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March 27 - Lisa came back from surgery at about 7:10 PM. It wasn't done right on time but it went smoothly and the doctor was pleased with the surgery. He said we need to wait a few days to see how the eye lid looks after the swelling goes down. Lisa was tired so she slept through the night for the most part, except when she was telling us she was cold and wanted more blankets etc. She had pain meds in the recovery room and has a patch dressing over her eye. March 25 - It seems as if the time to do this update is coming sooner and sooner. I have seen more improvements this week. They seem small steps but it is like fine tuning work. Lisa continues to do the therapies to gain strength, balance, word recognition, word comprehension, reading, and spelling. In school, she is still doing the journal, algebra and reading skills. She is starting a project on the presidents next week. Lisa went out on a day pass with her Dad and Mom last Sunday. We walked to a nearby Chinese restaurant and then drove to the Ronald McDonald House to see the House. This was the first time Lisa saw our new car. We had a good time and enjoyed the outing. The community group went to the same Chinese Restaurant (Lisa's suggestion) on Wed. They planned volleyball on Thursday; Lisa enjoyed that. And they made nacos on Friday. We are again saying goodbye to our roommate this Saturday. She has been very pleasant and Lisa has really liked having her as a roommate. Right now there aren't a lot of admissions expected so we may not get a roommate right away. Lisa's surgery is scheduled for 2:50 on March 27th. Lisa is a little nervous about it but know she "will be sleeping" for it. This is the first surgery in which she is aware of. The others she wasn't this aware of procedures. Lisa is really looking forward to coming home. She has the days counted out and when someone asks her she can name the weeks and days left here. She is still working hard to do what she needs to. I hope she doesn't slack off because she knows home is getting close. March 18 - Another week! We have been doing the same therapies with improvements noted. Still getting more strength to her arms, balance skills to legs, and also spelling and reading recognition. I see improvement as she continues to work each day. We enjoyed the warm weather this week--several days we went outside for a walk or to sit in the courtyard area. Lisa has a new roommate and prayers were answered since they are getting along well. Her roommate is 15 years old but will only be here until next week so we probably will get another roommate after that. In school, Lisa has been reading, doing a journal on the computer, and algebra. She gets homework some nights. She isn't crazy about the homework (but she never was). She is able to get on the computer without my help and do email, games etc. (Praise) Her community group was surprised to go to a coffee cafe but it turned out to be too far of a walk so they went to a food court a bit closer to the hospital where Lisa bought an ice cream cone. They played games on Thursday and made blueberry muffins on Friday. She really likes the group activities. We are still planning for the surgery on Lisa's eye on March 27. This will correct the area where the two eyelids grew together and bring the lower lid up closer to her eye for protection. We have been told to plan on a discharge date of April 12. We still aren't sure what Lisa will do as far as outpatient therapy or school education--that is still in the planning stages. March 11 - Another week has past. We see improvements as God works in Lisa's life. The therapies are all going well- -she does the same sort of things with improvement noted in balance, strength, comprehension, reading and spelling ability etc. She continues to participate in the community group. This week she went to the Gap to shop and a store where they serve cereal in many kind and varieties. Lisa ate Fruitloops with M & Ms and sunflower seeds in her cereal. She said she liked it. She got a new roommate--a 13 years old girl who will only be here short time. (Planning discharge next week). They have gotten along well and it has been good for both on them to share the teen things. Lisa went outside on Tuesday (with some visitors we had) to the cafeteria across the courtyard. She did well walking on the rough sidewalk and around the people. She is still eating well; still small amounts but good variety. She has been scheduled for plastic surgery for her right eye at the end of March. We are pleased to get this done while she in still an inpatient here. It will be a same day surgery. March 3 - Another week is over and we are now into March. It seems a lot has happened this week. The main therapies are still the same. PT is still a lot of balance work, walking, endurance and safety awareness. Lisa walked over to the gift shop again this week with the therapist and this time see didn't need any holding on to for steadying. She did the steps by herself and was able to go around objects and people even better that last time. OT is still a lot of hand-eye coordination, hand and arm strengthening, memory work and some emailing. She does the email "thing" mostly on her own, so usually they have her do that on her own time. Speech continues with memory, word recognition, puzzles for spelling, searching, and grouping words. She is improving with the reading, word recognition etc. School is still doing reading, math (I [Jean] sometimes use the calculator to check her homework), journal work is now on the computer, and public speaking. Art/Music group is a fun therapy to do with the teens. She started a new group this week--Community Group. They meet Tuesday-Friday. On Tuesday they decide what outside activity they want to do and on Wed they do it. They play physical type of games on Thursday and on Friday they make or bake something. This week they decided to shop at Urban Outfitters (Lisa walked about a mile to and from the place and had a good time). They played hockey on Thursday (Lisa's team won; she made the one and only goal--she was so excited). And on Friday they are making pizza. That is happening right now so I don't have a report of how that went--but I know Lisa was excited to go and make pizza! Lisa has been walking everywhere. They still have her wheelchair outside the door of our room but I expect it won't be there long. AND Lisa had been cut down to tube feeding for 3 hours only during the night at the beginning of the week. By the end of the week, they decided she didn't need ANYMORE. SOOO they took the feeding tube OUT! She is eating well--small amounts (she never did eat huge amounts anyway) but a good variety. I couldn't get her to try the spinach though. She is doing well. Improving every day. When staff or visitors see her they say they can't believe how much she has improved. She still has some cognitive work to do--thinking, reasoning, planning, organizing kind of things. |
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March 25
March 18
March 11
March 3
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