Progress @ The Home

The first cast is off - on to the second of three and the foot is a slightly more normal angle to the leg. The ballet point of the purple cast has been replaced with a better angle, and that means my toes are out of the way when I wheel about.

Small improvements - hopping is coming along, and I’ve graduated to “modified independent” on my wall chart. That means I don’t need to press the button any more to ensure there’s an aide in the room when I do the transfers involved in getting from chair or bed to wheelchair to walker to toilet. 

Big news here in the world of The Home. And another measure of regaining autonomy. And another lesson in humility. 

Among the lessons the Universe is providing by this unexpected experience is how hard it is for me to need and ask for help. Even worse is having to ask permission to do tasks I mastered when I was three. But here at The Home, there are rules. And the rules say that until one is cleared to accomplish certain tasks, one needs to push a button to summon an aide to be there to assist. 

The aides are busy around here so summoning an aide can take time. Turns out that waiting for help is another skill I lack. 

The upside is that all of the nurses, aides and PTs and OTs are wonderful people. A necessary attribute because, boy, do they put up with a lot! 

For example, it’s hard for those with memory issues to remember about the little call button, so shouts of “HELLLOOOOO!” ring down the hall. It’s alarming when they switch to calls of “HELLLPPP!” But that does get the feet running. 

Then there’s the gentleman who refuses to put on pants. He wheels about in his chair with open-backed hospital gown which is only alarming when he chooses to prop his leg over his other knee during group PT. Then I have a deep appreciation for the importance of perspective - and roll myself over to the parallel bars for a little standing one legged work.

My time here at The Home will be over soon since, other than this pesky snapped Achilles, I have no other medical issues. So I’ll transition to short term respite care at a different facility - and am looking forward to another learning experience enabled by this saga of snap.