2004-03-04
I am excited to report that Lois is making excellent progress with physical therapy. Yesterday when I visited, Linda the PT was there for her session. She is working on Lois getting out of bed and into her wheelchair and then from the wheelchair into bed. Lois is able to do this with only a minor amount of assistance. But the most exciting progress was made in the walking. At Brothers Lois walked with a special walker called a “hemmy walker” which is used like a cane with four legs. While she was at Brothers Lois could only walk with a PT holding her up and that person sliding her weak leg forward with each step. Lois is now able to pull her weak leg forward and take a step and do this without much help from the therapist. I saw Lois walk across her room to a chair and then sit down almost exclusively by herself. This is amazing progress. The therapist says that sometimes this sort of progress occurs in stroke patients. Brothers was sure that Lois had plateaued and reached her potential. This was obviously incorrect. Lois has been adamant about doing her exercises. She has learned how to manipulate her weak leg by using her hip. We have also been working on the car transfers which gets better each time we do it. Lois has a Drs apt on Mar 11 and we plan to drive there in my car instead of taking the wheelchair van. Not only will this be a money savings but will save time and aggravation.
ABOUT LOIS’ BIRTHDAY: On Wednesday, March 10 we will be holding an informal “stop by and visit and have some cake” birthday party at the Weinberg Campus from 3 – 6 PM. The Garden House building is the last entrance to the Weinberg Campus on N. Forest Rd. (1710 N. Forest Rd) Lois is in room 145. Short visits are requested and also NO gifts (cards only). Lois is not good with a crowd of people in her room so we ask that you visit with only one or two people at a time.