Catherine-Ann / Pure-Grace
Oct. 15, 2022
HEADS UP! (10.14.22)
Friday, October 14, 2022
4:34 PM
Hello, thanks for joining us.
Earlier today, I thought that maybe because the days seem so similar, that I'd blog every other day.
Larry was very blah again! He had just been transferred back to bed because of experiencing nausea during his physio session in the wheelchair. He was riding it out quietly. I asked if he could do some arm exercises with the elastic resistance bands. He worked his upper body with them, for 20 min, then he did more with his 3 # weights in each hand.
The speech therapist encouraged Larry to do swallowing exercises on his own. She also said it was good that he was working at exaggerating mouth movements while doing the speech exercises. She encouraged him to work at increasing his volume, with proper breathing & being conscious of his diaphragm. She said she hadn't really heard him speak in sentences. I asked him to sing her "Happy Birthday!" & he did. She was tickled.
I brought Larry's guitar in today! He had said "No!" to me a couple of times, re: playing his guitar. When I called for help to transfer Larry back to bed, the 'perky' duo convinced him to give it a go, & they would dance to his music. He did play for a while. It wasn't any particular song, but he strummed for a wee while.
His nurse for the past 2 days has been so obliging. She, along with a very 'perky' aid transferred him back to the wheelchair. Larry had said "Yes!" to a change of scene, out of his room. Once he sized up the construction site for the new hospital tower, he closed his eyes. I moved to another area & what caught his attention was a TV screen, running infomercials. He asked me what we were waiting for, thinking he was on his way to somewhere, for an Xray or test of some sort. When we got back to his room, he watched the activities of children & dogs in the park across the street. We managed with this wheelchair that is missing foot rests which inhibits some activity. A physio assist stopped by to tell us that he is scouring the hospital to find foot rests. I was sure to thank the head physio for making it happen.
I asked Larry if he was depressed, or how he feels about social interaction. He said he didn't know why he wasn't social. I asked if he was sad & he said "Yes!" When I asked if he'd like to speak with a councilor, he said he was fine on his own. I've got a few ideas that I'll look into.
When I got home, the phone rang. When 'Fraser Health' comes up on call display, it used to make me very nervous, as it was always bad news. Today, it was the hospital doctor who has seen Larry for two weeks. He said that Larry's blood work is good & the therapists are all giving positive reports, and it's possible that he could be moving to a rehab facility, after next week, if he keeps progressing. A while back, he emphatically said "No!" to going to GF Strong, if it were even possible. A couple of days ago, he asked the doctor if he could go there. We're just praying that wherever he goes will be the very best for him.
. Take care! Let's try to stay healthy, while so many around us are getting sick. I am grateful for those who are respecting Larry's vulnerability & not visiting with even the slightest sniffle or scratchy throat. He sure doesn't need 'one more thing'! God bless you!