the muscle spasms.

Today, on both day and night shift, Shirley had visits from Respiratory Therapists that helped treat her during her ICU stay.  Both Ron and Gerry were very pleased to see how far she has progressed.  Gerry used to work at Regional Hospital and actually dropped by and visited her while she was at Regional.

If I haven't mentioned it enough, we continued to be amazed and blessed with the wonderful care and attention that Shirley has received both at UW and Regional.