Jody recovery report #7
Jody continues to make progress. She’s stronger, is eating more, and needs less medication for pain and nausea. On Thursday she received permission to walk around in her room, transfer from bed to chair, etc. without supervision. Best of all, she has begun to regain control of her sphincters.
The biggest remaining problems are the sensory and motor deficits on her dominant left side, probably caused by nerve impingement, that make many tasks very challenging. Her left leg is weaker than her right; her left arm has a long way to go.
She is likely to be discharged from Healthsouth for home sometime next week, perhaps as early as Tuesday, though we’re trying to buy a little more time for additional inpatient physical and occupational therapy. As in so many health care decisions nowadays, it’s all driven by what the insurance company will pay for. Their guidelines don’t always make a lot of sense, sometimes to the point of being actively counterproductive. 
I’ve found it fascinating to watch Jody relearn tasks that most everybody performs automatically using “muscle memory.” For example, imagine I asked you to walk briskly in one direction for a few steps, stop suddenly, turn around quickly, and walk back. Most people could do it easily without having to think about it. Jody literally didn’t know how to turn around until she was shown how to do it by a therapist. Once she practiced a few times she was able to do it automatically. Multiply that by every kind of move you ever make and you’ll have an idea of what she’s up against.
I continue to be amazed at how your life can change in the blink of an eye.
Asks
Once Jody’s home the big need will be for prepared meals, preferably individual servings that are frozen or freezable. Jody needs protein and highly nutritious foods so her body can rebuild itself. Chicken, eggs, and seafood are the best sources of protein she’s likely to want to eat. Once she’s home and settled a bit I’m sure Jody would enjoy visits. In the beginning we need to be careful not to tire her out too much, so please continue to keep calls and visits brief.
We’d like to line up some exercise buddies for Jody so she can get out and start walking (and perhaps eventually running and cross-country skiing) again while staying safe. Those of you who have never been able to keep up with Jody might want to take advantage of this unique opportunity to be faster and stronger than she is. If you have any experience, positive or negative, with outpatient physical and occupational therapy in the Brentwood/Exeter area, please let us know right away.
Thanks Kim Alter, Andi Axman, Debbie Bauch, Jessica Chasney, Molly Cowan, Vincent Dawans, Susan Dugdale, Diane Eagle, Mark Goldstein, Karen Liot Hill, Dr. Kate Lawton, Jennifer MacDougal, Grace Mattern, Matt Meservey, Kim Meyer, Alison & John Parodi, JoAnn Poole, Karen Prior, Nolan Ring, Amy & Brad Robinson, Mary & Steve Robison, Andy Silva, Lenore Smith, Molly Supple, Nancy Tobi, Eric Turer, Pooh Vanderzanden, Ellen Wight, and everyone I’m forgetting.
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