Rehab - day 5

I went outside today! It was great except for the cold and the lesson of learning that Chicago sidewalks are slanted towards the street.  The thought of my wheelchair (and therefore me) heading into oncoming traffic after what I’ve already been through wasn’t exactly calming.  But the place Rebecca and I checked out was pretty awesome.  I forgot my wallet so she paid.  Embarrassing. 

Today my OT informed me that my file has me listed as an “incomplete injury”.  This means that for whatever reason they believe that my brain signals TO my legs (not from… which I’m already getting to a degree and is less relevant) are making it past the point of injury.  This doesn’t promise anything and I need to learn why they think that, but it’s good news.  Incomplete injuries have a much higher rate of returning function.  Time will tell, of course.  But it’s a reason to hope - something to grab on to for now.  So I’ll take it.

The clinical psychologist told me that the majority of returning function is realized within the first 6 months.  Rarely in the first month.  Then there is a chunk that see return by month 18.  Then a small percentage see return all the way at year 2 or 3… or more.  So that’s helpful to know.

Today I lifted weights which felt great.  I also did a group exercise where we made arm movements with and without weights to some funky music.  It was a very diverse group in age and ethnicity, which was pretty cool. We shall see but I think I made some friends and it was pretty fun. 

Rebecca leaving for Mozambique today was and is by far the hardest thing to cope with.  So I’m not gonna talk about that.  She comes back May 5 which seems like a million years here.  

Nina and Erik stopped by for a bit which was nice.  They biked here on lake shore trail so I was naturally jealous but was happy to see that Erik wore a helmet for probably the first time outside of a competitive event (where it’s required).  

Okay that’s it.  Gonna have another one of the brownies that Rebecca left me.  She always, always, gives me sweets whenever we separate.  I’m not sure of her strategy there but I guess it’s working :)