I visited Athena today and she seems to be doing better with her new baseline. Nursing is being flexible with her dosing if she is showing signs of withdrawals and it’s within the hour of when she is due her meds. Athena told me she got to stand up today with a new harness Regional is using with the overhead lift system that is used to put Athena in her chair. Athena got to go outside twice today. Once before I got there and at 4:30 when it wasn’t so hot outside. Athena wanted to go out the main entrance and watch cars going by. I told her she will be driving again soon if she keeps working hard to get on her feet. Once that happens the bed will no longer be a central point of her life.
I asked Athena if she is ready for an intensive physical therapy program that is the last phase of her acute care before going home. I told her this is a one time deal and if she isn’t ready she needs to tell me. Athena told me she is ready and is up to the challenge. I told her the pain level is going to increase as her body comes back on line and she can’t count on pain meds as they are being eliminated from her care plan. She said there is nothing more painful then being without Madison and she wants to come home.
