December 22 update

Good session today with the PT/OT staff in the afternoon. Same sitting up on the bedside but this time she was able to help the PT/OT staff in moving into a sitting position and maintaining her balance. Big steps from yesterday, she works really hard at trying to do what they want and is starting to help the nursing staff take care of her, i.e. she settles down when they are in doing something for her.

Still hasn't spoken or tried to make any words but her facial expressions are more intense and she seems more alert.

Well I was right about her teeth, she has several chipped front teeth. Dentist at the hospital prescribed something for the nurses to use when they brush her teeth to prevent infection and try to deaden the nerves a bit. Usually it is given to oral surgery patients.

Still getting nowhere on finding a sub-acute rehab facility that will accept her. The one in Richmond turned her down based on "inconsistencies" in her record. Haven't quite figured out what that is supposed to mean but I have my suspicions. When the case manager told me of the turn down I asked and she wasn't able to provide alternates at this point since it looks like she is a serial thinker vice parallel thinker. So I told her that I want her supervisor to call me in the morning after I talked to the discharge planner. 20 minutes later she pages me and lets me know that she is no longer handling the case and that her supervisor is now handling it. So where we go from here I am not sure. I think that Su's neurosurgeon had it right when she said the other day that at this rate Su will be able to drive over to Riverside and check herself in before TriCare finds a sub-acute rehab facility. So it looks like Su will be remaining at Sentra until sometime after Christmas. The PT/OT staff want to start a Brain Injury unit in her room and just keep her, they get a real charge out of working with her.

Not much more to report, take care all and I may or may not email an update tomorrow night and since I am spending Christmas Eve and Christmas it may be Saturday before the next email. Su and I appreciate all the support and warm thoughts.

To quote
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Lawrence
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