Thursday, July 8, 2004
Stevie returned home from the hospital June 22 with her white count
down to 15000, elevated but much better. Her appetite began to
return and continued to improve. At first, just special foods but
during the last two weeks, anything and everything.
She returned to therapy on June 28. Since then we have seen an
incredible change in her. Her mental fog which had been slow to
dissipate, vanished in less than a week. She now describes her
memories as "being in a dream". These "dream" memories stretch
back to mid May, encompassing the last weeks at Shepherd Center in
Atlanta. She is able to describe the second, later room in
Shepherd, the gym and where we took walks.
Though her mental abilities have not been put to a rigorous test --
that is, a college level course -- if she has deficits, they are not
readily apparent.
Some milestones of the last several weeks:
- Virtually pain free
- Hair cut - very short and very cute!
- Released from occupational therapy -- is good to go, speach and
physical therapy still ongoing
- Braved the Farr Family 4th of July reunion
- Wheels around the house with no assistance
- Walks with crutches with minimal assistance
- Negotiates the kitchen in her wheelchair to fix snacks
- Drove with Susan in a parking lot
- Guards the portable phone jealously
Next week a check up with Dr. Bilsky at Shepherd along with an
evaluation by the Shepherd neuropsychologist.
Week after next a checkup with Dr. Moore, orthopedist at Piedmont in
Atlanta. He will take a deep needle biopsy of the hip incision to
test for infection. If negative we expect him to give
Stevie the green for a hip replacement.
If given a green light, the hip replacement will have to wait until our
return from Jay's wedding. Jay Henderson, my nephew, is marrying
Heather in Rhode Island on July 30. The five of us (Susan,
Stevie, Spenser, Stacey and I) are flying up. It will be glorious
to share Stevie with all of our family many of whom have been only as
close to Stevie as this web site.