Helen Hayes Week One....

"you're such a Boy Scout...."

Melissa has been at the Helen Hayes TBIR for one week.  She has made many considerable advances.  These Care Givers mean business and they strive for progression-it is aggressive but not like a Drill Instructor at a Marine Boot Camp.  It is more like your Coach, Teacher or co-workers who support your efforts because they know you are capable of meeting goals.  "That was good but next time I know you can do better if you try this...."

1.  WE already know that Melissa can walk with assistance for long stretches at a time.  Her leg strength will build with her confidence and inner stability.  She knows she needs to work on posture and looking up, not at the floor.  Looking down is a defense mechanism for safety, which she will overcome.  Posture will come with more use of "the core" that has been on vacation while laying in bed.

2.  Her Trach has been downgraded to the size just before no trach, the site is covered to heal.  The Trach  is "plugged" with the red plug, so she now breathes through her nose and mouth.  Melissa will now need to learn how to strengthen her lungs.  She swallows small pieces of crushed ice after it melts in her mouth.  These daily tests are for the next big swallow test to see if you can take on a liquid diet and soft food.  This might happen at the end of the week or beginning of the next week.

3.  She is learning how to use her vocal cords again with air being pushed over them.  We AWL take this for granted, but she is learning to take deep breaths to push air out so we can hear what she is saying.  She is doing well, but needs to really focus on this aspect because her Care Team needs to hear what she is saying.

4.  She is getting good occupational training on simple things like clothing yourself to how to get in and out of a chair and to stand at a table.  She is good at pulling off her socks and the pulse oximeter off her finger. (good way to get the attention of the Care Team if you are in need; I taught her that one)  She also asked me to take the seat belt off while in the chair so she could get out and in to bed.  I said "NO, you can hurt yourself and I could get hurt and then thrown out of the hospital".  She said in her soft spoken voice, "you're such a Boy Scout."  That was funny.  Yes I follow the rules and besides that they have a camera and someone watches the rooms AWL day long.

I expect to meet with the Case Manager tomorrow and get their assessment of "joys and concerns".  Melissa is not one for long visits, she rests much, which is to be expected, her brain and body are still healing.   Plus I want her to use that energy in her therapy sessions.  By the end of the day, which is about 3:30 for her, she is caput!  Zzzzzzzzzzzz.... 

Stay tuned, I think next week will be telling.... 

*I am very pleased with HH TRIB, thank you Pam for mentioning them.

**pray for strong breathing, stability physically and mentally and begin eating REAL food and not the ensure they administer.  I always tell the nurses to sneak in a cup of black coffee to wake her up (always gets a laugh, like "what are you doing, smoking crack!?!")

***mention little Cairo in your prays/thoughts as she is having a surgical procedure Thursday, poor pup, she is a tough girl and has not had a great year either.  Although she still eats like a horse and plays like a puppy.  And she is really giving Nina a lesson at Spring Lake.  Cairo is the Alpha at 308 Pitney, now that Ben Buddy Ben is off on his new journey with Alex in heaven or maybe some nice piano bar in the here after singing songs.