Monday, August 11

This afternoon's therapy session was very good, with OT therapist Barb taking the lead and PT therapist Loretta (called "Red" for her long curly hair) offering some intensive follow-up. The high point was Tommy using a walker with the two of them on either side and Pearl, the therapy department's assistant, following close behind with the wheelchair. Tommy walked about 15 feet. Afterward, with Red, he practiced pulling himself up from his wheelchair to a standing position, with his hands on a walking bar in front of him. (Red showed me something I hadn't realized--it's easier to pull yourself up than to push yourself up; i.e., it's easier to stand up by pulling on the bar than it is to stand up by pushing down against the wheelchair's armrests.) All of these efforts are aimed at the goals of Tommy being able to help a single caregiver with his own "transfers" (i.e., the "moderate assist" level) and of being able to use a walker assisted by one caregiver.
When Tommy's sister Elaine came yesterday, she brought us a huge box of tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden. Time to make up a huge batch of tomato sauce and freeze it in small containers. Tommy and I will have many delicious spaghetti dinners--thanks, Elaine!