Today, Sandra's physical therapist Janice and I helped Sandra stand - and walk! - for the first time in more than two months.
She did great! Using a walker and her leg braces, she walked from the bed to the end of the bedroom hallway and back, about 25', and then, after a few minutes, walked it again. We found that only one person is necessary to assist her in standing up, basically to leverage her from a sitting position to standing, without her bending more than 60 degrees at the knees. Next week, she'll be bending 70 degrees, and so on, 10 degrees more per week, to full mobility.
Tonight, she brushed her teeth at the bathroom sink, standing up. Tomorrow, she'll take a shower in the shower. HUGE achievements.
HUGE.
Look closely at the following image, something is missing: the wheelchair.
So Sandra continues to progress. She's blow-drying her hair herself. She is sleeping without the braces on her legs.
She's still not walking though. Doctors' appt this week to see about when she can start weight-bearing on her right foot. She touched/rested the right foot (heel) on the ground a couple days ago. This sounds like a tiny, tiny thing...but its actually HUGE. She tried it and nothing "bad" happened, at least for her, it was a positive experience. For someone who's never broken a single bone, to have thirteen+ broken bones all at once, it's overwhelming, psychologically. She sometimes cannot see walking and writing and knitting ever again.
If I could find her a pharma consulting job where she could do phone consults, I think it would help her mental outlook a lot. Sitting around gives her way too much time to think negatively, although her attitude is extremely positive. She has a job...but cannot do it. :(
Anyone with a few minutes to spare, give her a call. Thanks!
