A very busy schedule
We are really getting into the flow of things around here. It's very exhausting, but we will endure. We rise at 6 AM, change Shawna, fold up our beds (1 sleep sofa and 2 cots) and get them out of the way. At 7 AM the nurses are coming in and doing vitals. At 8 AM the doctors come in for their rounds. In the interim, there is the cleaning staff who come in and empty the trash cans and mop the floors.
After they all clear out, we are able to quickly shower (there is no hot water anywhere in the hospital from about 8 PM until 8 AM). We then make sure Shawna is dry and load her up into her wheelchair and off to PT we go so that Shawna is in the physiotherapy room at 10:15 AM. PT is an hour-long session.
Following PT, we scurry back to our room, change Shawna, and quickly eat lunch. We then load Shawna back into her wheelchair and hurry down the hospital halls across to the therapy building for OT, which is at 1:15 PM. Directly following the OT session, we take Shawna back into the PT room and put her in their standing frame for 45 minutes. By the time Shawna gets done standing, it's 3:00-3:15 PM.
Back to our room again for a quick change and a slight breather before TCM comes in at 4:00 PM. TCM (traditional chinese medicine) is a 1 hour long session as well. Once the TCM doctors finally leave our room, it's time to send little Gary out to get something for dinner while Dad and I take care of changing Shawna into her night clothes, get her food ready, etc.
By the time we eat dinner and finally have a chance to sit down, it's 8 PM or later. Needless to say, it is a very welcome treat when the doctors tell you that they do not work the weekend and they will see you on Monday. Much-needed sleep is caught up on ... lol.
That's pretty much the way every day of the week goes. Tomorrow, however, will be a different story ... Shawna will get her first stem cell injection, which will require her to lay perfectly still on her back for the remainder of the day (6 hours minimum). Accordingly, it looks like Dad and I will get a break tomorrow as well ... aside from changing incontinence briefs. There is something in the stem cell proliferation IV that has been making her bladder work overtime, so we will still be plenty busy.
Time to run again ... just on a short break and thought I'd update you.
TERR YOUNG · October 15, 2007 12:04 PM
HELLO EVERYONE! I'M MISSING MY SECOND FAMILY! I WAS GLAD TO SEE A PICTURE OF SHAWNA WITH ALL OF YOU THERE. IT SOUNDS LIKE SHAWNA'S SCHEDULE IS PRETTY BUSY. I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY TO HEAR SHE STANDS THERE TOO! HOW ARE TRANSFERS GOING? PIVOTS,SLIDE BOARDS, HOYERS,OH MY!! I AM EXCITED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TCM! SHAWNA I REALLY MISS TALKING TO YOU!! TELL LITTLE GARY BRANDON SAYS HELLO. I WENT BY THE RINELY HOUSE AND IT LOOKS GREAT! THERE WERE PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING ON SUNDAY EVENING.GO! GO! GO!
TAKE CARE EVERYONE. GIVE SHAWNA A BIG HUG FROM ME. LOVE,TERRI
TERRI YOUNG · October 15, 2007 12:52 PM
TO SHAWNA FROM KAYLA
I MISS SHAWNA. I WISH SHE WAS HERE. I SEE HER RIGHT NOW AND SEND HUGS AND KISSES. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT SHE IS OK IN CHINA.WHEN SHE GET'S BACK I WILL READ A BOOK TO HER.I AM GOING TO BE A WITCH FOR HALLOWEEN BOO.I WILL WRITE BACK SOON! LOVE KAYLA SEE YOU SOON.
williams family · October 21, 2007 9:25 PM
finally getting the hang of this its awesome we love you all and our prayers are with you love rog and deb