Courtney laughed again today just at the reminder of her conversation with Catherine. After breakfast I asked Courtney "is there anything I can get you?" She said "Emma." I told Courtney Emma was home but later in the morning Emma came to visit. Courtney was very happy! Courtney ate french fries today thanks to Auntie Debbie. She's eating grapes and canteloupe for breakfast but not enough food throughout the day.
As Courtney continues to get better she is staying awake for longer and longer. She's also doing alot of walking - lots and lots of walking! Today Courtney wanted me to bring her on the stairs but I said "oh no!" that's a job for the therapists AND Mom! The only stairs I'm walking on alone with Courtney are the carpeted stairs at home!
As Courtney's speech gets better she is making her wants and needs known more and more. Today she asked to take a bath tub instead of shower. That's something that will have to wait until you get home Courtney. We love all the progress that's being made and will start the countdown to coming home tomorrow - February 1st.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Courtney's Laughing
Courtney had a great visit with her friend Catherine today and laughed for the first time since the accident. It was a wonderful sound to hear. Catherine was telling stories from their overnight trips to Alton Jones Camp and how they tortured the poor boys on the trip! With each reminder of teasing Courtney laughed and smiled broader and brighter.
This was at the end of a great day of therapy and being awake most of the day. We showed pictures of our house to Courtney as her memory is of living in Cranston. She wanted to know why she didn't recognize our house and I explained it was because we just moved there in June. We will show Courtney pictures of our home every day so that she will feel comfortable when she comes home. As we were discussing coming home I told Courtney "you'll be coming home in 3 weeks" and she said "or maybe 2?" Maybe! We'll see but more likely 3 - around the 20th. We are still working on getting Courtney to eat. She only had about 200 calories yesterday. We are trying to offer and give her anything and everything!
This was at the end of a great day of therapy and being awake most of the day. We showed pictures of our house to Courtney as her memory is of living in Cranston. She wanted to know why she didn't recognize our house and I explained it was because we just moved there in June. We will show Courtney pictures of our home every day so that she will feel comfortable when she comes home. As we were discussing coming home I told Courtney "you'll be coming home in 3 weeks" and she said "or maybe 2?" Maybe! We'll see but more likely 3 - around the 20th. We are still working on getting Courtney to eat. She only had about 200 calories yesterday. We are trying to offer and give her anything and everything!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Mom's Update
Courtney's morning was once again packed with activity. Courtney went from task to task in the shower this morning with very little prompting. She is even bending over to pull on socks and shoes (something she's not really supposed to do because of the baclofin pump).
She did a lot of reading today and is working on orientation to place, date and time. Some days are better than others. Because Courtney's oldest memories will return first she often says that she lives in Cranston rather than in South Kingstown where we moved in June. We are going to bring pictures of the new house and the rooms, especially her bedroom, so that she can recall those memories.
Today Courtney asked me "do you still have meetings?" I said "are you asking me if I am going to work?" she nodded yes. I explained that I have not been to work and am staying with Courtney until she gets better. Then Courtney said "it's a good thing I didn't get hurt worse."
HA! The therapist and I couldn't believe it. At this point Courtney can't begin to imagine how hurt she was but I did tell her that she was very very sick and asleep for a long time that is why we get so excited about her walking and eating, etc.
Because Courtney's morning was filled with therapy she was somewhat overwhelmed and at one point crying she said "it's all to much." It certainly is to much for anyone of us to comprehend what our little Courtney has fought her way back from but we are so proud of her.
While she didn't eat alot today she is trying food a little bit at a time. After trying several things this afternoon Courtney threw up her hands and shook her head showing frustration at not enjoying anything. This is a good sign that she is at least willing to try so we will keep praying that every day she will be more interested in eating and food will start to taste good.
She did a lot of reading today and is working on orientation to place, date and time. Some days are better than others. Because Courtney's oldest memories will return first she often says that she lives in Cranston rather than in South Kingstown where we moved in June. We are going to bring pictures of the new house and the rooms, especially her bedroom, so that she can recall those memories.
Today Courtney asked me "do you still have meetings?" I said "are you asking me if I am going to work?" she nodded yes. I explained that I have not been to work and am staying with Courtney until she gets better. Then Courtney said "it's a good thing I didn't get hurt worse."
HA! The therapist and I couldn't believe it. At this point Courtney can't begin to imagine how hurt she was but I did tell her that she was very very sick and asleep for a long time that is why we get so excited about her walking and eating, etc.
Because Courtney's morning was filled with therapy she was somewhat overwhelmed and at one point crying she said "it's all to much." It certainly is to much for anyone of us to comprehend what our little Courtney has fought her way back from but we are so proud of her.
