Catherine-Ann / Pure-Grace
Oct. 18, 2022
SOMETHING NEW TO DO! (10.17.22)
Monday, October 17, 2022 6:55 PM
Hello, welcome.
Larry has a new Cadillac wheelchair that fits him well, complete with foot plates. Once the physios transferred him into it, he was instructed to wheel the chair on his own, out the door & down the hall way. He did very well. As the physios talked about what his abilities presently are, they were very pleased. Larry was super quiet when he returned & stayed in the chair for another hour or so. It's hard to know what, or even if he is thinking about getting around in a chair, as he taught hundreds of people to do during his career.
Larry was tickled, actually he said, "I'm impressed!" when I showed him the new lighter guitar case that I bought on the way in. I also remembered to bring his tuner. While in his wheelchair, he fiddled with tuning…for ever! It's not that fun to listen to & I was concerned about his roommates, not being impressed with the sounds. Of course, telling Larry that it will be fine, & no one will notice if it's not perfect is futile. He minds! He said he wants to be on his own to do it next time, so I'll take him, or he'll take himself into an open area. The O.T. brings coloured clothes pins to attach to corresponding coloured tabs. It would be great for her to see him fiddle with his guitar to get it in tune.
Our dear friend, Louise came to visit during Larry's time in the chair. She spent the morning sewing him a beautiful fisherman's pillowcase with tied flies for a pattern. She wished him good fishing dreams on it! Click on 'Pics' to have a look!
Poor Larry, no matter how hard he tries to stay awake, it just hits him & he's out. Each time he rouses, his voice is back to ventriloquist mode. Following mouth care & his tongue could move freely, we did the tongue exercises & speech practice: "Peter Piper picked…" "Bob's big bad brother" His annunciation improves with every repeat. We're really liking the eyelid/forehead exercise. Anyone with droopy eyes, give it a try! I should be looking more awake, for doing them with Larry a few times each day. He really wasn't into the elastic band exercises. I told him that he'd made a commitment to exercise. He denied that he had but did it anyway!
The social worker introduced herself to me, at my request. Nothing pressing, I just wanted to meet her before I might 'need' her. She's looking into a few things, including hospital insurance for the lost hearing aids. Also, she asked if I would like a parking pass. Are you kidding? Of course! Such gift & didn't even ask. I let her know that we'd had very rude awakenings on Larry's 'false alarm' transfer from Surrey to New West. She said that we would be given a heads-up prior to Larry's transfer, so that when they get the call, that the rehab centre has a spot for him, we won't be in total shock.
I was really getting tired at 4:30 & told Larry that I was going home. "Don't go!" with big puppy eyes. Now he wakes up! When the aids came in to see him, I went for a coffee. I called Mary-Lynn & she was already at the hospital, just getting Larry his ice chips. When I arrived, they were having a pillow fight. Larry told me that I could go now! Those 2 really bring out the goofy in each other. It was fun to see Larry so animated, making faces & hand gestures at his sister. She sent me a message a few minutes ago, saying that she sat him up on the side of his bed with his feet planted on the floor. She has assisted patients for years in a similar condition to Larry's. She said that he needed very little assist & did core strengthening exercises, then sit-ups. That is the area of his body that is least worked on, so I'm sure he was happy to do it. All afternoon he kept asking when the physios were coming back, but their time with him was the wheelchair transfer & fitting it to him & wheeling down the hall & back. Mary-Lynn's workout with him would have satisfied his desire to workout with the physios.
The harder I, or anyone works with Larry, the harder he works & positive results are showing.
God bless you! Hope you found something today to celebrate over, even if it was the crunch of autumn leaves under your feet or a great cuppa tea! xoxo