Barbara’s MJD Blog

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

October 7th, 2008

Full day today of rehab stuff, starting with accupuncture – I had a little boy, Brandon, next to me today, he’s probably 7-8, having treatment for the first time, scared as heck, and crying with the needles in him.  Well, I lied down on the treatment bed next to him and said, “If it means anything to you, I cried the first time too.   All I can tell you is it hurts less and less each time you come,  You know what helped me?  Big deep relaxing breaths,”  He took one and I said “Phew, you gotta make sure you brush your teeth before you come”  Well, he broke into hysterical laughter, and his Mom took over from there.  I don’t know Brandon’s story yet, but he is in a wheelchair… I consider myself lucky – I can use a walker.  There are now 7 children on our floor

Went to PT this afternoon, I went up the PT (4) stairs without holding on to the railing, nice and slowly!  I can come down the stairs starting always with my left foot and not hold on, but the minute I start with my right, it’s weird, my whole body shifts, and my foot slaps down on the step.  The biggest accomplishment for me today was stepping over the obstacles set up..left,right,left,right,left,right.  They are in varying degrees of height, so you have to sometimes lift your foot higher.  I did up & back 3 times, nice, slow, and controlled, and only had to grab the bars once!- Andy, my therapist even got excited (he never gets excited-and oh, by the way, he loves Deena)  My balance still continues to be the same.  Some good days, some not so good.    I talked to Dr Frank (who understands/speaks pretty good english) to talk to Andy about my wanting to walk. I know there are ways to learn how to walk again.  Knees bent, foot position, hip position, arm swing, etc.  I’m not a therapist by any stretch of the imagination, and if I need to keep doing these balance exercises first, so be it. BUT I told Dr. Frank, I have 1 treatment left, and we’re leaving in one week…I want to walk!  I think he communicated it to Andy so he understood.

Onto electrocution.  On the table next to me is Luke.  Luke is 7 months old!  He is the cutest, most mild mannered baby I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.  Electrocution is getting easier, they hook you up, thighs and calfs, jack up the waves until you say stop, and about  20 minutes later, you beep, and you’re done.  Luke almost fell asleep working his binky…

Deena had another accupuncture session on her knees today (#2) (yesterday I told Jason, the accupuncturist here,  that she has arthritis in her knees)  He’s going to try and help.

To sum up today, okay day, back ache (from spinal – ibuprofen helped a lot), could (and will) be a lot better…I’ve gotta do a lot more on my own (I get tired so quick).  Oh, Deena and I found some walking paths on the side of the hospital.  We’ve been doing them whenever we can!  FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

Dad, Can’t Knock Me Down!

Uncle Eddie – Happy Birthday!

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