Today was Burt’s final day in the acute rehab unit and it had a somewhat subdued air. He has had a lot of triumphs and done a lot of hard work in this unit. When he came in he could barely sit up and now he is on his to walking again. The place has taken on a feeling of home for Burt and the staff has become family. It is never easy to leave home, especially when it is not by choice. But, as uncomfortable as change is, it has its positives. As his friend Lonnie said to him, “Change is your friend. You have come through the worst and now with every week you will be stronger than the last. Staying in the same place will do you no good now. Don’t even think about it, just move forward.”
The day was filled with the discharge evaluations as his physical and occupational therapy teams measured his progress between intake and release. In the morning, Mike took Burt through his occupational therapy evaluation. His left arm is still not responding as much as we hope. It is slow progress. His shoulder is still very tender and the muscles pretty slack. After his OT eval, Burt took his last walk with Pati and beat his own record again — a new personal best of 54 feet. Then, it was back for a bit of rest before Bonnie took him for his PT evaluation.
Burt’s left leg is a lot better than it was. His balance is much improved. His sensation seems fully intact and his positional awareness is quite good on the affected leg— when his left leg his positioned in a certain way, Burt can copy it with the right. These are often faculties that stroke hit quiet harshly. First, Bonnie tested Burt’s range of motion as he lay in his bed; Burt is probably more limber now than he ever was before. Afterward, Bonnie took him to the gym to test his muscle strength. She positioned him on the mat, with his leg on a board, so that she could isolate the muscles and have them work with minimal interference from friction and gravity. The two videos below show the really amazing results Burt has achieved in the weeks in rehab and give us all a lot of hope for what he will achieve in the next rehab.
After his tests were finished, Burt had a bit of applesauce and some water before getting back in bed. At about five-thirty, Lonnie came by to work with him and by six he was back in bed ready for the live cast of Boris Godunov from the Met on Sirius set to begin at seven. Connie and David packed some Burt’s stuff out to the car. Burt lay back amidst his pillows and drift off listening to Mussorsky.
Tomorrow, the Sterns venture to the new facility, leaving their new family behind. But they were all new as well just a few short weeks ago. Burt is sure to win over the new staff with his hard work and attitude just as he did the old ones. His advocates and therapy dogs want all to know that they will be there every day, they will be watching every move, and they will be bringing cookies. Let the healing journey continue as we step with the right and schlep the left.
Wow -- impressive work!! And good to hear Connie laugh!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the move --- from book group Annie
Well, all I can say is I'm SUPER impressed!
ReplyDeleteWhen I met the orthopedist who operated on my knee, he told me he was hesitant to do elective surgery on people over the age of 35 because he didn't trust them to do their rehab. He said he'd had cases where young guys had torn their knees and later their mothers would come in and yell at him because their sons ended up with stiff knees (because they hadn't done their rehab).
I convinced him that, as I'd grown up to be a ballet dancer, I would do my rehab. After six weeks of keeping my leg straight, I started the exercises to get the flexibility in my knee back. My orthopedist told me that it would take two weeks to get back the maximum flexibility I was going to get. He was right on the money. Every time I did my exercises, I got a little more flexibility. In exactly two weeks I had full flexibility back.
So, I'm really, really impressed at how far you've come in 7 weeks. Just keep pushing. You'll get there. I'm sure of that.
By the ways, kids, Monday, 10/11 was Day 48...
Love to you all,
Nancy
I was at the post office today. A woman was being waited on. She had a stiff square plastic tote bag on her shoulder. All of a sudden the bag started barking.
ReplyDeleteIt was so weird and funny, as it wasn't a pet carrier.
From Don - Oct. 11th -
ReplyDeleteIn today's NYT, the irreplaceable Dick Cavett tells the following
story about George S. Kaufman:
Kaufman was one of three panelists on a live, black-and-white TV show
called “This is Show Business.” A performer would come on, tell the
panel a problem of his, perform and then return to sit before the
panel. Each panelist would then comment on the person’s “problem.”
(There is a tantalizing glimpse of the great man on this show, on
YouTube.)
On the memorable night, Pfc. Eddie Fisher — in uniform, looking about
16 — laid out his problem. It was a complaint. He said he was
appearing at the Copacabana night club and because of his extreme
youth and boyish looks, none of the gorgeous showgirls would consent
to go out with him. Then he sang, probably, “O Mein Papa” and sat down
to receive the panel’s remarks and advice.
It began with “The Gloomy Dean of American Comedy,” as Kaufman had
been labeled by someone. (My guess would be the wit Oscar Levant.)
Kaufman’s dark countenance as he balefully gazed upon the juvenile Mr.
Fisher promised something good — but what? Though I’m working from
memory, the thing is so indelible in my mind that I can just about
guarantee you that what follows is no more than — here and there — a
few words off. At a measured pace, Kaufman began:
Mr. Fisher, on Mt. Wilson there is a telescope. A powerful telescope
that has made it possible to magnify the distant stars to
approximately 12 times the magnification of any previous telescope.
[pause]
And, Mr. Fisher, atop Mt. Palomar, sits a more recently perfected
telescope. This magnificent instrument can magnify the stars up to six
times the magnification of the Mt. Wilson telescope.
(Where is he going?, I wondered, glued to the screen, back in Nebraska.)
Then:
As improbable as it would doubtless be, if you could somehow contrive
to place the Mt. Wilson telescope inside the Mt. Palomar telescope,
Mr. Fisher . . . you still wouldn’t be able to see my interest in your
problem.
(Pandemonium.)
George S. Kaufman - A Rare Glimpse - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wMtNmLuJA0&feature=related
George S. Kaufman - A Rare Glimpse - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RysBjZFHw7U&feature=related
Groucho talks about Irving Thalberg and Margaret Dumont
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m-KBe5t0j4&feature=related
Groucho Marx Talks About Pigeons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fysQsO51-OA&feature=related
You Bet Your Life 0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlSCSHLi8J4&feature=related
There are quite a few episodes of You Bet Your Life. Many of them start with modern-day commercials.
You Bet Your Life Outtakes 1953-1955, Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQee1i2ZW0A&feature=related
There are also a number of You Bet Your Life Outtakes, i.e. bits that were censored in the '50s.
Who's on First?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfmvkO5x6Ng&feature=related
As a close friend of mine said: "In-fucking-credible!!! WOW and WOW AGAIN!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nzwide.com/swanlake.htm