Saturday, January 10, 2009

Mark's week back went well. He had not lost too much without therapy for two weeks. He had been doing his exercises and had been walking with his walker around our first floor, so that helped. They have measured him for a new back brace, which they hope he will find more comfortable. He currently hates to wear the one he has, but really needs to in order to keep his muscles from tightening up and keeping his back straight.

He was weighed when he got back and he put on 13 (yes, 13) pounds while he was home. That means about a pound a day was gained eating Mom's home cooking, cookies, pie, wings, and just about anything else put in front of him! I was absolutely amazed. Rich kept saying it was probably about 10 pounds, but even though I knew he had gained some weight, I never expected quite that much. Of course, there was the fact that he did not have the intense therapy he gets at the hospital, which burns so many calories. Nevertheless, we were so happy to see him eat and recover a few more pounds that he lost on what he calls the "coma weight loss program." (Frankly, I think I need someone to just put me to sleep for a few weeks!)

Friday was a year that Mark has been in Tampa and fourteen months since the day of the crash. Even though that seems like such a long time, in terms of his recovery and what he has accomplished, it's really very short. We are very proud that his dedication and determination to be back to all he was before has never waivered and that he keeps on striving for bigger and better things. At a meeting this week to set goals, he told the therapist that his six month goal was to get back to climbing, maybe not on a mountain, but on a wall. She told him she would help him reach that. Quite a goal in my opinion.

We are currently in the midst of a big snow storm here in Cleveland, as is most of the Northeastern United States. Unfortunately, the timing is not good, since I have to pick up Richard at the hospital this afternoon. He had his partial shoulder replacement yesterday and they kept him overnight. He did very well but it was a long day. We were there at 9 a.m., his surgery was scheduled for 10:30 and I spoke to the doctor when it was over at 11:45 , but we had to wait until 4 p.m. before they put him in a room. Part of the drive home was a little slippery, but I made it just fine. Now I just have to wait until they plow our street and our plow driver does my driveway for the second time early this afternoon. The real work on this shoulder replacement will start next week when the therapy begins. It will continue for six to eight weeks so wish me luck dealing with my new patient, as well as Rich!

Who ever expected that two years in a row, January 9th would be the day I became a healthcare provider. It was the day I became a mom as Peter celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday. Unfortunately, he developed a bad cold and had to stay away from the hospital and us, so it wasn't much of a celebration. We plan to do something a little more festive when he can come over and not put Rich in danger of catching it.