from:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerrisk/journal
Monday, September 21, 2009 2:00 PM, PDT
Happy Monday all!
It's been another banner period for Tyler this past few days! As promised, she did indeed start the weight bearing physical therapy last Thursday; like everything else to date, she's giving it her all ;-)
I was fortunate enough to be there with her Friday morning and was able to witness the whole process first hand...and what a process it is! Basically, there's a "rotating" table with a ledge at the bottom - picture the kind of thing they show in illusionist acts whereby someone is strapped to a board and having sharp objects thrown at them...that's kind of what it looks like! They roll it up next to the bed, and (with the help of the PT's and the trapeze bar) she scootches herself on to the table. This is not as easy as it sounds.
Now, like with everything else, we don't even get this far without a comedic moment. As the PT's are transfering her to the board, they're "encouraging" her to use her legs and lower body to move herself. Knowing her love of theatre, someone yells "come on Tyler, move your bloomin' arse!" A line from the classic movie "My Fair Lady", whereby Audrey Hepburn, trying to act as a refind lady, shouts that at a horse race and everyone around her looks shocked and appalled. It was a moment for sure and we were all laughing
Then, we were laughing again as when she did make it over to the table, it make a loud scraping noise as any vinyl surface does, followed by a "poof" sound of escaping air. Need I say more? 'Cause really, are we ever too old and mature to not enjoy a good flatulence joke?? I think not ;-)
So anyways, once she's on the table (horizontal at this point) the PT gradually inclines it so that eventually her feet come to rest on the shelf at the bottom...thus, she is bearing her own weight to some extent
Thursday, her very first day, she made it to almost 45 degrees. Friday, she had them up it to 50 and was doing great! Even the PT said she wouldn't have guessed she'd be able to increase it that much in one day. Besides the obvious physical challenge, the other challenge is that because she's been off her feet for an extended period, being upright again almost creates a vertigo-like sensation. So she's not only battling pain but also queasiness as well as her world is slowly righted again. But she soldiered through it made her PTs very happy with her
They also mentioned that going forward, they were going to be increasing not only the number of her sessions (3 a day I think they said) but also the intensity and duration. So Tyler's going to have some very busy and exhausting days ahead! I'm guessing lots of new cards and inspirational notes would go a long way in keeping her motivated! Can we do it? YES WE CAN!!
Toodles for now,
Team Tyler
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, September 21, 2009 1:36 PM, PDT
Monday 1:30PM
Greetings All,
I spent another lovely morning with Tyler. Four days have past since my last visit and I saw a big improvement in her strength and ability to move about under her own steam.
Her doctors are on a mission to get Tyler moved into rehab. To do so they must get her bandage changes reduced to once a day and increase her P.T. to three hours per day. Today, Tyler will have P.T. twice. Though a bit uneasy with the additional physical requirements, our girl took the challenge in her usual determined stride.
This morning, with little aid from her P. T. team, Tyler moved from her bed to the wheelchair with two instead of three scoots. She easily used the trapeze to pull herself up and rolled onto her side totally unaided. Those of us who have been where Tyler is, know what a huge accomplishment what appear to be small things really are.
And today, under her own steam, she motored about in the wheel chair. We traveled about half way to our destination “the big concrete balls” before she asked me to push. She did well and with a bit more coaching and practice, she’ll be hauling butt around the hospital corridors.
As I was leaving she was drifting off to a well-earned snooze. Rest up my friend I told her, your double sessions have started.
Sue
