Kung Fu Fighting

I have been rocking it in therapy lately and have a lot of new accomplishments to share. I figured I would do this in a list form rather than writing out a sentence for each one.
* I can walk sideways while holding on to a bar
* I can walk backwards while holding on to a bar
* I can walk up and down a set of five stairs of different heights
* I can walk stepping over cones (with right leg on one lap, left leg on the other)
* I can then pick up the cones from the ground
* I can eat (very messily) with my right hand with adapted utensils
* I can write (messily) with my right hand with a fat pen
* I can dress myself and pull up my own pants (Hey that is harder than it seems!)
* I am now allowed to transfer in and out of bed and to go to the bathroom independently
* I can manipulate objects like dice and clothes pins
* I can catch a ball

Now for the areas where I still need work.
* I need to work on feeding myself and writing
* I need to work on balance
* I need to strengthen my right leg when bending as it reaches a point and then gives out
* I need to build endurance and strength in all areas
* I need to work on general household tasks
* I need to walk longer distances with a normal gait pattern without cuing
* I need to work on my toes not turning inward when I walk

The BEST news is that I get to go home next Friday (February 26)!!!! I will receive therapy at home and continue to improve but I get to bust out of here in 8 days (not that I am counting)!!

Blindsighted

Late on Wednesday night/early Thursday morning I was having difficulty sleeping. At around 3:30am I just felt majorly "off". By 4am I had noticed my left arm and leg were numb and tingling. By 4:30am I had an intense headache and significant weakness on the left side. It was then that I decided a trip to the Emergency Room might be a good idea. As soon as I got there I was evaluated for a stroke and "qualified" (do I put that on a resume?) and they called a code stroke. It went from one person in the room with me to half the dang ER. A CT scan was done and normal. I then teleconferenced via this cool robot with a neurologist on call at another hospital since I live in small town nowhere. It was decided that I needed to be transferred immediately to a larger hospital with better staff/treatment options/testing. After a long 45 minute ambulance ride, I arrived at the big hospital. I then spent from 7:00 am until 6:30pm in the ER. Um, I think that is a personal best (worst). They did finally move me from a curtained section of the ER to a private room which I and my headache appreciated. During all of this time my weakness progressed and I lost sensation on my left side. The vision in my left eye also became impaired, with no peripheral vision and blurry vision. I met with the neurologist the next day and it was decided I needed an MRI to detect any stroke, swelling, or metabolic changes. The MRI sucked because it was so loud, but I did get to listen to some good music. Apparently the MRI came back normal. The doctor then decided that I was having/am having a hemiplegic migraine. This is a migraine which causes one side of the body to behave as if there were a stroke. He tried IV Keppra and Magnesium to break the migraine but neither one offered much help. At that point he felt that I could and should go to rehab (an aspect of a nursing home) and I would have to wait out the migraine and hopefully recover use. It is now almost a week later and I still have the freakin headache (it is worst at night and early morning), and my left side is in rebellion against me. Today I have my first sessions of therapy (PT, OT, Speech) and a big meeting to discuss my plan of care and such. Yesterday was a day of assessments.
Because I am far from home and my mother cannot drive, I had no clothing to bring to rehab with me. They found me a couple items to borrow from the laundry (they save clothing people leave behind- function way over fashion here). I have the most amazing friend who is sending me the clothes and personal items that I need as well as some entertainment and time passing items. I am so blessed.
I am hoping to get a better insight into how we treat the elderly in America, a new perspective on illness and age, and to continue to document my recovery (both the humorous and difficult).