While she didn't eat alot today she is trying food a little bit at a time. After trying several things this afternoon Courtney threw up her hands and shook her head showing frustration at not enjoying anything. This is a good sign that she is at least willing to try so we will keep praying that every day she will be more interested in eating and food will start to taste good.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday and Wednesday update
Yesterday Courtney worked very hard all morning walking, talking and reading. She walked with the LiteGait which is a machine that rolls along while Courtney is strapped in by a harness. It helps with weight bearing so that Courtney can walk further. It is not comfortable and walking can be painful because of muscles that were tight for so long and 8 weeks in bed. During Courtney's walk on the LiteGait she was crying and saying "it's not fair" and "why?" We all agreed with Courtney that it's not fair but unfortunately I don't have an answer as to why.
I do know that Courtney's miraculous recovery is due to the prayers of many faithful and God's mercy.
Today Courtney told me "I don't deserve this" - she's right no one deserves this. But I told Courtney that she is a fighter and that she has come a long long way and will get better. This afternoon I said "Courtney, you're amazing, do you know that?" She nodded yes! Courtney walked further today than ever and did the stairs with great skill. She is showering and dressing with almost no help at all. Courtney is also reading which will, in the long run, help her speech. After showering we visited the "kitchen" in the rehab gym which is used to help retrain patients in day to day tasks. Courtney put utensils away in the proper compartment with no instruction. She then went on to put cans of coke, milk cartons and juice cups away with like items in the fridge. She did both these tasks with only one instruction "put them away." That shows remarkeable organization and sequencing skills this early in recovery.
Later Courtney and I were making Valentines hearts. Courtney took different colored hearts and layered them without any prompting from me. That shows creativity. Another part of the brain working properly.
The last big hurdle before leaving Braintree is still eating. I have been praying that she will start eating. Please pray with us that Courtney will begin eating and wanting to eat regularly so that she can have her feeding tube removed. Thank you!
I do know that Courtney's miraculous recovery is due to the prayers of many faithful and God's mercy.
Today Courtney told me "I don't deserve this" - she's right no one deserves this. But I told Courtney that she is a fighter and that she has come a long long way and will get better. This afternoon I said "Courtney, you're amazing, do you know that?" She nodded yes! Courtney walked further today than ever and did the stairs with great skill. She is showering and dressing with almost no help at all. Courtney is also reading which will, in the long run, help her speech. After showering we visited the "kitchen" in the rehab gym which is used to help retrain patients in day to day tasks. Courtney put utensils away in the proper compartment with no instruction. She then went on to put cans of coke, milk cartons and juice cups away with like items in the fridge. She did both these tasks with only one instruction "put them away." That shows remarkeable organization and sequencing skills this early in recovery.
Later Courtney and I were making Valentines hearts. Courtney took different colored hearts and layered them without any prompting from me. That shows creativity. Another part of the brain working properly.
The last big hurdle before leaving Braintree is still eating. I have been praying that she will start eating. Please pray with us that Courtney will begin eating and wanting to eat regularly so that she can have her feeding tube removed. Thank you!
Monday, January 26, 2009
"It really is miraculous"
"It really is miraculous." Those were the exact words the Neurology Physician's Assistant used today to describe Courtney's progress. Of course I had to agree with her. She made this observation as she watched Courtney walk back from the shower, unassisted. She's quickly turning into a hall roamer. This afternoon Courtney got out of bed and headed for the door. I asked her "where are you going?" she answered "next door." The nurses in the hallway let her know she wasn't allowed in other patients' rooms and so we walked up and down the hall.
Later Dr. Williams (internal med) came by to check on Courtney. "How's your walking?" he asked. She responded by getting up and walking out the door - actions speak louder than words! He was quite impressed. Tomorrow Courtney's team will meet again to re-write her goals and establish a plan leading up to discharge.
We still face hurdles, not the least of which is eating, and Courtney is being quite stubborn about this. Her team and I talk more now about behavoir problems and working through Courtney's stubborn streak. That same stubborn determination is what has helped her recovery and since there's no playing games with Courtney I have started to tell her there are certain things about which she can not be stubborn.
Courtney did a little reading today. She read from the scrapbook Nora made about Courtney Bears and she read the title of the book "I love you more." Tomorrow she'll read the book to Maureen, a speech therapist. Courtney also answered many of the same annoying questions she answers every day such as 'what month is it?' 'where are you now?', etc. These are reality orienting questions but they drive Courtney crazy because she takes them as an insult to her intelligence. Speech therapists are constantly forced to apologize for the silly questions but insist they must ask them anyway!
Later Dr. Williams (internal med) came by to check on Courtney. "How's your walking?" he asked. She responded by getting up and walking out the door - actions speak louder than words! He was quite impressed. Tomorrow Courtney's team will meet again to re-write her goals and establish a plan leading up to discharge.
