Days til brace off: 35
Days til move into new apartment, leave RIC, and start outpatient therapy: 16
Looks like I’ll probably leave here June 7. I’m a little stressed about the decrease in therapy and coming up with ways to do things at home. At least the apartment has a pool and gym (I think).
The last couple days have been hard because my back became extremely sore from walking on the treadmill. That’s good, because that means my back is getting stronger and I wasn’t JUST using my arms to move. But it hurts like hell, too.
Yesterday I did some Wii therapy, MotoMed (again), stretching, and whatever you call laying on your side and swinging your leg that is dangling from a rope. That’s a great leg-strengthening therapy, actually. Really good workout. I was hurting by the end of the day so decided to take it easy.
Today we went to the airport. We left early and got back around 4, so it pretty much took up the whole day. It was an interesting experience. United was nice enough to show us how it would work if we were to travel with a wheelchair. We had fake boarding passes made up, went through security, went to the gate, boarded the plane using this tiny thing they call an aisle chair that wheels you down the aisle, and got in the seats. Since it was so hot on the plane (something was wrong - surprise), we got to sit in the business first class seats.
It took what I considered to be too much of the day, but at least I got to see what it was like to go through the process of air travel with a wheelchair. I certainly wouldn’t want a bunch of connecting flights.
Kip was also one of the six of us that went to the airport. I mentioned him before - he has the exact same injury as me and even had the same surgery. He had more movement after the accident, which would technically be more than zero, I guess. He can now kick out his left leg completely but has no foot movement. I’m kind of backwards of that. So we caught up and talked about different things we’re experiencing, changes, etc. It was good. He is also extremely determined to walk again. He said once he can walk with a walker without any braces he’ll never sit in the wheelchair again. Not sure I have the same logic, but it’s nice to talk to someone else so driven.
That’s about it. Rebecca and I played chinese checkers and Jenga for a bit and enjoyed the nice weather outside. I was good at cc but seem to have had an off night at Jenga. I do not like to lose. Ever! haha…
Come June 7, I’ll be in an apartment. I scarcely remember what my life was like before the accident, so it’ll be strange to be sleeping in a normal bed, without nurses and PCTs coming in every so often for drugs, vital checks, shots, etc. I think they just like waking me up. I’m excited and nervous. I guess that means anxious. I’m mainly curious to see how much the therapy situation changes when I’m not staying here. I only get 60 days or sessions (trying to determine that big difference) of outpatient therapy/year.
G’night!
Chip
No comments:
Post a Comment