08/03/2012, Kingston, Ontario
As a thank you to the staff on Kidd 7 at KGH I made some cookies (50/50, meaning 50 % chocolate 50% dough) which I took over fresh for the shift change this morning. Everyone was asking how Al was transitioning. Al is making the change and adjusting to a more rigorous routine. His first couple of days he seemed sad and overwhelmed but I think that is normal. I am leaving him alone more now so he can engage in his therapies and realize his potential.
Miss Bridget has a Wellness appointment this afternoon with her new veterinarian. After she receives her up to date paper work I will take her to SMOL to see Al. Her clean bill of health will go on Al's file and she can visit in his room.
I plan to take the lap top on Saturday night and Bridget and the three of us will cozy up in bed and watch some GLEE.
I'm trying to add the cookie link here, hopefully it works, my computer expert is in the hospital.
| Kingston, Ontario |
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Comments [3]
08/01/2012, Kingston, Ontario
Al made the trek to St. Mary's early Tuesday morning. Yesterday was a settling in day and meeting his physician and some of his "team". Today he had some Speech and Physio. Starting tomorrow his boot camp will start with Speech/communication at 11 a.m., Physio at 1 and Occupational Therapy at 3 p.m. His Speech is with Audrey and his PT and OT are both a Jennifer so he won't have many names to learn. The food is better at SMOL, its all made on site. I think Al was pretty overwhelmed today and we think a new UTI is brewing. So blood and urine is being checked and tomorrow his PIC line is to be removed. It can just be removed at the bed side by a physician. Let the rehab Games begin.
| Kingston, Ontario |
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07/30/2012, Kingston, Ontario
As of tomorrow; Tuesday, Al will be kissing KGH goodbye. We were told this afternoon he will be transferred to St. Mary's sometime tomorrow morning. We are both ready for this to happen. With the summer vacation schedule Al did not get physiotherapy here today so the timing is perfect for his move.
| Kingston, Ontario |
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07/30/2012, Kingston, Ontario
The weekend for the most part was very good. Saturday Al was a bit lazy and didn't get up in his chair. I let him rest for the Sunday visit with Natasha. Al was dressed and ready for her arrival around 10:30. I hunted down a Chair and we got him in the chair for his lunch, then headed to the water front. Natasha can attest to how difficult those chairs are to man handle. Bridget arrived for a visit and as you can see she was quite happy to be pushed around. Her visit added to Al's already very good mood. We are hoping for news of Al's transfer to St. Mary's this week.
| Kingston, Ontario |
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07/28/2012, Kingston, Ontario
Al has gone up another notch on the food chain. His next step will be a regular diet. This morning he got toast (sans crust) and Cheerios. A welcome change from oat meal and cream of wheat and puddings and fruit sauces. His new diet allows him choices which is nice. He is becoming more independent during meal time.
I am a bit of an enabler and I was busted yesterday helping Rodney shave. I had not clued into the fact that OT(Occupational Therapy) had been trying to get him more independent for his impending discharge. Ooops. It was discovered he was not advancing to independence quickly because I was dancing to his tune. His OT explained to him that he needed to shave himself, because I wouldn't be going home with him. (What a relief that was to hear.) If he asked me for help, I gave it. Its just my nature. So now that I have been instructed not to help him but to encourage him that he can do things himself, guess I will get more knitting done now. This forced me to think about how much help I am giving Al. So I am trying to step back and let him do more things for himself.
Unfortunately Al does have a degree of aphasia. His cognition is impaired. I think with time and strategies this will improve. He can communicate. A lot of words have escaped him but he still manages to get his point across with a lot of non-verbal communication. His therapist has already given me some strategies.
I am seeing a bit more movement in his right leg every day. This is super encouraging. No improvement yet in his right arm but based on my own experience I am not surprised and I will not let go of the idea that it will return in time and with intense therapy.
| Kingston, Ontario |
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07/27/2012, Kingston, Ontario
I took Friday afternoon off and Kiley and I rented a car and went to the Faris'cottage on Charleston Lake. Bridget came for the outting and enjoyed some swim time with Kiley.
Al has been accepted to SMOL. He could go as early as next week, as soon as a bed becomes available. We are very excited for him to get there and have much more intense physiotherapy and speech therapy. My sister Cathy was going to see over him at dinner tonight. Once he gets St. Mary's I will back off on the amount of time I spend with him. He will be involved in rigorous therapy and he needs time to become more independent in his daily activities.
| Kingston, Ontario |
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