Day 7: Bracing Ourselves

Day 7? Really? Has it been that long? I guess it has, since I'm tired enough to be writing terrible puns like this headline.

Jean saw only a couple of doctors today. Dr. Hanto visited and said the healing of her kidneys and bowel seemed to be going great. He understood her frustration about the leg. And she saw some help with that today.

Physical therapy brought Jean a brace which locks her knee into place, keeping her leg nearly as straight as a ruler. When strapped in tightly, the knee can't buckle and she's got more support. She still needed a walker to move, but she moved twice as fast with much less effort. She also tried a couple of steps.

We're considering whether in-patient rehab (staying at a rehab facility) or out-patient (being at home and going to the facility) is the better choice. The therapists and health insurance company, of course, also will determine what type of treatment she gets, but we have a say as well.

The advantages of home is that it's our comfort zone. If she's not moving, she can be doing the activities she wants to do. (Mostly watching Gray's Anatomy - what is it with these hospital shows?) Her parents will be here to help her and transport her.

The disadvantages of home: stairs, about 8, to get into the apartment. The doorways are small and the bathroom is small (nice but small). Using a walker inside our place might not be feasible.

Another day closer to discharge, which is... ? Maybe this weekend. We take it day by day. Time passes surreal in a hospital. Lots of tedium (lying in bed on a drip), punctuated by disappointments, bland hospital food, and a little progress every day.