A shower!!!

Today was my second day of PT and OT, and it was definitely a harder day today.

Yesterday we worked on arm strengthening and getting into a wheelchair, which I did twice. This is quite a challenge. First, I have to log roll into a brace, roll onto my side and push up to the side of the bed. I can do most of this myself, people are now just moving my legs for me. This is the easy part. However, this is what I have been doing for a few weeks now. That gives me great hope that in a few weeks the following will be easy too. Putting a rectangular board under one leg making a bridge from the bed to the wheelchair, then lifting and moving myself over the board to the chair. It is not sliding, which sounds more practical. And, I feel like I am doing none of the work. Pray for more upper body strength to come soon with all these exercises as there is definitely a need for them in every task I do. Whew! So that is getting in. Then, once I am there, I am fairly comfortable. I am learning how to control the wheelchair, make turns, and try to keep going straight instead of my typical veering to the right. I also from the wheelchair go into a big gym to exercise. They have great machines and gadgets to help my progression. So, then the ardorous process of getting back into bed. I did that twice yesterday!!

But, today was even more amazing. I got into the wheelchair at 11:00 for PT and when that workout was over, decided to stay in the wheelchair until OT at 1:30. That is the longest stretch I've been up. I was quite proud. The best news is that when my OT Kathy came in, she said that she would give me a SHOWER! Okay, first shower in 5 weeks. Yippie! Sponge bathing is only so good. There is nothing quite like the water hitting you for the first time in a while. I was so grateful for it. I can tell why we did it in therapy, it was hard work to move to the shower chair (imagine the wheelchair move above while wet!). But, well -worth the effort as I am now SO clean and comfortably in bed for the rest of the night. It was a successful day.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support. Progress is being made each day. It's great to have the success toward reaching my many goals. Lastly, I received a tentative time of stay here at 4 weeks. I will trust that each day brings me closer home. God's grace, strength, and hope has covered me daily, giving me just what I need to take one day at a time.

With big smiles and much love,
Jess