The Jewish Home

Hi Everyone! Sorry for the lack of blogging, but things have settled in nicely here. We're no longer seeing groundbreaking changes but have continued to see improvement across the board.

Mom is going to the Jewish home every Tuesday and Thursday for three 45 minute sessions of therapy. Generally we start out in Speech therapy with Margaret. In our last session Margaret had a deck of cards with different foods on them. Mom was given a choice of two cards and had to choose which she would rather eat. She also had to say a phrase with it... for example she was shown the cards of fish and pizza. She chose pizza and was asked to say, "I like pizza."

After that she visits Liz for her occupational therapy. Liz can be grueling but has been working with Mom on transferring out of her wheelchair on her own. She also works extensively with Mom's hand and shoulder trying to get back some movement. She and the physical therapist would like to be able to open Mom's hand so that she can eventually put weight on it and perhaps use a walker - among other things.

Her physical therapist, Vicki, works with mom last and has been putting her in a harness attached to a treadmill. The harness allows mom to be fall-proof and try walking without holding onto anything. With Vicki helping to move Mom's foot she can get up to a speed of 1.3mph. Vicki has this remote controlled sensor thingy that she would like to try putting on Mom's right foot. Electronic pulses would help stimulate the muscles in Mom's foot and ankle and have it automatically start moving her foot up and down. We haven't tried it yet, and if it helps she can only use it while at the rehab center.. but ultimately it could help her brain learn how to move her foot up and down to allow for normal walking.

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When not at rehab Mom makes us watch all sorts of trashy TV. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration.. I just can't handle the marathons of America's Next Top Model or Housewives of NJ.

She's been talking to us a lot more and has been getting out small phrases. The other day when Dad came home Mom said, "Hooommmeee!" and then a few minutes later I heard, "Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit!" Honestly - I don't have a clue where she gets that language from. I think something funny was said on TV and she was copying it.

We expect to have some visitors this Sunday, if you would like to drop by in the afternoon.. Feel free!