Wednesday - Week 8

YAHOO - It happened! We moved Kristi late yesterday afternoon to a hospital that specializes in Neuro rehabilitation. The goals - talking, walking and eating are at the top of the list. Today and tomorrow we are working with her team of specialists who are evaluating her condition and then on Friday we will all meet together to discuss reasonable goals and time frames. This morning she worked and/or met with a pulmonary doc, neuro doc and liver doc as well as her team of therapists, which include speech, occupational and physical. It was interesting to both of us to see where she was and her comment was that she could do more than she thought. No doubt she will be talking (already is only in a very quite voice) and eating very soon. The speech therapist did a swallow test using both water and chocolate pudding. She enjoyed them both very much and they will slowly start adding some foods to her diet. The occ therapist asked her to dress herself and she did great with her shirt but not so well with the socks - admitedly socks are tough when you only have one hand and it is not your dominate one. The PTs worked to do strength and nerve evaluations and this is clearly where she needs the most work. She aced the memory and cognative thinking tests which is more than just wonderful!

The typical comments where that she is in great shape given what she has gone through but boy is she weak!!! The question is - how much of the weakness is muscular and how much is due to neurological damage. Time will tell, but muscular is much easier to rehab. There are tests that they can do but supposedly they are very painfully so todays plan is to wait for a few weeks and see how she does.(the plan could well change tomorrow) She is also having extreme pain in her feet and legs, this is most likely due to the "awakening" of her nerves and while this is very painful it is also a good sign.

I have been out of touch but it has been really crazy the last few days. I am sure that Kristi has been evaluated by no less than a dozen doctors in the last two days - both on the discharge and the admit side.

If you want to call her she has a direct line into her room at 408- 793- 4467 and she is at the Santa Clara Valley Community Hospital - Special Rehabilitation. She still can't text but I know that she talked to Steven last night on the phone and that he was able to hear her. I wil send her address tomorrow.

Love to all!!!