Someone asked how Jan was. First, she is neurologically intact. That means all her toes and fingers work just fine. No wheelchair and no paralysis. The halo is to stabilize her neck while it heals. Today is three weeks with nine to go without divine intervention. If I can finagle her out of it a week or two early I will. We are thankful for that. Now we just need to get it adjusted so that it is more comfortable for the rest of her sentence.
She actually gets around pretty good considering she can't twist her body from the base of her rib cage up and her head is completely encased in, as she calls it, the bird cage. She can generally stand and sit unassisted but sometimes an awkward position requires assistance. Her dean loaned her a lift recliner and it has been a Godsend. Not being able to see behind you makes sitting an act of faith. The counter height kitchen table with the tall chairs are another fortuitous item. She can easily and confidently seat herself in them.
She is sleeping most nights in the recliner. She can not lay flat on her back and sleep. The couch sometimes is her daytime resting spot where she will take the pressure off her behind. She can lean over on the couch or love seat and prop pillows in such a way as to relieve the pressure of the vest for a time.
Most mornings, if they are good mornings, she will make her own breakfast. The first week was all bad mornings and she was quite helpless. She has made remarkable progress in dealing with the extra 12 pounds on her head. Worst thing is she will sometimes hit her halo bars on a cabinet door because she can't see it or doesn't realize how far it sticks out when she tries to close it.
Getting in and out of cars is quite difficult. She can't see the door frame and I initially had to guide her in and out. She's had enough practice that she can almost do it herself but I give direction to make sure she doesn't bang the halo, which hurts.
I've procured a handicap placard for the car so I don't have to drop her off at the door and run back from a parking space. She can walk but uneven ground is scary due to the tripping hazards. Steps are also a big fright. She can't see anything on the ground closer than about eight feet in front of her.
We've discovered the easy way to wash her hair. First, we thread a small towel through the back bars and tuck it in so that water will not get on the lamb's wool liner. Next, she lays in two front-to-front kitchen chairs such that her head is suspended over the bathtub. I stand in the tub and pour warm water over her scalp and wash it in a manner similar to how a beauty shop would do it. We then blow dry it to keep water out of her vest.
The sponge bath can be partially done on her own now. I still have to get under the vest for her along with the top of her forehead, under arms, shoulders and back of her legs.
She can dress herself except for the halo specific things. The current favorite is the v-neck shirts we purchased. We slit them about a foot from the rear neckline down. She then steps into them like a dress and we wriggle them up under the vest.
I'm filling out paperwork on renewing my passport. I'm thinking when this is all over we should go somewhere to try to forget the months this has robbed from us.
Tomorrow is the first visit at Bilkmore's Neuro Clinic. She's got everyone's phone numbers in case I get arrested because I don't intend for them to just push her back out without making at least some positive adjustment to her vest and her head orientation.
She actually gets around pretty good considering she can't twist her body from the base of her rib cage up and her head is completely encased in, as she calls it, the bird cage. She can generally stand and sit unassisted but sometimes an awkward position requires assistance. Her dean loaned her a lift recliner and it has been a Godsend. Not being able to see behind you makes sitting an act of faith. The counter height kitchen table with the tall chairs are another fortuitous item. She can easily and confidently seat herself in them.
She is sleeping most nights in the recliner. She can not lay flat on her back and sleep. The couch sometimes is her daytime resting spot where she will take the pressure off her behind. She can lean over on the couch or love seat and prop pillows in such a way as to relieve the pressure of the vest for a time.
Most mornings, if they are good mornings, she will make her own breakfast. The first week was all bad mornings and she was quite helpless. She has made remarkable progress in dealing with the extra 12 pounds on her head. Worst thing is she will sometimes hit her halo bars on a cabinet door because she can't see it or doesn't realize how far it sticks out when she tries to close it.
Getting in and out of cars is quite difficult. She can't see the door frame and I initially had to guide her in and out. She's had enough practice that she can almost do it herself but I give direction to make sure she doesn't bang the halo, which hurts.
I've procured a handicap placard for the car so I don't have to drop her off at the door and run back from a parking space. She can walk but uneven ground is scary due to the tripping hazards. Steps are also a big fright. She can't see anything on the ground closer than about eight feet in front of her.
We've discovered the easy way to wash her hair. First, we thread a small towel through the back bars and tuck it in so that water will not get on the lamb's wool liner. Next, she lays in two front-to-front kitchen chairs such that her head is suspended over the bathtub. I stand in the tub and pour warm water over her scalp and wash it in a manner similar to how a beauty shop would do it. We then blow dry it to keep water out of her vest.
The sponge bath can be partially done on her own now. I still have to get under the vest for her along with the top of her forehead, under arms, shoulders and back of her legs.
She can dress herself except for the halo specific things. The current favorite is the v-neck shirts we purchased. We slit them about a foot from the rear neckline down. She then steps into them like a dress and we wriggle them up under the vest.
I'm filling out paperwork on renewing my passport. I'm thinking when this is all over we should go somewhere to try to forget the months this has robbed from us.
Tomorrow is the first visit at Bilkmore's Neuro Clinic. She's got everyone's phone numbers in case I get arrested because I don't intend for them to just push her back out without making at least some positive adjustment to her vest and her head orientation.
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