Colleen: taking steps

[mdlbear]

Colleen called a little while ago to say that she took eight steps in her physical therapy session this morning. She may be home in as little as a week!

She was using a walker, and had a spotter on either side and one behind her keeping the wheelchair where she could sit down when she had to, but still it's a huge step in her recovery. Next week they're going to have me come in so she can practice getting in and out of the car.

I'll be getting my Cat back!!

 

A little background, for those coming late to my friends list. Colleen (AKA flower_cat) is my wife. She's had arthritis since she was a teenager; over the last few years it got bad enough to seriously impact her mobility. A little over a year ago we experimented with using a wheelchair for getting through airports; we bought a nice Nova transport chair a few months ago. We'll be getting a scooter soon, too.

Careful readers may notice that one of the tags on this entry is colleen-200903, in spite of the fact that it's April already. I change the dated tag for major events; the transition from "02" to "03" happened when she moved from the hospital to the nursing home.

Comments

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Yayayayay! Give her a congratulatory hug from me, and keep one for yourself as well.

We just don't appreciate mobility until it's gone. My sprained foot just after Westercon in 1989 was my big eye opener.

[mdlbear]

My bad back should have been a warning, but we still didn't make the bathroom doors wide enough for a wheelchair when we had the opportunity. :(

[dejla.livejournal.com]

Fantastic news! So good to hear!

Standing up

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I know you will remember my mentioning the event, though I do not know if you will remember the event itself. You were playing "Filksong Lullaby," which I had never heard before. This not only brought tears to my eyes, I was standing there listening and crying helplessly. Colleen, standing on her feet, came over and put her arms around me and held onto me until the song was over and I was able to stop crying. (This was the 1989 worldcon in Boston, I think Saturday night. This was also the party where I first met Pete Grubbs.) It would not have been the same if she had had a wheelchair, but there is no question whatever but that anybody using a wheelchair is going to be in a far better place than that same person unable to leave the house, or needing major assistance to get to the second floor of any building. In any event I am watching these posts and cheering her on.

Nate

Re: Standing up

[mdlbear]

I vaguely remember that event. "Filksong Lullaby" will be on my next CD, eventually.

I'm really hoping that she'll be able to drive soon; we're pretty sure that's achievable.

[ocelotn.livejournal.com]

Wahoo!

[firecat]

thanks for sharing the good news!

[mdlbear]

You're welcome!

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Wow, she's making tremendous progress! Great!