Last full day of rehab

...so you know that you're tired when you fall asleep while putting your kids to bed and you don't wake up and go into your own bed until 2am...that's why I'm updating this blog post Friday morning instead of Thursday night!

Here's what I started to write yesterday and never posted...
Mordy had a very early morning today. They woke him before 6am (which is earlier than our kids would wake him if he were at home) and brought him to a classroom for the neuro-ophthamology residents. They spent the next hour discussing his case and examining him. It definitely wore him out! When he got back to his room he slept and slept. They woke him for occupational therapy, which he sleepily went through.  He showed the occupational therapist that he can accomplish activities for daily living well enough to be able to be sent home.  These activities included: getting in and out of the bathtub; walking to a bedroom and sitting down on a bed, laying down and getting up; walking into the kitchen and doing some cooking (with pretend food); getting into and out of a car; and more.  They were very satisfied that he could come home Friday!

He was still tired, so he slept during the lunch break and woke up for physical therapy. During physical therapy,  he walked with a cane.  It seems that he'll be sent home with a cane, not a walker, so that is very exciting news!  He went up and down stairs multiple times (and quite well) and then did a number of exercises to help with his coordination and balance.  The therapist provided detailed instructions and illustrations of all the exercises so he can continue to do the exercises at home.

The neuro-ophthamologist came to visit in the afternoon, to make sure Mordy wasn't too tired out from the early morning class, and to suggest some exercises to help his vision improve. Mordy's vestibular system (which coordinates balance) is getting inaccurate signals from his eyes.  As he continues to do these eye exercises, his vestibular system will get increasingly accurate visual information, so his balance will improve.  The prisms are still working great--Mordy continued reading to himself through the afternoon.
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So today is Friday, and Mordy is coming home!  Last night the children made a big poster that says "welcome home Abba" that is hanging on the front door of home, just at the top of the stairs, so he'll see it when he comes home.  (Thank you to Tammy Dorff for the idea and for helping to make it happen!)

Next week he'll have outpatient therapy, probably Tuesday and Thursday.  And after that, he'll have outpatient therapy on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  If you're able to give Mordy a ride to JFK, please email getwellmordy@gmail.com

While Mordy is thrilled to be coming home, he still needs a lot of rest.  If you're local, please let us know that you want to visit--don't just drop by.

I'm very happy to have Mordy home this Shabbat with our family. May this weekend bring health, joy, and recovery to us all.