We still face hurdles, not the least of which is eating, and Courtney is being quite stubborn about this. Her team and I talk more now about behavoir problems and working through Courtney's stubborn streak. That same stubborn determination is what has helped her recovery and since there's no playing games with Courtney I have started to tell her there are certain things about which she can not be stubborn.
Courtney did a little reading today. She read from the scrapbook Nora made about Courtney Bears and she read the title of the book "I love you more." Tomorrow she'll read the book to Maureen, a speech therapist. Courtney also answered many of the same annoying questions she answers every day such as 'what month is it?' 'where are you now?', etc. These are reality orienting questions but they drive Courtney crazy because she takes them as an insult to her intelligence. Speech therapists are constantly forced to apologize for the silly questions but insist they must ask them anyway!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
from UB
It's so great to see and to learn of Courtney's amazing progress. She keeps going and going and going,,,. It might be unseemly to make money off this terrible situation but I'd like to buy some Courtney stock! Tons of it. In fact, this could be the answer to our economic troubles. My advice would be BUY, BUY, BUY!!!!
Not to be negative but Courtney won't pass my test till she can dodge hockey pucks fired at her by Uncle Bill from 20' feet away! That's how I learned evasive manuevers at a young age. We all played dodgeball in grammar school but that was nothing! Of course, Courtney would need full pads and an opportunity to return the favor.
If you've seen the movie "Dodgeball" you know what I mean. "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." And so, if you can dodge a hard, black, rubber, half frozen hockey puck traveling at 95 miles per hour, in limited lighting conditions, in the middle of winter, then you can dodge a ball and just about anything else coming your way save for a federal search warrant but that's another story.
We all long for the day when Courtney can go home to rest and continue to heal in familiar surrroundings. I also look forward to making my famous thai/mex/italo/chinese/rushkie/greek/franco/japanese seafood, spaghetti, pad thai, crepes, taco, sushi, feta cheese, pupu platter, vodka casserole for Courtney!
Believe me when I tell you, this dish is a real killer! (stomach pumps available)
All my love to Courtney and her family! Semper Fi
Not to be negative but Courtney won't pass my test till she can dodge hockey pucks fired at her by Uncle Bill from 20' feet away! That's how I learned evasive manuevers at a young age. We all played dodgeball in grammar school but that was nothing! Of course, Courtney would need full pads and an opportunity to return the favor.
If you've seen the movie "Dodgeball" you know what I mean. "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." And so, if you can dodge a hard, black, rubber, half frozen hockey puck traveling at 95 miles per hour, in limited lighting conditions, in the middle of winter, then you can dodge a ball and just about anything else coming your way save for a federal search warrant but that's another story.
We all long for the day when Courtney can go home to rest and continue to heal in familiar surrroundings. I also look forward to making my famous thai/mex/italo/chinese/rushkie/greek/franco/japanese seafood, spaghetti, pad thai, crepes, taco, sushi, feta cheese, pupu platter, vodka casserole for Courtney!
Believe me when I tell you, this dish is a real killer! (stomach pumps available)
All my love to Courtney and her family! Semper Fi
Moving along
Courtney's day was highlighted by a walk without any help - completely unassisted! Then Courtney wandered over to the stairwell door and and Meline and Alex asked her if she'd like to do the stairs. Courtney answered yes and rather than doing the practice steps like all the other patients she did a full fight of steps up and down! Next Courtney wanted to get on the elevator - okay up 1 floor - then back on the stairs and down 2 flights of stairs. The energizer Courtney!!!
For Mom the best part of the day was seeing Courtney eat real food. She had a couple of bites of Mrs. Lawson's pancakes and then nothing at lunch. Finally at dinner she ate a quarter piece of wheat bread and a few bites of elbow macaroni. Yahoo!!!! I can not tell Courtney enough times - you must eat so that the doctor can remove your feeding tube.
Everything we talk about with Courtney now is about going home. Eat so you can go home. Walk alone so you can go home. Do your best in each therapy so you can go home. We know she understands and we pray every day all day for her continued remarkeable recovery so that we can bring her home.
For Mom the best part of the day was seeing Courtney eat real food. She had a couple of bites of Mrs. Lawson's pancakes and then nothing at lunch. Finally at dinner she ate a quarter piece of wheat bread and a few bites of elbow macaroni. Yahoo!!!! I can not tell Courtney enough times - you must eat so that the doctor can remove your feeding tube.
Everything we talk about with Courtney now is about going home. Eat so you can go home. Walk alone so you can go home. Do your best in each therapy so you can go home. We know she understands and we pray every day all day for her continued remarkeable recovery so that we can bring her home.
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