Another Physical Therapy First

Physical therapy has been using a tilt table with Jon for the last several weeks to get him into a standing position. This allows blood vessels to constrict and relax in different ways than when he is lying down or sitting up. He has been upright about ten minutes at a time. They have also been working with balancing while sitting on the edge of the bed. Wednesday he sat without any support for almost a minute. They have been teaching him how to tilt his head forward and backward to keep from falling in those directions. Thursday they tried electrical stimulation on the muscles of his legs. Carol was so excited to see how the muscles actually moved. Josh (the physical therapist) explained that that means the nerve passages are still intact so in addition to developing some muscle mass the ability to move his legs would be possible if the spinal cord develops new pathways or regains some function in that area. I'll settle for developing muscle mass at this point!

Jon has been doing some arm and hand exercises on his own. He was so pleased to show me how high he could raise his arm when I came back on Tuesday that I thought I was going to get hit on the chin! He has found a way to use one thumb to stretch the other thumb which is great since they seem to be really tight. Occupational therapy has been working with pegs about the size of the control knob on some of the scooters I've seen at the hospital. He has to pick them up and place them in the holes on a board.

Jon's health seems to be a little better. I've been supplementing his medication with some DanActive probiotic drinks to help all those struggling good bacteria in his digestive system (which does seem to be acting better.) I've also been encouraging him to eat as much of his meal as possible. He has gained some weight--enough that they have cut his food formula for tube feedings from 1.7 calories per mL to 1.5. I have also been encouraging him to feed himself. Yesterday I cut up his hot dog in bite size pieces and left him on his own which startled both Carol and him. I had been irritated with his refusal to eat any of the bun--there is something about the texture of bread that is really bothering him. Anyway, Carol reported that the first few bites were a little shaky but the rest went pretty well. He ate all the hot dog, some of the baked beans and half of the potato salad--neither of which are on his list of favorites. I have been trying to encourage the rethinking of food. . . some of it is pleasurable and some is not but all of it is fuel and you need fuel whether you like it or not! In an effort to keep on my good side in this respect he even tried pickled beets which are definitely not on his dietary list of favorites--but is on mine!

Bedsore seems to be getting better--new one developing near it. Nursing staff says too much sitting upright I say too many pillows under the knees in an effort to ward off sores on his feet. We have special boots for that which they don't use in the day time....unless someone forgets to take them off in the morning (night crew puts them on at bedtime.) We asked that the TV be put on the wall mount instead of the night stand so that it is possible to lay him back further and still view it. They did that rather promptly. We also are lowering the entire bed which makes viewing easier.

Got to run..this is Barb's last day with kids and she really wanted me to stop by and see them. I think I've already missed the chance to see Jon on the tilt board. Hope you have a good and safe holiday weekend.