Day 54 - Constant Progress

We're always trying new activities to stretch Daniel in his recuperation. We've been outside before, but it was only for a minute or so because he seemed to be overstimulated by the outside light. Today we were packin' some shades. After a long walk around the unit I lined up a wheel chair with blankets and snugly pillows to make Daniel as comfortable as possible. When he returned from his walk we slipped him in a chair, donned his cowboy hat and out we went free-wheeling around the hospital.

We walked Jamie outside to the atrium garden, posed for a few pics and went our separate ways. We wheeled around outside for much longer this time. I think the dark glasses helped with the sunshine. After our outside time we tooled about on the 2nd floor until Daniel seemed like he'd had enough so we returned to his room.

After lunch his occupational therapist stopped by to NOT inflict pain this time, but rather to sooth and massage his skin. She showed us now hard/deep we could press and massage. Daniel seemed to enjoy his time. She was also concerned with his right elbow and how it needs to be straighter while he's in bed. He's tending to bend it in and that will cause contractures and stiffness over time.

She built a device out of thermoplast. She heated it in a hot casserole dish filled with water. The heat makes the plastic flexible and form fitting. Then she wrapped his arm in an ace bandage to protect it from the heat and then held the heated thermopast sheet around his arm until it cooled and hardened. Attaching velcro and elastic to the hardened splint holds it in place and encloses his arm with the right amount of bend in his elbow. Pretty cool!

Daniel will have wound care this evening. Until then we'll rest up and break-in the new elbow splint. We hope to give him a light dinner just before wound care, then he'll be nicely sedated and ready to get back in bed and sleep away the night.