7:30PM

Hi its me again (Bev). I’m home!! And believe it or not I’m home for good. It feels so good to wake up in my own bed with Dave beside me!!!!!!!!!!!! They took me by surprise when they said I could go home on June 30th but I wasn’t going to argue! Physio hasn’t started yet but it should be soon. They called today and she has someone in Aurora but nothing was said. We were out twice this weekend – once to my younger brother Ed’s for Christen’s birthday (on Sat) and once to Grace & Ron’s (on Sunday) for dinner. I may have been exhausted but it was worth it.

Message from Dave: Sorry about last weeks blog, or lack of it.  Somehow when I tried to post the blog it disapeared. I didn't realize it until we started this one. Hopefully Bev will be assessed and approved this week for physio and occupational therapy. Most of it should take place at home but we may have to travel once a week to Scarborough.  Our social life seems to be getting back in gear with invitations for dinners and people coming to our house to visit.  It sure beats driving to downtown Toronto every day.

8:30

Hi its me again (Bev).  Home for the weekend but have to go back to rehab in about an hour.  Dave had a good fathers day.  Both Lynne and Janice came to visit today, both on separate occasions, but it was nice to see them.  From what I gather nothing much is new so I guess things are carrying on without me.

 Update from Dave:  The weekend was very busy with many visitors plus someone from Rehab First who came to evaluate Bev's needs for ongoing care once she comes home.  Bev's discharge date has been moved from July 12th to June 30th.  Last week Bev went back to the eye doctor once again. The doctors are satisfied that Bev's right eye is in good condition but there is no indication that her sight in that eye will return.  Bev also went to a stroke clinic but the doctor put off any treatment until he could review Bev's MRI results from the Texas hospital. Bev goes to a Plastics Clinic today where a plastic surgeon will look at the scars on her arms.

6:30

Hi, this is Dave,

Bev wasn't up to doing the blog this weekend, nothing serious, just too many things got in the way and she ran out of time.  Hopefully she will be able to see to the unanswered e-mails using Toronto Rehab's computer during the week. I will try to get her back to doing the blog next weekend.  Thanks for sending her e-mails, she is always suprised when someone takes the time to send her one.  Answering them is good therapy for her hands, it takes some time for her to type in a reply so please be patient if she hasn't answered yet.

The therapists introduced a new clinic in Bev's list of therapies called a balance clinic. In controlled conditions they push her over to measure her reaction to prevent her fall and practice ways for Bev to retain her balance.  Bev also went back to St. Mikes last week to a fracture clinic where they confirmed that all her bones have healed, so physiotherapy can step up her exercises without fear of injury.  They also confirmed that Bev's left arm has some healing issues, apparently when serious fractures occur at the same time as a significant brain injury the body goes into overdrive when producing new bone material.  This excess bone material has fused the two bones in Bev's lower left arm and also produced an excessive amount of bone in Bev's upper left arm.  This stops Bev from being able to rotate her left hand as the two arm bones cannot move independently, also Bev cannot bend her left elbow any tighter than 90 degrees. The doctor explained that in about 1 year he could operate to remove all the plates in Bev's arm as well as the excess Bone material. This should return a greater range of movement to Bev's arm but would require a lot more physiotherapy. It will be up to Bev whether she wants to have it done or not.  This week we are off to St. Mikes on Wednesday to see the eye doctor again and on Friday for a stroke clinic.  Combining this with all the different therapy clinics makes the days go by faster. Bev comes home for good no later than July 12th so only one more month to go.  It feels like I haven't had a chance to catch my breath since the accident Feb 5.

4 PM

HI IT’S Me (Bev) I,M home for the weekend!




Thanks for taking an interest in the blog and a special thanks to Dave for doing it. How he found the time is beyond me but I guess it was a lot quicker than going over and over and over everything on the phone; I’m doing better but I’m still in rehab and only come home on the weekends. What a bore



We went out this morning (or should I say early this afternoon). My E.I.is now up to date and they should get it deposited on Tuesday. I wanted to look for some new furniture too but believe it or not Newmarket doesn’t have a furnioture store (such as a Brick or Leons.) So we settled for visiting the Churher’s. Peter wasn’t home but we had a nice chat with DIANE and Holly,





Talk to you’ALL next weekend.

Love and thanks for all your support.

Bev

 
Hi, this is Dave,  as you can see Bev is taking over my duties on the Blog. After 4 months and 100 blogs I feel it is time to step aside and let Bev stay in touch directly.  If there is  anyone out there still reading the Blog I will get Bev to update it every weekend. As Bev's health improves I find I am spending more time directly involved in her care and not just visiting every day.  Weekends are spent almost constantly with her so it's only fair that she does her part and takes over the communications duties. If you want to contact Bev directly please e-mail her at owenfam@live.ca  Hopefully Bev will be able to answer you next weekend.
 
Thanks for your support,
 
Dave

7 AM

Bev came home Friday afternoon for the weekend, she will be coming home every weekend from now on.  Bev's walking is improving, she can get around the house without using a walker as long as someone is close by.  We went shopping for shoes and went to the nursery for plants, she supervises while I plant.  Some friends dropped in to say hello and Bev enjoyed that very much. Bev's stamina is improving every week, she spends less time sleeping during the day.  Bev received a lounge chair on Saturday that lays back almost horizontal for naps and then tips forward and up so she can stand up from a sitting position without assistance, all with the touch of a button.

7 AM

Just a quick update.  There were no major events this week. Bev was busy every day with the therapists. She continues to improve and is starting to walk up some stairs with assistance.  Bev is no longer being fed overnight through the tube to her stomach, this has improved her appetite during the day.  If Bev maintains her weight the tube will be removed within the next few weeks.

6 AM

Bev was able to come home for the weekend, she suffers from car sickness so she takes gravol for both the trip home and the trip back to rehab.  Bev cannot climb stairs to the second floor so we set up a bedroom in the dining room at the front of the house. Bev spent most of Saturday sleeping. We set up a small bed in the family room and Bev went from sitting in a chair to laying in the small bed most of Sunday and Monday. She was able to join visiting family members at the table for dinner both Saturday and Sunday. Bev was in good spirits all weekend.  Bev will probably be able to come home every weekend from now on and hopefully be able to have more visitors.

There was a "family" meeting on Friday at Toronto Rehab, Bev, Kim and I attended. This was a meeting to review Bev's progress and determine further treatments. The staff of Toronto Rehab plus a representative from Rehab First, Bev's Case Manager and Bev's lawyer were present. Rehab First will be providing Bev's ongoing rehab once she is home. It was confirmed that Bev will be released from Toronto Rehab on July 12th. The staff at Toronto Rehab said that considering the extent of Bev's injuries they were surprised and pleased at the progress she was making but noted that she still had a very long way to go and that home treatment would be needed for a long time. On Monday afternoon someone came to assess the house to see what aids Bev will need right away as well as further down the road.