Today was an amazing day. I arrived in time to see mom finish up her walking. Today’s total? DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!! A whopping 42 FEET! The went from one end of the room to the other. Still getting assistance from her therapists, but today was different. They allowed her to process what she needed to do to walk and didn’t give her instructions. She moved the walker by herself some of the time and had a nice, strong gait – not choppy steps. She had 25-50% support from the therapists. She’s doing it!! After she made it across the room she said that she is feeling it coming back. She has already set a new walking goal: doing a lap around the gym.
In the food department, she’s been upgraded to chopped meats! Previously she had to have meat ground. She’s getting to a much more normal consistency and she’s basically having three hot meals a day now and she’s so happy. We are still keeping her on thickened liquids but she does continue to “practice” with regular water. Her swallowing is getting better but she’s not ready for non-thickened liquids yet.
She knows that when it’s time for her to come stay with us I will be the one helping her out the most. I don’t know that we really need to hire someone 24 hours a day. Of course if we do, we will. But regardless, I think that knowing being with us is right around the corner, she is pushing herself to become more independent so as not to be so much of a burden. Which, by the way, I do not consider her to be. I just know my mom and she hates being a source of stress or feeling like an imposition. She will do everything in her power to make this as easy for everyone as possible, even if that means it’s harder for her. That’s just who she is. She’s taking the bad crab. (Bonus points if anyone can name that reference!)