Update for 6/16/08

When I got to the hospital this morning Dad had already eaten his breakfast. He ate it by himself. Gordon, his PCT, cut it up for him, and he fed himself. He ate it all by the way. He also ate his supper by himself.

Today we had physical therapy (twice), occupational therapy (twice), and speech therapy (twice). Dad’s physical therapy sessions are exhausting to him. They say he will get used to it. He worked on walking, standing, shifting weight, transfer from wheelchair to bed and back, etc. He also did some shoulder exercises.

The speech therapist today said she thinks Dad may have apraxia. Originally they thought he had aphasia. He could have a combination of both (hopefully not), but his therapist said treatment for both conditions is the same. Apraxia is when the patient knows the word he wants to say but his mouth/articulators can’t form the sounds. Aphasia is when the patient cannot think of the word…

Overall he had a good day today. The nurses and technicians on the eighth floor are really great, they are very helpful.

Dad will be spending most of his weekdays doing some type of therapy, eating, or resting for the next therapy session. The best times to visit him are in the evenings. Weekends are also okay because there are less therapy sessions

Britney