Catherine-Ann / Pure-Grace
Nov. 20, 2022
ENJOYING THE BEAUTY OF THE AFTERNOON SKY ON ANOTHER QUIET DAY (11.19.22)
Hello, welcome to our quiet Saturday! (Photo is of today's 3:00 sky from Larry's window.!
That Roho mattress cradles him beyond comfort, 'like sleeping on a cloud! He's been in it for so long. The doctor's instructions, from 3 wks. ago, to "Get out of that bed, during the day!" hasn't sunk in. He needs to be coaxed/ encouraged to get into his chair every day. I asked him today, to take the initiative in doing all the things that he can, & not wait to be told. Many days, I say hello when I arrive & he immediately asks me to do this or that for him. That's not what I want our daily interaction to be about: not instructor/student; helper/invalid, when it comes to things that he is very capable of doing & are necessary toward him gaining independence. We have to shake our heads, or at least I do, & see when we're stuck in a rut that doesn't promote moving forward. I am grateful for any family or friends who can talk to him from a therapist or coach's perspective. He's tired of me appealing to his kinesiologist/therapist knowledge & experiences, regarding such things.
No therapies today! Larry looked through an instruction booklet for exercises for him to do on his own, to build up & mobilize his upper body. I asked him what he thought of only having 20 minutes 4 - 5 times a week, to get him walking, & less than that, for his hands & arms. He nodded & said "Ya, I know!" So, I am hoping that will translate into him doing 10 minutes of these (doable) exercises from his bed or wheelchair, possibly every 2 hours throughout the day. For so long, he has not had to make any choices. Every personal need has been anticipated & taken care of by staff. Please pray that his enthusiasm & determination get a boost of positivity, to help him shift into higher gear!
We played a game of cards & chatted about recent messages & happenings from family & friends. Together, we did some of the exercises from the booklet he'd looked over. They were good for me too, with my bad neck & shoulders.
Larry called our aunties to see if their covid lock-down was over. Thankfully, after 21 days at their seniors' residence, they are free to leave their suites. More & more, the staff at the hospital are putting on the 'yellow gowns' worn for patients in isolation. The sign is still on a door to a room that says "For covid staff only!" So much stress for the already very hard-working staff.
Tomorrow, I imagine will be another quiet day. Hopefully Larry is spurred on by what he read today & the exercises we did together. In the past, when it 'clicks in', he's been found to be loudly annunciating the letters of the alphabet, doing his throat exercises & some arm stretches.
Friends helped me with replacing the burned-out signal light on our car, on my way home. For 2 days, I've jokingly said that I'm only making right hand turns, with my left-hand rear signal light, kaput. They also kept me for dinner. Larry will be so pleased as they sent a lovely piece of baked salmon that I know he'll enjoy tomorrow. Hope you have a great Sunday! God bless you!