Simon has had another good week at Craig Hospital. I was on clinic duty at the vet hospital this week, but thanks to my colleagues, I was able to break away and go to Craig on Wednesday and Friday.
Simon is more mobile now, though still mostly in a wheelchair, and he constantly asks to go outside!! He has to be accompanied by a "trained" assistant (usually one of the technicians), and fortunately this week I had time to get "checked out" (after completing training on how to handle seizures [he hasn't had any yet, knock on wood!], how to maneuver a wheelchair up and down slopes and curbs, etc.), so now I can take Simon outside myself. So that gives us a bit of freedom! There is a nice flower garden right outside, currently full of daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and pansies - very colorful!!
He has done a little bit of walking, only in parallel bars, or with a walker and a therapist holding his belt, but did pretty well. He'll be doing more work on balancing, navigating his own path, etc. over the next month. As his physical therapist says, "Walking is the ultimate multi-tasking!" Something most of us take for granted, of course . . . .
His trach tube was removed on Monday, his urinary catheter was removed on Wednesday, and hopefully his feeding tube will be removed next week. He's eating meals pretty well, but still gets some medications through the tube.
He's able to comprehend a lot of things much better than a week or two ago, but still has a long way to go with improving short-term memory, retaining concepts, planning, focusing, and avoiding distractions. The speech therapists and neuropsychologist will have him doing lots of exercises to help with those mental chores.
Today the neurologist told us some sobering facts: someone who has had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has 2X greater risk of incurring a second TBI; someone who has had TWO TBIs (like Simon!) has a 5x greater risk of incurring a third TBI!! So Simon will need to take great care NOT to hit his head ever again!!!!!
Ann
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ReplyDeleteAgain great news Ann. My husband has been ill with pneumonia, so I have a teensy tiny inkling of what you've been dealing with. Our husbands are lucky to have such strong women to take care of them, of course we are lucky to have such great husbands!!!
ReplyDeleteAnn and Simon,
ReplyDeleteSO happy to read that Simon's progress is steady and the tubes are rapidly disappearing. Best wishes and good thoughts coming your way everyday.
Much love and take good care,
Ellen
Simon and Ann,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Ann...great to hear of Simon's progress!.
Keep at it CEO Nth.
John F
As always, I welcome reading these updates. Appears that Simon's progress is hitting the steep part of the slope - fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAs to the neurologist's "sobering factoid", I've been a member of the 5X club since 2003. For me being carefull and aware is an always on mental process.
"Cooperate to graduate"
-Rich: still sending vibes.
So glad to hear progress is being made - the fact that Simon was fit before this will be a huge boost. I bet he'll be challenging the physical therapists to a race around the block on wheelchairs soon!! The surgeons here at the Univesity of Florida have been following along on his progress albeit as "lurkers" on this site!!
ReplyDeleteLove Sheilah
Dear Simon and Ann:
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear of the progress Simon is making. We keep our fingers crossed that this will steadily continue. You both be hugged by us!
Bernd & Laura
Ann - thanks for the constant updates. Definitely looking forward to seeing the two of you soon.
ReplyDeleteHarold