Today's therapy session

Lucinda and I both arrived at the same time this morning, 10am, for Dad's Physical therapy session. When we arrived, Anna was with Dad in his bedroom, Dad in his wheelchair, and she was tossing the ball with him. Since the weather has improved, the sliding door from his room was open to the screen and it was quite pleasant and light.

Anna reported that Dad was able to get out of bed yesterday and this morning without the lift...he was a little more "grabby" today, but did assist with the transitions, and stood for awhile in the bathroom while being changed.

During the leg exercises, Dad was participating with the movement okay, but was less inclined to count, and seemed a bit more unresponsive. Though when asked how he was feeling, said "easy goes it"--he said something else that had me, Lucinda and Anna laughing, which I can't recall, but know that it was a nice example of Dad's ability to still tell a joke.

We moved into the hallway (very wide, with wood floor) as Lucinda wanted to see how far Dad might walk. In our first couple of attempts to stand, he got up fairly well, but as he had done on Monday, moved his right foot close to the left, and was leaning far right, not wanting to put any weight on the left leg. Lucinda wanted to try having him do the same in the bathroom shower (quite open) where he could grab the bar in front of him, and hopefully force him to stand straighter. When we did that, he did pretty well, and also let out quite a rip of gas. I think that seemed to help...we moved him back in the wheelchair, and suddenly he seemed more alert. I was asking him if he wanted to stand up again and he said Yes, emphatically, and also, "I want to walk." He stood up quite well and this time was standing much straighter. We were prompting him to lift his right leg, and also to shift his weight to his left, which he then did, though gingerly, and managed to lift his right leg slightly. We also stood for awhile. Sat down for a rest, and did the same thing again, just as good, and then moved him into the recliner to rest.

I was definitely encouraged with the attitude shift I noticed with regards to Dad wanting to walk today, and that once he had said that, got himself prepared to do so (leaning towards the walker to grab it for example, and not needing as much prompting.)