Thu 15 Jun 2017 Six months today

Today marks time of 6 months in hospital. I can't believe I have spent nearly 5 months worth of days in a stark old beige ward and a month or so in the bright new white "hotel".

Plans are continuing for the discharge party on Monday, actual discharge is on Wednesday. Head departments are being told to cook, that will be interesting! Elise has requested the chocolate game....for those who don't know...pick a dice number, sit in a circle and roll...the person who gets the number starts dressing up (hospital gloves, gown, hat etc then commences eating a chocolate block with a knife and fork) all before someone else lands the correct number. Elise can't wait to watch the senior doctors getting into it!

Activities over the last few days...

Saturday
Wheelchair skills program at Royal Talbot Rehab Centre with Richard Colman. I looked him up...an impressive chap, elite athlete and advocate... OAM and multi-medal winner. Best of all he was a great guy, can-do attitude and all smiles.

Wheeling around the cones with one arm only

Unfortunately Elise's new machine hasn't arrived yet, so Richard kindly swapped...Elise loved his super sporty and tiny wheelchair. Something we will look at getting her for sport in the future. Richard was tough... "mono's"...trying to get into her wheelchair from the ground...learning to fall and recover etc.

It was hard and Elise really tried, and failed. Many people never master these skills but we'll keep trying.

Richard's legs are very short, Elise had a bit of trouble fitting her's on!

See the link below for Elise practicing at the wheelchair skills session.
https://goo.gl/photos/WKakRZYGLPmsMgRY9

Meanwhile Stuart languished at home after having an groin hernia opp on Monday - probably too much lifting of Elise and wheelchairs. He is still hobbling around and occasionally moaning. I joke that I now have two invalids to look after! Well, a partial joke ;-)

Sunday afternoon
A bit odd to be shopping on Sunday as I usually avoid it. We went to Horseland and purchased the necessary gear. Will post a pic when she is all dressed up.

Tuesday
Cooking with Rita the OT - Peanut Butter and Chilli noodles. Rita forgot several ingredients but it still turned out edible. We had it for lunch. Looked a bit too much like brains for me.

Peanut butter and chilli noodles

Wednesday
Demo of a simple standing frame, necessary to reduce the high risk of osteoporosis of the legs. Elise will need to stand for a minimum of 30 min per day, ideally 1-2 hrs. Maybe incorporate into homework time? Maybe while doing upper body stretches?  Unfortunately using one's arms to get around means shoulder reconstructions in the future unless Elise does a daily exercise routine. Another thing to fit in. Physio's Tanya and Katherine are going to design a 7-day exercise program. I saw the suggested timetable on Tuesday...GULP.

Physio's are hoping Elise will improve enough over the next 6 months to be able to discard the frame and stand against a bench instead. Hopefully.

A simple standing frame

Elise trying out a standing frame after rejecting the previous one (Rabbit stander).
https://goo.gl/photos/vNRtreiU5htU7DAg8

Thursday
Second school visit in the morning - period 1 and 2. It was fundraising day for Yr 10 Mission Trip so the kids had to dress up with something starting with P or J - Passion for Jesus. Elise, on Stuart's suggestion went as a Patient. The nurses got a kick out of picking surgery gowns, booties, hats and bandages out for her. Despite the clothes, Elise was rather stressed to say the least. The morning was a bit tense with her inner fears bubbling over. She was fine after a few minutes :-) I spent today being a taxi - to school, grocery shopping, home, school, hospital, school then home again. I fear this is going to be a familiar pattern for the next few months - we have to return to the hospital 3 times per week for physio and clinic.