September 4 - First Day in Rehabilitation

AJ had a much better rest last night.  He didn't go to sleep until 11:00 after his friends left and he was given some medicine to help him sleep.  He probably got about 5 hours of sleep, all together.  He was definitely ready to wake up and get going on his first day of rehabilitation!  His new room has a window on the ground floor and he enjoys opening the blinds to let the sun in and looking out at the patio.  He has a goal to go outside someday soon!

Today we met Dr. Jeffrey Rosenbluth, AJ's spinal cord rehabilitation doctor.  He was very personable and knowledgeable concerning the injury.  He expressed the need for an assessment to figure out exactly the extent of the spinal cord injury and the plan for recovering as many capabilities as possible.  He said that this assessment would take place tomorrow.  He also introduced us to our case worker, Amy.

The rehabilitation plan for AJ is to get 3 hours of therapy every day, between occupational therapy (doing personal things by himself - eating, grooming, getting dressed, etc.) and physical therapy (moving around - getting from point A to point B).  The doctors expect him to be in full-time, inpatient rehabilitation for approximately 8 weeks, at which time AJ will be as independent as possible, given his condition.  Follow-on outpatient rehabilitation will continue for as long as necessary.  Continued improvements in feeling and movement could continue for up to 2 years after the accident.  Today, the 3 hours were performed in four 45-minute sessions.  AJ was very excited to finally be doing something.  The occupational therapy sessions were mostly assessments to determine a baseline for what AJ can do right now, in order to develop a plan for independence.  The physical therapy sessions included helping AJ get dressed, lifting him out of bed using a large sling and overhead crane and placing him in a power wheelchair.  We are learning a lot about how a body regulates blood pressure.  AJ has suffered serious trauma and been in bed for 7 days.  During this time, his heart and muscles have not had to pump his blood as vigorously as when he was active.  They have been slacking, so to speak.  So a big part of these first days of rehabilitation is to help AJ's body regulate (increase) his blood pressure while being upright again, so that his brain has the blood and oxygen it needs to function.  Sometimes, this can take a while.  That is why today's PT sessions focused nearly totally on AJ being upright in the power wheelchair.  The therapists mentioned that it may seem to AJ that he didn't do anything today, but being upright for 30 minutes and allowing his body to regulate his blood pressure is a huge thing!  In the evening, after the therapy sessions were completed, AJ said, "I feel very weird today.  Probably because this is the most moving that I've done in a week."

Today AJ received a folder containing 10 pages of e-mails that have been sent to him via the hospital.  The messages contained in these e-mails touched AJ's heart and helped give him an idea of just how many people are praying for him and care for him.  This meant a lot to him.  Thank you to all who have sent him e-mails, cards, gifts, and messages.  All of these help to comfort him and give him strength.

We found out today that AJ has developed a urinary tract infection.  The doctor says that this is very common for someone who has been using a catheter for this long.  There is no cause for alarm, and a prescription of antibiotics for 10 days should take care of it.

AJ has been the king of respiratory therapy!  He certainly doesn't want to have to battle pneumonia while fighting this war against paralysis.  He has been extremely faithful at performing his breathing exercises and his lungs are healthy to show for it.  The respiratory therapists continue to tell AJ that his chest sounds the best of everyone on the floor.  His cough is getting stronger also.

AJ continues to have many strange feelings in his body such as parts of his body floating in the air, or a hand gripping on to something that isn't there, or the bed shaking when it isn't.  These are very frustrating for him, but generally do not cause a problem for him in the daytime.  But, at night, they are just like a bad nightmare for him, and keep him awake, or wake him up.  The doctor mentioned that these are very common, especially for those who have suffered "incomplete" neck injuries, meaning the type of spinal injury where there is some feeling or motor control below the level of the injury.  Unfortunately, he did not have a good explanation for why this happens or what exactly it means.  Sometimes it seems like AJ is fighting an invisible foe.