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Day 111. Another Week Comes to an End.

6/13/2015

3 Comments

 
Friday's in Rehab. 

Sounds like a Netflix series doesn't it. Well let me tell you it isn't but should be. By early afternoon the staff seemed to cleared out with the exception of nursing staff and cleaners. It's quiet here on a Friday evening. It doesn't help that it is a dull rainy day here in Toronto to add to the dismal feeling of the place. 

As another week comes to an end I'm feeling a little more settled and a little more determined to make this work to my advantage. It certainly has been challenging to get me to this point medically intact. Today I had a conclusive meeting with my rehab doctors and we seem to have a solid plan in place for the coming three weeks. I have to admit I am hopeful that it will not take that long but to be honest I have no real evidence to base that on now because I am still about 20% walker and 80% chair. I have to admit to a rather productive day myself in terms of planning for my success.

Having met with the whole team of doctors, Physio, Ocupational therapist, and patient care advocates there is a plan in place for a release date which is set for July 3rd. Between now and then I have to get myself moving freely around here. So today I sat with paper and pen and their expertise and mapped out how to get there.

One of my biggest challenges has been lack of sleep. I have not slept more than two hours at any given time and no more than four hours a night for any night. I have resisted the sleeping aid that have been offered each and every night feeling like my body had had enough in it. Last night I resisted no more.  My two young female doctors reasoned with me and I took a sleeping pill at 10pm, thinking I would have lots of time to recover before physio at 9:30 the next morning. I slept from 2am to 6am, feeling better when I woke up. 

Our family are back to just Jerri, Barry and I tonight as we wait for Meghan to drive from Sudbury with Whinnie.

Mary and Sam spent their last day with us and I am so grateful to have had them here at this time. It has been a difficult time for sure and not the easiest for them to be a part of but when you have family nearby all the shitty things that happen can somehow be laughed at or put aside. We will really miss them.

We had some wonderful visitors from Italy as well! Ben and Donna have been friends with us forever and just happen to be in Barrie at this time from Italy. We had a lovely afternoon with them. Times like this it isn't just anyone you want to see but these two couples sure fit the bill today. They have made a hard week much more pleasant and tolerable for all of us.

It has been so fantastic to see everyone and have the love and distraction of family and friends. You guys got us through this to this point and I know there will be points in between. It is amazing what a fresh energy adds to a situation like this.

It was fantastic to be reminded there is a world outside this hospital. It can be all consuming while you are here and it takes every ounce of energy not to get sucked into it.

Today I felt a lot of pain. It is likely because the well-being feeling from the steroids has now lessoned and I am dealing with the real feelings of a major surgery. Add to that I had a full hour of Physio and a lesson in proper wheelchair driving and a one hour assessment and it was a long long day. I'm doing better today. I will spend the weekend doing Physio and having fun with family and on Monday my countdown to leaving here begins.

I have a binder put together with all the next steps I need to get to to make that happen and I will enjoy checking things off the list along the way.

Having had a full orthopaedic assessment I will be receiving treatment for my knees as well and other affected joints while I am here. I look forward to healing well this time and not just fast.

Thanks for being in my corner guys. Stay near and cheer me on, the hard road ahead does have a few bumps along the way.

As you start your weekend with your friends, family and loved ones pretty much free to choose what you do, enjoy every minute of it. Drink in the sunshine, eat wonderful food and drink and laugh often and loud.

Happy Weekend friends.
3 Comments
Mary
6/13/2015 06:46:24 am

It was great to be with this week and to see first hand how you are doing.
Healing well is a positive healing approach instead of healing fast !
Take care

Reply
Gert Strickland
6/14/2015 08:22:28 am

Maureen so glad you had Mary & Sam and other friends visit. You are a real trooper and obviously very determined to beat this. Still enjoy reading your blog - sending you well wishes - stay strong - as I said before you are an inspiration to so many. Hello to your family who seem to be your pillar of strength. XO

Reply
Maureen
6/14/2015 09:10:31 pm

Thanks Gert and Mary, it has been a lot of untested waters this time. Very slow, but improvement daily

Reply



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    Maureen Clout

    I'm going in for a 4th neurosurgery; this time it's a repair to my lumbar fusion. Here, I will post my daily updates on dealing with diagnosis, surgery and recovery. Join me on my journey.

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