Thu 22-Apr PM

What a difference a week makes (that is, a week at Craig Hospital)!!!

I went down to Craig Hospital on Tuesday and Thursday (today).

On Tuesday, Simon was speaking!!!  He still has a tracheostomy tube, but they've put a valve on the end of it so he can talk, and his voice sounds almost normal.  He was asking questions and answering some, albeit not always correctly.  He definitely has no memory of anything since his accident, and perhaps even longer - for instance, he keeps thinking it's January.  He needs frequent reminders that he was hurt in an accident, that he's at Craig Hospital, that he needs to do what the therapists say, and that he can't get up, or go walking, or go home, as he'd like to.  He seems to understand all of that, but just can't keep it in his head for long, so a lot of time is spent re-explaining what happened and why he's there.  This is typical of head injury patients, and the staff is very accustomed to repetition!

On Thursday (today), Simon made huge progress.  He was allowed to start eating small meals (he still has a feeding tube in his stomach) - but only under direct supervision, as he tends to eat too fast and then starts coughing!  If he does well and can take in enough calories, he won't need the feeding tube much longer.  His nurse said, "Most people recover from an illness 'day by day', but here at Craig, people recover 'tube by tube' - the fewer tubes you have, the better off you are!!!"  Simon arrived at Craig with 4 tubes (IV catheter, urinary catheter, feeding tube, tracheostomy tube); he's still got 3 tubes (only the IV has been removed); but hopefully before too much longer, he'll have none!

He was fitted to a smaller wheelchair than his original one - he can propel the smaller one on his own, by moving his feet or using his hands on the wheel rims.  (The techs and nurses groaned when they saw how quickly he can move in it . . . !)

He is being asked to do a lot of different exercises to improve his strength (especially that of his left arm and hand), and his balance.  The therapist helped him stand and walk in the parallel bars this afternoon.  She commented that, a week ago, he couldn't even stay awake or follow instructions from her during his therapy session - and then today, he was able to walk (with assistance, of course)!

I think the highlight of the day for Simon was that he got a real shower - lying down on a cart, admittedly, but a real shower instead of just a "bed bath".  (He is not allowed to sit upright or stand without wearing a back brace to support his fractured vertebra and ribs, and he can't wear the brace in the shower.)  After all of today's exercise, and a hot shower, I'm sure he will sleep well tonight!!

One of the many "Turner-isms" that Simon is known for is:  "Cooperate, and graduate" . . . meaning:  go with the flow, do as you're told, and things will go more smoothly.  Well, I've been reminding him of that saying ever since he got to Craig.  Even though he forgets why he's there and why he needs to stay for awhile, I tell him he needs to "cooperate" (follow instructions), so he can go home ("graduate") as soon as possible!!  He's definitely trying.

Ann