Breakthrough
Up until now, my dad hasn't had the strength or stamina to move around on his own. Instead, he's been assisted by nurses, aides, family members (mostly my mom, since she is with him most of the time), a walker, and a wheelchair.
Over the past week, he has progressed from spending most of the day in his room, either in bed or sitting in a chair, to venturing out in his wheelchair—into the dining room, down to the hospital garden, and even out to a couple of restaurants. He's always got company—my mom or me or a nurse or an aide—but at least he's been able to spread his wings a little bit.
We're not sure how much longer he will be in the rehab hospital, but we do know that one of the criteria for discharge is to be able to walk 100 feet without stopping. He can use a walker if he needs to, but he has to do it without anyone else's assistance.
My dad has physical therapy five days a week, but so far the progress has been incremental, and we figured it would be a while longer before he was able to set his sights on the 100-foot mark.
Over the weekend, though, things changed. While Zach and I were visiting, he got up and walked about 40 feet on his own. No walker, nothing. It was the first time I'd seen him walk since he left the waiting room and headed to the OR on the morning of his surgery, four weeks before.
That was just the beginning. Yesterday, the hospital had some kind of social activity featuring a klezmer band. My dad was feeling so spry that he got up and danced with my mother.
The physical therapist doesn't see my dad on the weekends, so she has no idea about any of this. I cannot imagine what she will think when he meets with her today. I'm thinking the word to describe her reaction will probably be "agape." It's got to be the rehab-hospital equivalent of that scene in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, when Grandpa Joe suddenly gets out of bed, wearing his long nightshirt and nightcap, and starts dancing around the room.
I don't know who slipped my dad his golden ticket, but I do know that he's now a lot closer to coming home.
Oompa-loompa-doompity-do!
Over the past week, he has progressed from spending most of the day in his room, either in bed or sitting in a chair, to venturing out in his wheelchair—into the dining room, down to the hospital garden, and even out to a couple of restaurants. He's always got company—my mom or me or a nurse or an aide—but at least he's been able to spread his wings a little bit.
We're not sure how much longer he will be in the rehab hospital, but we do know that one of the criteria for discharge is to be able to walk 100 feet without stopping. He can use a walker if he needs to, but he has to do it without anyone else's assistance.
My dad has physical therapy five days a week, but so far the progress has been incremental, and we figured it would be a while longer before he was able to set his sights on the 100-foot mark.
Over the weekend, though, things changed. While Zach and I were visiting, he got up and walked about 40 feet on his own. No walker, nothing. It was the first time I'd seen him walk since he left the waiting room and headed to the OR on the morning of his surgery, four weeks before.
That was just the beginning. Yesterday, the hospital had some kind of social activity featuring a klezmer band. My dad was feeling so spry that he got up and danced with my mother.
The physical therapist doesn't see my dad on the weekends, so she has no idea about any of this. I cannot imagine what she will think when he meets with her today. I'm thinking the word to describe her reaction will probably be "agape." It's got to be the rehab-hospital equivalent of that scene in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, when Grandpa Joe suddenly gets out of bed, wearing his long nightshirt and nightcap, and starts dancing around the room.
I don't know who slipped my dad his golden ticket, but I do know that he's now a lot closer to coming home.
Oompa-loompa-doompity-do!
posted by Jody Rosen Knower at 7:34 AM
1 Comments:
yay for klezmer music and dancing. That's wonderful news! I can just picture them dancing....just like at your glorious wedding. Lots of love and positive thoughts to you all!
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