Dad--Regular patient room Day 4

Dad made great progress today with the physical therapist. He used a walker and was able to walk a few steps out of his room. He took a little break in the hallway. They brought a chair out. On the way back to bed, he was able to walk a bit more quickly. His right foot/leg is responding a bit slow still. They took an x-ray today of his right leg, but there were no injuries seen. Interestingly, when Dad was asked to take a step backwards with his right leg, it was even harder for him to do than walk forward. The therapist said that it was because the muscle in the back of the leg is usually weaker than in the front. Dad was exhausted after the walk and fell asleep immediately.

Dad's sodium levels are right around 135, and he took more salt tablets today. He ate all his meals. The social worker recommended 2 rehab sites, where Dad would stay for perhaps a few weeks, to get his strength back. William, Mom, and I went to one of the sites tonight at Mount Sinai. It's Jewish facility with 3 gyms and lots of pets and a focus on "fun"/recreation. We'll probably check out the other facility tomorrow.

Before lunch, Dad had to use the bathroom. It was the first time I had seem him not in the bed or chair by the bed in a week. He also leans forward in the chair to stretch out his back. He was able to open his eyes more and is aware of his surroundings like on Sunday. You know that he's inspecting himself when he looks down, especially his arms, and is saying Jeez at the needle marks. they take his blood every 6 hours. He even took off one of the cottonballs/tape by himself today. Mom washed his hair and brushed his teeth so Dad was resting comfortably when we left. He should have gotten a laxative at 10pm tonight and his anti-seizure meds and steroids are gradually being decreased.

It was such a huge improvement today that Dad really may be able to be moved to the rehab facility tomorrow. Cognitively, Dad seems fine, but if you ask him a ques when he's drowsy, he may repeat the answer that he said previously.

I haven't seen Dr. Q in person in a few days, but it was funny that when I was watching Nova Science NOW tonight, he was on it. The show was covering scientists that came from humble backgrounds, ie Einstein and Mendeleev. Dr. Quinones-Hinojosa illegally immigrated from Mexico, but now runs his own lab and is a brain surgeon. Sam found this site: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/dome/0609/top_story.cfm

I worked in the lab for about 3.5 hours today since I was watching Dad do his physical therapy, but I still got some good results at work. Even with me seeing the rehab center, Sam came back later than I did. I'm glad that Linda and little JH are doing OK after their bit of alarm this past weekend. It was a good day. =>