She brought a delicious lunch including chicken and stuffing, spinach squares, layered salad, yummy cookies and cheese ball. Mom really enjoyed having Aunt Nancy here and we all had a wonderful visit together. It was just what Mom needed to keep her spirits up. Thanks for everything Aunt Nancy, so glad you came!!!
Today we went to the Ramadan Hand Institute in Lake Butler, FL for Mom's first session. God is so good to have orchestrated her treatment. First the Certified Hand Therapist knows and has worked with both of Mom's surgeons when they all were in Indiana together, he actually assisted in writing the "Indiana Protocol" for hand rehabilitation (not official name but close enough) which the doctors requested for her to use. The hand institute is very well known and highly regarded. The therapist is so good with Mom, he took his time, he has a very pleasant and patient demeanor. He wasn't in a hurry to get to the next patient and schedules plenty of time for each session. He also knows my brother-in-law (a home health therapist) very well and they have a great deal of respect for each other in their profession. I feel like God really orchestrated the right place for Mom to be cared for during this time.
The CHT made adjustments to her right brace and removed the bottom portion to lesson the weight and redressed the wound on her arm. He also made adjustments to the tension on her fingers so that she can get more range of motion with her fingers in her therapy. The left arm was switched to a smaller brace with more thumb support. She had all of her stitches removed, so now she can use lotion and sunscreen on her left arm.
The therapist gave her two goals for this week, one for each hand. The left hand goal is to exercise the wrist up and down and side ways but only within the scope of the brace. The right hand is to try to make a fist 10 to 20 times per hour. I'm sure that all sounds like a simple task but for her it is very tiring and a real job.
She will see the therapist 3 days per week for about an hour. She is also going to see the surgeon connected with the clinic so that he will be able to prescribe additional treatment for her shoulder and thumb which have been aggravated by this dog attack (the actual Operative Report from Dr. Koester and Dr. Novotny describes her as being mauled/mangled) as well as a problem she is having, which seems to be nerve related, in her hip.
Mom just popped in my office for me to help her with something and told me she is wore out. Hopefully she will get a nap and have a good evening.
Aunt Nancy brought her a wonderful gift to help her in getting a better nights sleep. It's a 1.5 inch memory foam for her bed, boy does that make a dramatic difference.
Thanks to Chip, Barb, Kirsten, Meg, Chel, Terri, Kitty, Marlalie, and Aunt Janet for there calls, text, and emails regarding Mom this week. Zachary has been a huge blessing in helping with Mom. He feeds her ice cream, blow dries the donor site for the graft, waits on her hand and foot and gives her lots of love. Paul has been wonderful to get meals on the table and do anything he can to make things easier for both of us while taking care of all of his other many responsibilities with work and his business that he is working to expand.
Please keep all of us here in your prayers and keep in touch. I'll post after therapy on Wednesday.
Love to all,
Katie
1 comment:
i am so glad you are receiving such top notch care. we miss you here at block and are looking forward to a full recovery.
Barbara Silverstein
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