Getting better all the time

It's been a big couple days of recovery.

Saturday morning Emily was discharged from the ICU, and moved to a regular room on the surgery floor.  This was a big step forward, and marked the beginning of Emily participating in her recovery.

Saturday afternoon was the first visit of Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT).  Despite the her numbness on her right side and in her right hand and foot, she was able to walk with assistance to the door of her room and back.  She was also given excercises for her right hand to help her regain the dextarity in that hand. She is back to eating too, with no restrictions in her diet.  She slept well, and through the night.

Sunday she woke up feeling much stronger, and continued her recovery.  Both  PT and OT came to work with her, and this time she walked (with a walker), almost to the end of the long hall that her room was on, and ate her lunch with her right hand. Her surgeon and therapists said that her recovery is dependent  on these exercises, and Emily is determined to make a total recovery.

This afternoon also mark the removal of her IV, her first bath, and being able to sit in a lazy boy chair (see below), rather than being in a hospital bed all the time.

Bill's parents and his brother Rob came to offer support and help with the kids and home during the surgery.  We're thankful for the enormous help that they have and continue to give us.  We are also thankful for those friends that came and supported, comforted and distracted Bill during the surgery itself.

 

She and I thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, meals, emails, and blog entries during this journey.  I've read all the emails to Emily, and just today, Emily felt well enough to read your blog entries yourself. 

Please keep them coming, they mean a lot to us!

Bill

Here's Emily and Zachary, taken on Sunday afternoon:

And her are Elizabeth, Emily, and Zachary, also taken on Sunday afternoon: