Tania had a busy therapy schedule this week. In physical therapy she practiced standing up and on Friday she was able to walk with assistance using the parallel bars for support with her arms. On Thursday she made cookies in the therapy kitchen with the assistance of our neighbor, Cathy, and her occupational therapist, Casey. Speech therapy is progressing slowly. The swallow test is now tentatively scheduled during the upcoming week. During the past ten days, she has frequently been counting numbers in a whisper instead of responding to questions or commands.
Although she is making steady progress toward the goal of coming home in a couple of months, she continues to need the miracle of healing. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Rollie
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Chewing and Swallowing Ice Chips
For the first time in a month Tania successfully chewed and swallowed ice chips this afternoon. The next step to begin eating regular food is to travel through the tunnel to Swedish Hospital and take an official swallow test that is viewed with x-ray equipment.
Tania was also able to stand with assistance in the therapy kitchen this afternoon and reach for spice containers on the shelves and place them on the counter top. She will spend more time in the kitchen tomorrow as she tackles her first baking assignment.
Rollie
Tania was also able to stand with assistance in the therapy kitchen this afternoon and reach for spice containers on the shelves and place them on the counter top. She will spend more time in the kitchen tomorrow as she tackles her first baking assignment.
Rollie
Friday, January 22, 2010
Improvement in Cognitive Awareness
Tania had a full day of therapy and performed well in all sessions. After reading a statement (in large print) that she was in the hospital because of brain surgery, Tania asked her speech therapist "Will my mind get better?" The mere fact that she asked the question is an encouraging sign. She also read several Bible verses and could repeat most of them by memory. My assignment this weekend is to put together a small photo album that she can be tested on next week.
As Tania was wheeled into the gym for physical therapy, her therapist asked if she was ready for PT. Tania responded by shaking her head "no". She proceeded to stand up for a brief period and also did the transfer into bed using the "stand and pivot" method instead of the electric hoist.
This evening she was quite verbal with me (in whispers only). Her response when I told her I loved her was "You're crazy". It's great to see her spunk returning.
Rollie
As Tania was wheeled into the gym for physical therapy, her therapist asked if she was ready for PT. Tania responded by shaking her head "no". She proceeded to stand up for a brief period and also did the transfer into bed using the "stand and pivot" method instead of the electric hoist.
This evening she was quite verbal with me (in whispers only). Her response when I told her I loved her was "You're crazy". It's great to see her spunk returning.
Rollie
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Five Months
There are days like today when I need to remember what the Bible says in Psalms 119:105 "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path". It does not say that He will give us a spotlight to the future. I have to admit that I am thankful that no one told me 5 months ago that my mom would still be in the hospital. We have to take this journey one day at a time even when those days are the "bad days".
Just under a month ago, we celebrated a wonderful Christmas dinner with my Mom at her house. Little did we know, she would fall just a couple days later on December 28th and have stitches in the emergency room, another five days in the ICU, a 9th brain surgery and a ten day stay at the Swedish Hospital Neurological unit. Tania's primary doctor at Craig Hospital confirmed this week that Tania medically is back to where she was when she was transferred to Craig in early November. The statement 1 step forward and 2 steps back is 100% accurate in this case.
This past month has been a travesty for Tania and her recovery and also very difficult for our family. She fatigues quickly, sleeps a lot, and when she is alert and tries to speak, it is very difficult for us to understand what she is saying. She is currently receiving all of her nourishment from a feeding tube. They have performed two swallow tests in the past couple weeks to see if she can start having liquids and each time she has struggled and started coughing almost immediately, so we will have to wait and see if she can pass the third test next week. Our hope is that she will progress with therapy as she did in November and December prior to her fall. One of the therapists mentioned that she has learned what methods worked for Tania and she hopes to fine tune her approach this second time around.
We had a family conference with the Doctors and therapist at Craig today. The primary focus of the new goals is to prepare her to be released to go home on March 26.
Not to sound like a broken record, but we continue to ask for prayers. I can't imagine this journey without the love, support and prayers of friends and family around us. We are most thankful for all of you who are continuing to pray 5 months later!
Tara
Just under a month ago, we celebrated a wonderful Christmas dinner with my Mom at her house. Little did we know, she would fall just a couple days later on December 28th and have stitches in the emergency room, another five days in the ICU, a 9th brain surgery and a ten day stay at the Swedish Hospital Neurological unit. Tania's primary doctor at Craig Hospital confirmed this week that Tania medically is back to where she was when she was transferred to Craig in early November. The statement 1 step forward and 2 steps back is 100% accurate in this case.
This past month has been a travesty for Tania and her recovery and also very difficult for our family. She fatigues quickly, sleeps a lot, and when she is alert and tries to speak, it is very difficult for us to understand what she is saying. She is currently receiving all of her nourishment from a feeding tube. They have performed two swallow tests in the past couple weeks to see if she can start having liquids and each time she has struggled and started coughing almost immediately, so we will have to wait and see if she can pass the third test next week. Our hope is that she will progress with therapy as she did in November and December prior to her fall. One of the therapists mentioned that she has learned what methods worked for Tania and she hopes to fine tune her approach this second time around.
We had a family conference with the Doctors and therapist at Craig today. The primary focus of the new goals is to prepare her to be released to go home on March 26.
Not to sound like a broken record, but we continue to ask for prayers. I can't imagine this journey without the love, support and prayers of friends and family around us. We are most thankful for all of you who are continuing to pray 5 months later!
Tara
Monday, January 18, 2010
Good Start on Therapy Schedule
Although Tania still is taking nourishment by a feeding tube and also has an IV for medicines, she had a good start this morning on therapy. She was alert and generally followed commands. During a session with her speech therapist and her occupational therapist she sat on the edge of an elevated mat and wrote her name and numbers from one to seven on a piece of paper while resting her left arm on the table. I didn't expect her to be able to accomplish that task yet.
Rollie
Rollie
Friday, January 15, 2010
Released from Swedish Hospital
This morning Tania was released from her second stay at Swedish Hospital since her fall and transferred back to Craig Hospital for rehab. Her nurses from Craig took her back in a wheelchair because the bed that she was using was not the bed that originally came from Craig. I guess they will sort out what happened to the bed later.
She has been alert today and told the nurse at Craig that she was fine when she was asked "How are you?". I am thankful for your prayers and am looking forward to seeing her resume the therapy schedule on Monday.
Rollie
She has been alert today and told the nurse at Craig that she was fine when she was asked "How are you?". I am thankful for your prayers and am looking forward to seeing her resume the therapy schedule on Monday.
Rollie
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Progressing Slowly
Tania was more alert today than she has been since her fall 16 days ago. The swelling in her black eye is no longer evident and she is able to see with both eyes. Today she sat in a wheelchair for an hour and a half both in the morning and in the afternoon without much napping. She is still at Swedish Hospital (in a room on the seventh floor with a great view of the mountains), but I am hopeful that one day soon she will be moved back to her old room at Craig Hospital for rehab starting at "square one" as she did in early November. Thanks for your continued support.
Rollie
Rollie
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