The Daily Hailey

Today was a very full day for Brady.

I was booked in to visit Brady around 11:00am this morning.

Before I got there, someone came to discuss disability benefits and such with him, which is a huge relief, because we have next to no idea where to start. She left her card and said she’d get some forms and help together for him. Yay!

When she left, Brady went to hit the bathroom. For the first time, he was able to get out of his leg compression cuffs, manoeuvre to the side of the bed, and hang his legs off the side of the bed in preparation for the lift. It is victorious that he could move his body that way! And balance enough to take a picture! (Balance is a big deal right now.)

When I arrived, he was nowhere to be found. Turns out they opted to clean him up a bit first and redo his dressing. If anyone wants to see his incision, I’d love to share the picture! I just don’t want to make anyone squirm so I won’t put it on here. Yet 😉 His incision is both HUGE and SO GOOD!!! Its clean, straight, and healing beautifully! Its going to be an epic scar to show off down the road.

While Brady was away, two official looking guys came looking for him. They were from City Hospital’s rehabilitation program, and they wanted to assess him and talk about the plan – to move him to City as an inpatient. After the general discussion was done, they wanted to assess his strength. They asked a lot of him right off the hop, and guys, he took that challenge!! The rehab worker, and the doctor with him both agreed there is a LOT of work to do, but a LOT of strength to work with! They are optimistic and eager to get him into their program!

Once they left, Brady ate some lunch and we had some nice quiet time, just chatting. His physical therapy appointment had been scheduled at 11:30, but had been bumped to after lunch. I didn’t want to stick around too long, since I’m only technically supposed to be there one hour per day. Thankfully, about five minutes before I was going to call it for the day, a transport person arrived to take Brady down to the gym, and she happily and willingly allowed me along.

Physical therapy was smoother than ANY of us anticipated. Their absolute first move was to get him to the parallel bars and see if he could stand.

And he did.

They practices stands. They did a couple at the parallel bars, having him shift his feet and legs in different directions while he stood. Then they took him over to a mattress that lifted up and down like a hospital bed, and taught him how to get in and out of a wheelchair, onto his bed. Back and forth. Order of operations. Wheel brakes, seat belt, foot rests, feet on the ground, and then heave over. Absolutely no one expected SUCH progress on his first day! He and his PT sat side by side and shimmied their butts down the mattress, and then back again, focusing on using some leg strength, and not just his arms. Praise the Lord for those strong arms, though!

I liked his therapy. I like that they pushed him, and he liked it, too. They wouldn’t straighten his legs, they’d point it out and ask him to. They would brace him and hold him up, but they let him struggle a little and be unsteady. They encouraged him, and then chatted for about a minute between stands before going again.

It was CRAZY to see him try and piece together what he needed. Brady can feel next to nothing in his legs, but he still has strength. When he can SEE his legs, he can make them do things that otherwise, he cannot, when he can’t see them. If he can look at his legs, he can follow every direction they give him. If he can’t look at them, he is FAR less sturdy. Its such an interesting thing to observe!

My favorite part was when they asked him if he was done or should them do one more. He opted for one more. And then again. One more. Because he is still Brady, and that man PUSHES!!!

His final stand, when he was the most fatigued, was the strongest, with the most controlled sit afterwards. No slips.

He was done his appointment early. I wheeled him back to his room, and he got into his bed from the wheelchair. No more lift. Even though sometimes, he’s going to really want it. They’re pushing him, and he is all for it. I’m sure his rehabilitation team at City Hospital will be excited about his enthusiasm and determination!

Goodness, Brady, I am SO proud of you!!!