Hold the balloons, and the champagne...it is a bittersweet milestone. While I am happy to have completed one part of my formal rehab program, it is with some degree of disappointment that I am discharged from some part of my therapy and still not 100% recovered. While I do know the statistics,"It is very uncommon and pretty unrealistic to think I'm going to ever be back 100%"...I still hold onto that hope and dream in my heart. At the same time, I know how lucky I am to have made this much improvement already. I also know that just because one part of my formal rehab has concluded, that does not mean that my opportunity to improve is over! It just means that I'm going to have to work that much harder and really step up my game to make changes. Last Wednesday was my last day of occupational therapy, not because I'm "cured" or all better, but because I have met all the goals that were laid out and partially because I think they are not used to having patients that are as "high" functioning as I am. Many people are discharged, sooner, and with less ability to function. I have been very lucky(not to say it came easy, this rehab stuff is hard work...mentally and physically). I can now do so many things, which is awesome!! But don't expect me to do more than one thing at a time...just not happening yet. As part of my last OT assignment they had me cooking something and trying to manage distractions. I'm not sure how exactly they rated me as doing "well" because while I did make some really yummy Smores cupcakes, I left the stove AND oven on. Whoops! This is not the first time, I leave the stove on almost every time I cook. They suggested I set a timer to remind myself about the stove, but I forget to set the timer. ;) Still trying to work on that, and in the meantime I never cook when Jack is awake...way too dangerous. I just can't remember anything....it's one of my biggest obstacles. I'm really thankful and grateful that my speech therapy is not over yet...she said she will be working with me for at least another month and I hope to continue to progress. No rest for the weary around here. As always, we'll stay focused on how much better I am and all the things I can do!! And of course, still, thankful for everyday!
I just found your blog and am glad to "meet" you. I understand about the cooking issues. I bet your cooking gets easier pretty fast.
ReplyDeleteLast fall I sat on the kitchen floor crying after burning part of dinner and then dropping the whole bag of salad all over the floor when I tried to open it. I am actually cooking pretty well now. In fact I would even say it is getting to be fun again.
Hang in there.
I have added a link to your nice blog to the blog list on mine. I hope that is okay.
Hi,Linda, welcome..nice to "meet" you too. Thanks for the encouragement, seems that my cognitive sfuff is progressing more slowly than my phyisical stuff. I'm just thankful that at least something is still progressing. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've left the stovetop burners on a few times, but now whenever I walk through the kitchen I check them, it has become second nature.
ReplyDeleteDean
Yikes! I have to do a task dozens of times before I can multitask. See my post called The Only Magic Bullet I've Found.
ReplyDeleteRebecca,
ReplyDeleteOne task at a time is really hard to do when raising a 2 year old active boy. I guess this is why I am under "mandatory" recovery. It just has to happen for me!!