Steve’s Note: I am in Auburn back at work with Susan sending me detailed, unedited messages which will be combined with updates from our phone conversations. Though heavily edited by me, the “I” in the updates refer to Susan.

Apologies for the delay in getting these posted.

Sunday, May 2 8:20pm EDT

Roland stayed with Stevie from 4-6 including dinner which delighted her but with a tearful goodbye. Linda (Roland’s Mom) and I left them alone at Stevie’s request. Sam and Nina visited for a couple of hours too. Stevie and I had a good talk after Roland left during which Stevie remembered much of Roland’s visit – a positive sign.

Stevie short term memory remains tentative and was surprised and saddened when I started to leave at 9pm – end of visiting hours. This was upsetting but it also meant she was making cognitive progress which is a good thing.

Still on percocet every 6 hours, Motrin in between and morphine at night when needed, pain remains an issue but as noted by Steve in earlier updates, much less when not moving.

Monday, May 3 7:40pm EDT

Arriving at 1:30pm, I sat in the waiting area just outside ABI and watched for Stevie to pass from the gym to her room. At around 2:30, Stevie wheeled by pushed by her physical therapist headed to be measured for her own wheelchair for when she is released. The PT said Stevie’s original release date has been May 18 but would be pushed back at least a week, likely two because of the Girdlestone operation. Steve speculates release on May 28 at the earliest but no date has been set.

The vacuum dressing on her left knee has been removed bringing her remaining tubes to one.

Tuesday May 4, 18:30 EDT

Stevie had a restful night. I found her in bed getting IV anti-biotic when I arrived at 1:00. She got Ativan (anti-anxiety) after the antibiotic then morphine, in preparation for a right leg “cast” to straighten her right knee.

Prior to the cast, the speech therapist evaluated Stevie’s cognitive abilities with a barrage of questions of which she got 95% correct. Her vocabulary is definitely in tact. She was noticeably less centered on pain, even smiling much of the time.

The physical therapist followed with cast materials in hand. The “cast” is a layer of soft fabric, covered in a hard fiberglass wrap. Stevie was apprehensive at first. It took about 45 minutes to complete during which Stevie was very amenable, even smiling at times, holding still and turning as needed. Ativan and Morphine are a wonderful combination. The cast covers the right leg and foot almost completely. Only a few inches of upper thigh and the ends of her toes are visible. The foot portion is built up by 2-3 inches to mitigate the difference in leg length caused by the Girdlestone operation.

Dr. Moore (orthopedist) came in shortly after and said he was pleased with her left knee wound and felt her hip was healing great! I aired my concern about the therapist suggesting that the right leg could now bear some weight. He said the hip was healed well enough to start therapy on the right as well as the left leg. I grimaced at the pain to come.

Cast done, we read cards and letters and she ate some M&Ms – a first. The occupational therapist came in and quizzed her about the people and dogs in the pictures we had thumb tacked to the bulletin board. This OT has been less than appreciative of the pain Stevie has had to endure describing Stevie as “whiney” and us as “babying”. For our part, we are less than appreciative of the OT’s negative attitude – an occasional smile and positive word would be nice. This person stands out of the otherwise very positive staff at Shepherd.

Settling down after all the commotion Stevie surprised me by asking for Pizza Hut pizza. After an hour in Atlanta traffic I arrived to a smiling face anticipating the pizza. She ate half a personal pan pizza and 1/3 of a 16oz. Dr. Pepper – another first! Suppressed appetite often accompanies a brain injury.

Leaving, I worried about how she would fair sleeping with the cast. That is, getting it positioned so she could sleep.