Day 64-69. Jan 17-22nd

 Things seem to have gathered pace this week with lots of ups and one very literal down.

A great start to Monday when I found out during my dressing change that my right backside was almost fully healed and would soon be dressing free 🙂. This is great news as these wounds have been hampering my progress on so many levels.

Later in the gym after managing a 20 metre walk with the pulpit, we finished of the session with the team setting me a challenge. There is a corridor that they had measured as being 50 metres long. They wanted to gauge my progress and set my onward goals by asking me to see how far along I could make on my own. Well that was me! I set off with my eyes fixed firmly on the end of the corridor. By midway I was starting to struggle and by the end I was hanging on to the pulpit for dear life with my feet going off in all directions but I completed the full 50 metres! The team were really pleased and as well as being able to gauge my strength we were able to assess things like placement of my feet and legs while walking.

On Tuesday I had further fittings for my hook arms along with additional measurements for my walking sticks before heading back down to the gym for a good 1 to 1 Core strength session. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Pilates and afterwards was left feeling that I could realistically see myself getting back to it when I go home🙂. We followed this up with lots more practicing of getting up from sitting to standing. 

Wednesday saw more arm fittings and exercise sessions. I completed a good session concentrating on glutes followed by yet more practicing seated to standing along with reaching exercises to improve my mobility and balance.

I have to admit that I’m falling back more times than I’m standing up but it is improving. The team seem happy with my progress and this week we have even been able to start discussing a roadmap to my getting home🙂

On Thursday during my gym session I encountered the down I mentioned at the beginning. I was continuing with the seated to stand and the balance exercises when I felt I needed to adjust my foot position for balance. I went to move my right foot and next thing I knew I was down, falling heavily on my left arm. The team were marvellous and rushed straight to me whilst ushering everyone from the immediate area. A mixture of shock , pain and embarrassment washed over me and I couldn’t help but cry. As I said the team were fantastic and while I tried to shake it off by making my way back to my chair and then transferring myself to and from it and back to my bed, it left me badly shaken and quite tearful.

My left arm had took the brunt and was badly bruised ( along with my pride) but an X-ray showed there was no internal damage. I appear to have survived my first fall reasonably unscathed which is encouraging as I’m sure it is just the first of many to come. Apparently training on how to get up from a fall was planned for the coming weeks. Trust me to be jumping ahead!

This morning the team came to check on me and to see if I was up for more gym work. We decided to have another go at the same exercises as yesterday but this time the team formed a close guard around me in case of another fall. I’m happy to report that I managed to stay upright and successfully completed two rounds of exercises. I think that will do for this week😓