At Bridge Point and I suspect any other rehab center they like you to go home for a weekend before your release date. It is a way of try out real life and coming back to figure out how you can tackle the difficult bits you discovered on your weekend home. My challenge is the four hour drive will likely be my biggest challenge and I am not willing to do that for a weekend at this point. My team decided it made sense that I skip that requirement and find a way to make it work. We decide a series of outings within the city would be a good alternative.
Today we ventured out for our first in a series of a day in the life of Maureen Clout. We decide a grocery store was a good place to start. There's a Loblaws up the road. It meant me transferring into the car for the first time, driving in a car for the first time. It went well. Barry pulled the car up front and the transfer was easy. Driving in the car felt a little overwhelming even through we chose a street that wasn't very busy. The cars coming at us, pedestrians and bikers felt a bit too much. I handled it and as time went on it felt more natural. We arrived at Loblaws and parked and got out of the car with my walker. Which by the way isn't an old lady walker anymore I have graduated to a four wheeled walker complete with basket. Hey don't laugh, it means I can carry things. I can know put my clothing in the basket and bring it to the bathroom to get ready for the day. A little independence. I'll take it!
In the store everything looked so good. The fresh fruit and vegetables looked so appealing. We shopped around for a while and picked up a couple of appetizers for tomorrow night. We plan to celebrate Fathers Day by going out to a little Italian restaurant Barry has been walking by on his way to and from the hospital. We have called ahead and they are wheelchair assessable. This will be another outing for me to see my readiness for the real world.
At this point there are fourteen days to go. I am feeling hopeful yet I have not taken any steps on my own yet. We are building muscle and strength daily, but I am anxious for those first steps.
Another milestone was stairs. I did a flight of stairs today. It was scary, and felt very unnatural but it was a great beginning. Stairs are a part of life, the less we do them the less we CAN do them. I remember hearing that all those years ago when I had my first surgery. So today when she opened the door to the stairwell and I wanted to say no, I summoned the courage to do it because; I know I can and I must if I want to live in our beautiful home in Callander.
Life continues to move forward. Another weekend is here and that means I get to see my beautiful Meghan and Whinnie and all four of us get to hang out together.
Happy weekend everyone, enjoy your families and do something fun!
Today we ventured out for our first in a series of a day in the life of Maureen Clout. We decide a grocery store was a good place to start. There's a Loblaws up the road. It meant me transferring into the car for the first time, driving in a car for the first time. It went well. Barry pulled the car up front and the transfer was easy. Driving in the car felt a little overwhelming even through we chose a street that wasn't very busy. The cars coming at us, pedestrians and bikers felt a bit too much. I handled it and as time went on it felt more natural. We arrived at Loblaws and parked and got out of the car with my walker. Which by the way isn't an old lady walker anymore I have graduated to a four wheeled walker complete with basket. Hey don't laugh, it means I can carry things. I can know put my clothing in the basket and bring it to the bathroom to get ready for the day. A little independence. I'll take it!
In the store everything looked so good. The fresh fruit and vegetables looked so appealing. We shopped around for a while and picked up a couple of appetizers for tomorrow night. We plan to celebrate Fathers Day by going out to a little Italian restaurant Barry has been walking by on his way to and from the hospital. We have called ahead and they are wheelchair assessable. This will be another outing for me to see my readiness for the real world.
At this point there are fourteen days to go. I am feeling hopeful yet I have not taken any steps on my own yet. We are building muscle and strength daily, but I am anxious for those first steps.
Another milestone was stairs. I did a flight of stairs today. It was scary, and felt very unnatural but it was a great beginning. Stairs are a part of life, the less we do them the less we CAN do them. I remember hearing that all those years ago when I had my first surgery. So today when she opened the door to the stairwell and I wanted to say no, I summoned the courage to do it because; I know I can and I must if I want to live in our beautiful home in Callander.
Life continues to move forward. Another weekend is here and that means I get to see my beautiful Meghan and Whinnie and all four of us get to hang out together.
Happy weekend everyone, enjoy your families and do something fun!
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