This means that he can now move from his bed to a wheelchair with the assistance of the staff or therapists! This is so huge!! The OHSU Spine doctor read the reports and looked at Al's neck xray from Friday and determined that his neck is healing very well!!
I arrived today just before the PT got there. Had a moment to talk with Al and ask how his night was and he said, I'm not sure, I was sleeping!" Just love his humor! However, yesterday he wasn't in such a good mood. Sadly, he felt "lonely" on Sunday afternoon when no one visited after 3:30. Monday morning he was very emotional. After 7 weeks in a hospital bed and not being able to do "normal" things, he just cracked. Poor guys didn't want the therapy, didn't want anything. I had taken his fuzzy socks home to wash them and when I put the back on, I told him that when he is wearing the fuzzy socks, there is no way he could be in a bad mood. then, his toes stared wiggling and he did have a smile. (even though he tried to hide it and be grumpy).
But today, he was all smiles and feeling alot better. He was so apologetic to the therapists and he even tried extra hard today to out do himself at therapy. The PT used the resistance bands on his ankles and knees today. I told him he was going to have buns of steel when he gets home! It is truly amazing to see his strength. It will even more beautiful to see him and his sore arse get out of bed and into a chair for a change of pace. the care center has many activities throughout the week. I have been telling him about the bingo games and the garden....soon we will be participating. The interaction with the others will help him so much. With the outgoing attitude Al has, he will be one of the cool kids in the joint!! When scooching tot he edge of the bed today, he was giggling about his "flabby skin" dragging him down. He is so funny sometimes.
The charge nurse is worried that the thrush in his mouth may be trying to return so she really gave his mouth and tongue a scrubbing this morning. Hank and I brought him a Winnie the Pooh small, soft toothbrush so he could scrub his mouth at his convenience....he loves it. Likes the Pooh on his toothbrush too! lol
Jan got him a large calendar for his wall so he could see the dates. being so confined, he has lost track of the date...just sometimes, especially if he does sleep and then wake up at odd times. (don't we all do this??) We also got him a whiteboard to write notes on. Unfortunately when I was putting it up, I didn't think about its location so much. SO, I do need to move it somewhere different, in better view. The PT comes in in the mornings and writes his PT/OT/SLP schedule down so he can plan for the "brutality" as he says....again, we should all be so proud of him. He really is trying hard to be well.
Slowly but surely Al is making some great progress. In my opinion, being more mobile will be a huge step in his recovery. I am sure he will feel a huge burden off his shoulders as he reaches each new goal.
Thank you again friends and family for all the prayers and kind words. Al loves hearing all the feedback from his loved ones. Keep saying those prayers!! Everyday is full of new challenges. With all the support, this too will become much easier!
I took some pictures of the flowers and kinds words friends and family have sent. His room is starting to be a little more personal instead of so institutional. This too will help him feel more at ease. In his words, I don't know why all of you fuss about me so much, but I am so thankful you do."
Alvin loves this ball I got him. He uses it to exercise his hands, feet and after it is all washed and clean, he likes to put it on his forehead because it feel "kinda weird"
These are some of the cards and kind words that he sees everyday.
We got him some of this mouth rinse to help with the foul taste of the swabs to moisten his mouth. He also uses this on his Winnie the Pooh toothbrush and lets out a big "AHHHH"
April, these are the flowers you brought him!
Yep, I have been changing the water often and they are just beautiful!
This is a bouquet that Hank and I brought in. I hope they last a long time like his others.
this is the window view from Alvin's room. It is a beautiful archway that looks over several old homes. He looks where people are parked when he is sitting on the edge of his bed.
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