March 11th-13th

Monday, the Speech Therapist worked with Brenda first and I am happy to report that she stayed on the Passy Muir valve for 25 minutes. This is great improvement. However, she is not comfortable and that is the main reason they stop. The Occupational Therapist worked on her upper body today. Then she was placed into the stretch chair for 2.5 hours. Last, the Physical Therapist worked with her legs. I have observed that she has increased moving her body by herself more often than another point in time. She had visitors, one visitor on Saturday and MOnday evening. She really enjoyed the visits so it is encouraged!

Tuesday, the Speech Therapist worked with Brenda first and I am happy to report that she stayed on the Passy Muir valve for 25 minutes. She was asked to say something as loud as she could. Well she yelled "HELP!". You can imagine the reaction they had. Hospital patients say the craziest things! Later in the morning, she got into the wheel chair to go on a tour of the hospital that included a stop in the rehab room. The Physical and Occupational Therapist had her on the parallel bars where she stood up. Then she did leg exercises. She then went back to her room where she sat herself in the Stretch chair. She was in the chair for about 2 hours and 45 minutes. She was able to SLIDE onto the wheel chair and stretch chair with minimal assistance, this is very big news.

The Speech Therapist worked with Brenda again on Wednesday and I am happy to report that she stayed on the Passy Muir valve for 20 minutes. Jack was able to communicate with her for a short period. While this was not as long as prior days her anxiety level seem to be a little less. Next, she slid herself into the wheel chair to go to the rehab room. The Physical and Occupational Therapist had her on the parallel bars where she stood up, three times for a count of 10. She needed some assistance. Then she did arm exercises on a arm machine for the first time: 1 minute and 45 seconds. While she was there able to look out side at Edwin C Mosses Blvd, the Miami River and she saw her beloved Toyota. She went back to her room where she again got herself onto her bed and then she rested. It has been a good three days.