Breakthrough day: May 6, 2017

Alan had great breakthrough day today.  He stood up using his own strength from the side of the bed to the walker, pivoted to a chair, where he sat down and rested for a while. Then, he stood on his own from the chair and walked with the walker about 10 feet out into the hallway. The pt people were on either side of him, holding onto a belt around his chest, just to help in case needed.  I followed in back of him with the chair, so he could always feel secure that he could sit down whenever needed.  It worked out well.  Everyone gave a great whoop of happiness.  Once he was in the chair, he sat in it for four hours, the longest he has been out of bed since April 5, the day of the surgery.  Of course, it was a sort of recliner, which he quickly figured out he could lean back in, so he dozed and watched TV.  Luckily, we found the all-Mash channel, which we both enjoyed.  Unfortunately, at the end of the day, his temperature went back up to 100.6, so the intermittent temperature spikes still are a puzzle to the infectious disease doctor who is working on that aspect.  

He still has lots of confusions about things, absolute does not understand why he can't eat, drink, and walk to the bathroom, despite all the information he is given about why he can't. The neurology people say that difficulty making connections is normal under the circumstances, and that it will gradually get better.  No time frame has been given.  However, you can now have a more normal conversation with him, without him groping for words and getting frustrated.  More of his personality is coming back, even doing some kidding around with the nurses, who aren't quite sure what to make of him sometimes.  He absolutely hates all the terms of endearment everyone uses instead of his name, and lets them know, "Don't call me sweetie; my name is Alan!"  I really cracked up one day when one of the gals called him "honeybunch."  He said, Don't call me honeybunch!"  And she answered, "Ok, honeybunch."

We are working toward the skills he will need to enter Health South, being able to do 2 - 3 hours of therapy a day and put on normal clothes, with the help of the nurse.  We are a long way from that, yet, but we are closer.

Susie is still here taking the night shift with Alan.