Monday, March 23, 2009

The occupational therapist cometh

Today I received a visit from a pleasant occupational therapist.

She asked if I knew the date and time. Seeing as how the calendar and clock are on the wall in front of me, I peeked. Easy peasy.

Then she told me three words she would ask later to test my short-term memory: Pink, cadillac, truth.

Then count backward from 100 subtracting seven each time. No fair. Then do the months backwards, skipping every other one. Tricky. Then she got a pair of hospital pants and asked me to show her if I could put them on by myself. Hurray! Success.

Now the three words again. Somewhere in my mind is an image of Mary Kay of cosmetics fame and a pink cadillac. Ain't it the truth. Pink, cadillac, truth. Correct me if it's another cosmetics magnate. In any case it helped me remember the words. My brain works.

Next came the physical therapist who retested my strength and took me for a walk without the walker, just me holding her hand. I can do this with Diane too. It makes me nervous because I'm wobbly but they say I'm ready to be more independent. Also I can move around my room with my walker instead of calling every time I need something. Picture a deer in the headlights. That's me when I got this info. More independence will be great but I'm so used to being taken care of that it's scary too. Baby steps.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pink Cadillac Truth?

Sounds like a lousy poem by that weird pseudo-beat poet-teacher at Friends, Norman P...
Think Maddie-Lab Youth!
And yes, it was Mary Kay...and of course you knew what time and day!

Baby Steps are right-on for Our Heroine-Runner...You've got to walk before you race...
xop

Anonymous said...

hey kiddo - yep, they knocked the stuffing out of you, but your
"pink cadillac" matter is still intact. No surprise to your blog readers here.

Cat said...

There is no way I could count backward from 100, subtracting 7 each time, and get it totally right. My degree is in Journalism because it had one less math requirement than English, after all.

Well done!!! Baby steps are all that are required...

Anonymous said...

Hi Ronni:

Pink cadillac truth sounds so Gertrude Steinian- I like it! As for subtracting seven, Cat and I are in the same cognitive boat there. I am in continued awe of what you have fought through. The funny stories are just the right antidote- perfect balance. Keep writing.

Meryl

Susan C said...

Bruce Springsteen and a few others also recorded a song called Pink Cadillac.

http://tinyurl.com/d6jr5x

Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

You are so funny! Eat, eat, eat. Stronger every day!

hockeychic said...

Love seeing your humor in this post. I could never count backwards from 100 subtracting 7 each time. I took psychology to get out of the science requirement in college (which included math).

Nelle said...

I am absolutely thrilled that you are making constant progress in your recovery. I can't do much backwards mentally. Each day I am sure you will be a little stronger and moving further along your road to full recovery. I wish I could be there cheering you on!

nicole_rc said...

Hi Ronni,
I finally started reading today.. Im only back to February whe you were in ICU.. I am so amazed by your strength and determination. The more I read the more I keep thinking my mom can get thru what she is going thru. Yes, she is where you were kinda in a different way. She can't walk right now, barely can set up, and weighs in the 80's. They are going to start helping her use a walker soon. Good ole walker-I know she'll hate it:) Well keep up the positive attitude. Ill be back later for more reading of your past updates! nicole
www.caringbridge.org/visit/welovebev

Anonymous said...

Hello, again, Runni...
i'm with the others about the Math! what an exercise...mrs. casey would be proud!!! remember little Billy and...

You are amazing mathematically as well...
xop

Anonymous said...

Nice work- some of that stuff I would have a HARD time with too!

Keep on truckin' you are doing great!!!!
Lea

Ann said...

There are hospital pants?! Why on earth do they insist on giving us those horrible backless gowns that don't fit a soul when there are hospital pants? I got out of the occupational therapy testing by telling the therapist that I wouldn't be working anytime soon and they were wasting their time. I couldn't believe that it worked.

As for the physical therapist, she wasn't having any of it. She even made a point of coming by every day just to make me exercise.

It's good to hear that you're moving forward and I know it can be scary. If anyone can do this, it is you. Hurry up and get better so I can get my Running Writer fix. :)

CogSciLibrarian said...

I'll be singing Pink Cadillac all afternoon now - and wishing you all good tings, cadillacs and truth included. :-)

Jim said...

Sounds like a super-strong woman is getting closer to her A game. Ronni, we are delighted you are making such strong strides. They may seem like baby steps, but they sound like leaps across canyons to me. Jim

Jim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wendy S. Harpham, MD said...

Hi Ronni,

Whoo, hoo. More baby steps taking you toward renewed wellness. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

As for the scariness of regaining independence, a mantra that has helped me is this: "Transitions are trying."

Even positive transitions that you've hoped and prayed for are trying. Remember what it was like to take your first baby home from the hospital? Or your first day at a job you really wanted?

Transitions are trying, but they take you to better places. So take a breath and hold on, and keep taking those baby steps.
With hope, Wendy

Nancy said...

An occupational therapist coming to your room is a sign of good things to come. I remember having a PT, OT and a Recreational Therapist. The RT insisted on playing games or doing crafts. Most of the time I turned him down, but since he was so nice and was insistent on playing a game, I taught him how to play Black Jack. Of course, we didn't play for real money, but I think he had to go buy poker chips to keep in his arsenal for patients like me.

Keep on healing... You are an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

I can't do the every month backwards thing right now. I mean, that sounds like a field sobriety test (not that I've ever had to pass a field sobriety test, though I know people who have.).
I also recommend Springsteen's Pink Cadillac, a great great song. Opening Day is coming Ronni, opening day is coming!