Today was Doug's first day of therapies at St. Lukes's. We had the weekend to settle in and get ready for what will be the pattern of his days for the next few weeks. He had 3 different therapies today which included speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Each morning he will get a schedule of the therapies for the day and the therpists that he will be working with.
Doug seemed to feel pretty good about his therapies today. He wa able to do the full 3 hours and he does not seem to worn out tonight. He also ate lunch in the dining room, which means he was able to get out of the room for a little while. Yesterday they had a regular wheelchair for him that did not tilt back at all and tried taking him to the dining room. He was a little upset by it because he nearly fell out. Today they brought him a chair that allows him to tilt back just a little bit. It worked much better for him.
He is working on feeding himself. He is doing very well with bringing the food to his mouth but is having difficulty scooping it. They brought him a plate with a lip that he can push against and it is helpful but he still is struggling with enough hand control to scoop items that do not stick to the fork or spoon.
He is aquiring new skills everyday. He will suddenly reach out and do something unprompted. He is able to reach out now and move the tray, adjust his blankets, and hold his cup. He was able to push the wheelchair for about 2 feet. Today he was able to call me on his telephone. I am so relieved he can call me. He wishes he could do more, but last week he could not do any of these things. He has taken many steps forward.
Between his therapies and his friends the day went by quickly. Heidi and Jan came and kept Doug company today while I was at work, which he enjoyed so much. One of the nice things about being at St. Luke's is that I can order a meal while I am here and then Doug and I can eat togther. I don't have to leave him to go find something to eat. He was not too thrilled with lunch today, however dinner was very tasty. Doug had stuffed peppers and I had baked cod. We both had cherry pie for dessert. We finished the evening with watching some TV. It seems we are settling in to this new place.
And so we pray:
Holy most Gracious God, we give you thanks and praise for Doug's continued progress and for the people who care for him in so many ways. We give you thanks for the opportunity to enjoy simple things like a meal together and watching television. Watch over Doug and all who are ill or separated from their family members. Give us hope in our troubles and confidence in your continued presence in our lives. And now as evening has come, may we rest in peace, and wake restored and refreshed to start a new day. Amen
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