Friday, July 18

The good news is that yesterday, at the staff meeting, Tommy's treatment team at the acute rehab center decided to keep him there until the 29th, which means he will receive another week and a half of intense therapies, all of which are helping him. However, the not so good news is that the team made this decision despite the consensus that Tommy has been very slow to improve in the functional areas that are so crucial if he wants to return home; these include the ability to stand during transfers, to move his right leg (which, of course, will be necessary before walking is even a possibility), and to become continent. The decision to keep him for more treatment was based on Tommy's obvious cognitive improvement--the hope is that, during the remainder of his stay, this improvement will translate into improved functional abilities. The social worker has asked me to give her, by Monday, a short list of my choices of skilled nursing facilities in the area, so that she can arrange for Tommy's transfer to one of them on the 29th. A skilled nursing facility doesn't offer as much therapy as an acute rehab center, but until he's able to help with transfers and is continent, it will be a safe place for him. The center's therapists have been showing me how I can help Tommy with various exercises while he's in the "skf", but the biggest hurdle remains Tommy's ability to bear his own weight--something only he can do!