7:30 AM

Bev has been moved to another room. If you are looking for her she is on the same floor, room 40.  Bev is still in isolation so gown and gloves are still required. Bev's ability to stand on her own is slowly improving and the physiotherapist now has Bev standing, facing the wall while holding on to a hand rail. While doing this Bev can shuffle her feet about 3 meters to the right and then back to the left. While still standing Bev does the following exercises 10 times each, stands on her toes, stands on her heels, kicks each leg back.  After all this Bev goes for a walk in her stand-up walker.  The physiotherapist assists Bev through all of these exercises. 

7 AM

Bev had a quiet Easter weekend, no chocolate bunnies but her sister did bring Bev a dark chocolate Aero bar.  Bev is able to feed herself with her right hand and is slowly increasing the amount she eats. She says the coffee all tastes burnt. Bev can't get from a prone position to a sitting position on her own but once sitting on the edge of the bed she is able to stand up on her own, if only for a few seconds, without support. With Kim and I supporting her Bev is able to slowly walk the 15 feet to the washroom and back. Bev has been off the oxycotin for over 1 week and the episodes of imagining things seem to be diminishing.

9:30 AM

Bev made good progress with her physio this week, on Wednesday she was put in a stand up walker in the hallway and was able to walk on her own to the end of the hall and half way back. While Bev is doing this 2 people walk on each side of her but hold her up as little as possible, I push the wheelchair behind her so that she can have an occasional rest.  Bev now gets 3 puree meals a day but she eats very little, she complains of feeling full and bloated constantly. We have convinced the nutritionist to stop feeding Bev through her stomach during the day and to cut back on feeding her at night. Hopefully this will increase Bev's appetite but it must be hard to get excited about pureed food.  Today I will take her in a Tim Hortons coffee and a straw.

7 PM

Bev had a good weekend with lots of visitors, she is always suprised when people show up and she enjoys the visits, as long as she can stay awake.  Therapy started again on Monday including short walks around the room with 2 helpers and now Bev is putting round pegs in round holes with her right hand using a board and pegs that look a lot like a childs toy. After two and a half months on oxygen Bev is finally off it. She is maintaining a good enough oxygen level in her blood on her own.  The congestion in her chest has almost gone completely.  No word yet on when Bev can be removed from isolation or when she can be transferred to a rehab facility.

5:30

The last 3 days Bev has been in the routine of Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy every day. Bev shows slow improvement in her hands and arms. Her right hand and arm is way ahead of her left. Bev can almost hold up a magazine with her right hand but can't turn the pages.  The 2 physiotherapists have been working on Bev's walking and she can walk across the room with one person on each side of her holding her up. Bev gets lifted into her wheelchair every day but can only sit in it for 30 minutes before it hurts too much and she has to get back to bed. Bev does get a snack of pudding or rice pudding or apple sauce 3 times a day but quite often she is too full to eat them.  Bev is still on oxycotin pain killer every 4 hours but it is having an effect on her. She imagines all kinds of things. Hopefully the dosage can be reduced to every 6 hours with none at night by next week.

8 AM

Bev had her left upper arm brace removed late Monday.  This will make it easier for her to do the occupational therapy exercises.  Bev's left arm has taken the longest time to heal , Bev is just beginning to be able to move her left fingers, wrist and elbow a little bit without a great deal of pain. There is still some swelling in Bev's left arm and hand. Tuesday morning Bev finally got her chocolate pudding. She is now supposed to get a pureed snack 3 times a day. Bev's right hand isn't strong enough yet to hold the spoon so she has to be fed.

7 PM

Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Bev has been a little more with it for the last 3 days. The eye doctor is treating her right eye for an infection. Bev had visitors all 3 days and for the most part she stayed awake and had good visits. The weekends are slow so we spent most of the time doing exercises, washing her hair, and taking care of her hands and feet. I am able to transfer Bev in and out of her wheelchair without using a lift so that makes life easier as we don't have to rely on hospital staff so much. I was told it will probably be the end of the month before Bev is transfered to a rehab facility. The oxycotin pain killer is still making Bev confused sometimes but overall she is in good spirits.

April 8th 6:15 AM

Wednesday and Thursday were quiet for Bev, she slept most of the time.  Bev wasn't her usual self with the physiotherapist. They have done a chest x-ray and are conducting urine and blood tests to see if Bev has picked up an infection that is making her so lethargic.  Bev is also complaining that her right eye is causing her pain so the nurse is arranging for a doctor to look at it.  It doesn't look like Bev will get to try her chocolate pudding until next week.

April 5th 9 PM

Bev was back hard at work with the physiotherapist Monday and Tuesday.  Today, after a workout with the physiotherapist on her legs and arms she went through another session with the occupational therapist on her arms and hands.  Later the Speech therapist showed up to try feeding Bev applesauce and try to have Bev drink water from a cup. The applesauce worked out better than the water.  Bev gets to try again on Thursday with chocolate pudding. Hopefully by the end of the week Bev will be having snacks 3 times a day to go with her normal meals through the stomach tube.

Apr 4th 9 AM

Saturday and Sunday are quiet days at the hospital, a few visitors and no rehab. Bev was awake and alert on Saturday but Sunday she slept most of the afternoon.  Today it's back to rehab.

Apr 1st 5 PM

Thursday and Friday were exactly the same. Bev had physiotherapy in the morning, she was able to balance herself for a short period while sitting on the side of her bed. After physiotherapy she was transferred to a wheelchair.  We went for a tour of the floor and by the time we arrived back at Bev's room she was exhausted and in pain.  Bev had visitors on both days, which she enjoys but sometimes has a hard time staying awake for the visit.  Bev is on a pain killer called Oxycotin or some name like that. It can leave her a little confused about events and doesn't help her short term memory at all.  Saturday and Sunday there is no physiotherapy.