Day 7 Thurday, December 16

Thursdays rehab started at 9:00 am although they are getting everyone going with wakeup stuff at around 7:30. Elizabeth is awake earlier because the sleeping is still spotty but better. They put her back on Percocet at night starting Thursday night which is really good. The pain in her jaw has kept her awake for the past few nights because they put her on the less potent non drowsy med. They will just give her the powerful drowsy med at night. They will stop that in the middle of the night and switch to the non drowsy med.
These rehab days are very busy with work from 9-4 with a one hour break in the middle.  She charged through the day like a real trooper! It really made me feel good. She has such a great attitude!... still cracking little jokes along the way. It’s imported to try to laugh although you might not feel like it always. …. It uplifts the mood. She does good with that. I’m so thankful for her great attitude. Physical Therapy started at 9:00. She was dressed and ready to go when I arrived.  I was able to be there early this day and it was great for me to get to participate with this day’s activities. PT person’s name is Jen and she is really good! They have her on some light weights for leg exercised, stairs and a sit down bike. She did well. She told Jen how she used to the stairs in Santa Monica and how she loves the looking at the ocean and running those stairs. I told her we were gonna run those stairs again… she agreed! She will get to walk outside with pt but it was raining on this day. It will be nice for her to get outside!
It was then time for Occupational therapy. We talked a lot about how the house set up…stairs, shower etc…. and how her balance and peripheral vision which are both good. We practiced getting in and out of a make-shift shower set up to be like the one at our house. Again she did well and these types of daily living actives continued throughout the day.
Speech therapy went well too. She practiced facial exercises and some reading aloud with a comprehension testing. One of the stories had something about a dragon in it and she said “Ya know I used to have a dragon in my head”. It made us all laugh! She did well and even got and 9 out 10 on the comprehension. I teased her like I used to and said with a smile ”way to go over achiever”. She laughed.

Some Neuropsychologists came in to talk to her about the emotional stuff. “She said I don’t need you guys I’m happy!” Again we all laughed. This is just procedure and its good that they are there for her. She knows that and did the interview. She told them a great story about how her grandma Tirabassi's , who just turned 90, made her a gift of a specially painted rock with a cross on it and that it had given Elizabeth strength. She keeps telling everyone how "this rock is going to bring the power of the universe to help me"... and it has! It the simplest things that mean so much in life! Thanks Grandma Tirabassi! You are such a special lady! We love you so much. Again this meeting went well and they really liked Elizabeth! For those of you that don’t know Elizabeth has a bachelors degree in psychology as well as other degrees and credentials including being an RN. They were all talking in Chinese as I was sitting there acting like I understood. That psych degree is just one of the many notches on her belt. Ya know the typical over achiever.

The above repeated in the afternoon after lunch. She did well with lunch and ate a whole peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Needless to say she was very very tired after all of this. The jaw pain was creeping up on her and after dinner which she ate and then she ask for the pecocet. She took a shower on her own with me shadowing her. It’s done with some right hand favoritism but she trying to use the left hand. Little by little left side has gotten stronger. Still a ways to go but little by little she’s done great so far!
She took a percocet after the shower at about 6:30. She was obviously extremely tired even before the Percocet.  Heck I was tires just riding along. She started to dose off as said if we should probably bring Jack tomorrow night and she was already asleep so she'll try to see him Friday.

This was a really good day for her and I as tiring as it was for her. She had really shown the biggest jump that I have seen on a day to day basis.  It was very inspiring. (remember she had seen Jack the night before... it really gave her a boost). My sister Rebecca came to drop off some clothes on her lunch break and saw it too. She even made a comment about it on the day 6 post. Elizabeth’s strength is unbelievable during this time. Again, it makes me strong. We feed off each other's strength. I love her so much its simply immeasurable. I just can’t wait til we can go on our evening walks with Jack on the poseos near our home in Valencia like we always do. Tomorrow is a big day because the rehab center has a meeting of the minds for Elizabeth’s progress and potential go home date.  I know it will be good news!!! It will be so great to get her in her own space. She will be able to rest so much better at home.

Jack was at my sister Rebecca and my brother in law Tom's house (where we are staying since leaving the hotel) with Elizabeth's mom Michelle this day. He's done pretty good considering everything.  All three have continued to be a phenomenal help and support with everything! Michelle will head back Friday night and Tom and Rebecca will take over for some of what Michelle had been doing. Tom has taken days off next week to help! And Rebecca will try do work from home for 1/2 of a work day. Thanks SO much Rebecca and Tom! These three people have been an ENORMOUS help during this time!! I cant thank them enough if I did it a million times!!!

Elizabeth is so amazing as she had sent encouraging thoughts on her own to a friend named Mea from the angioma alliance who is having surgery here Friday. It’s just like her to always be thinking about others....even in her condition. She asked for all of us to thing good thoughts for Mea today. Good Luck Mae!!!

I will try to update earlier Friday night with the days events and the news from the rehab team.
Continued thanks for all the encouragement from everyone!!! It’s so huge right now for us both! I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart! I always update her every day. She may be able to post soon.

Thanks so much!

 John