week 1 at home
“Have you thought about setting goals for your recovery? the occupational therapist asked. Mike answered, “yes, I would like my eyes to see better. Maybe work on my shoulders. I’d like to walk normal. I would like to get the answer right.” For a guy that less than three months ago suffered severe traumatic brain injuries, that was a pretty good answer. If you’re keeping track…at the time of discharge from Mt. Vernon Rehab, Mike’s Rancho Los Amigos measure was Level VI.
Yesterday was a full day for Michael with Occupational therapy at 11:30, Physical Therapy at 1:00 and Speech Therapy at 2:00. The PT arrived late and ran in to the ST time slot. They took turns with Mike during the last half an hour of PT, with the speech therapist giving Mike an extra half an hour. Thank you Erin. Erin is a tough 30 year old from Pennsylvania and is an energetic ball of fun. Her dry, intelligent wit is a perfect fit for Michael. He announced yesterday during the combined PT/ST session that she had already become his favorite. She later asked him why she was the favorite and he answered, “you work my brain.” Erin will help Michael develop new strategies for remembering and exercising higher-level intellectual tasks that used to be second nature for him.
Updates from the week:
- An estimated 8 weeks of in-home therapy
- A devastating blow that Michael’s insurance will not cover outpatient rehab through Mt. Vernon’s Bridge Program - looking for another outpatient facility specializing in TBI rehabilitation within the area.
- A very informative visit from Brain Injury Services
- Learned that Mike would rather do anything than ride in a car. He panics, he gets dizzy and nauseous, he breaks out in a cold sweat…he hates it.
- Began the arduous process of applying for disability coverage to help Michael qualify for health and rehab benefits. A possible source of income to help pay previous debt that he is no longer able to provide the income to cover - student loans, credit cards and so on. To find the path that will empower Michael so the present circumstances do not knock him down, but will instead build him up.
- His sense of humor is strongly intact
- Progress in all areas. Mike tires easily - doesn’t give up. He is determined to be the best he can be. Did we expect anything less from him? No, we knew he would fight.
If you would like to stop by and visit with Mike, just call. He is still easily over stimulated but he’ll do fine with about a half an hour to an hour visit. Unfortunately, we usually don’t have his therapy schedule until the morning of…but call and we’ll give you the best information we have. There is really no time that’s better than another, it just depends….
xxoo