Update Tuesday 9/5

Kaden is on the road to leaving the hospital this week. He needs to be released by many doctors & departments such as the trauma team, PT (physical therapy) and OT (occupational therapy). The trauma team has said kaden is medically ready to go home. Today he was downgraded from “step-down” surgical to regular room - though there is no regular room available yet,so he’s still in his same room. 

PT was not as successful as they would have liked today. Kaden was able to get in a wheelchair by pivoting on his one good leg from the bed to the chair, using only his core and one elbow because his other leg and both arms are casted or immobilized. This is done with someone else (mom/dad/nurse) supporting and lifting him. This was similar to the goal he met yesterday: getting in a regular chair. Today, they added the goal of getting out into the hallway and Kaden moving himself with his one good leg. Unfortunately, the wheelchair they had did not have a leg support for his immobilized leg that was long enough for a 6‘6“ person. So either the PT or I were holding up his leg, and just making the turns around his roommate and trying to get the right angle to get through the door (with such a long leg) took so long and so much effort, by the time we got to the hallway, he was exhausted. So PT opted to try again tomorrow. 

OTs concern was that he would be able to get up from a flat bed (since that’s what we have at home) and pivot to the wheelchair, that he would be able to do the same move in the restroom, and that he could hold a toothbrush, get dressed and other basic life skills.

One challenge in our home is that our doorways are all very narrow (which a standard wheelchair will not fit through well). And right now Kaden sleeps on a futon (which is too low because it’s supposed to be the height of the wheelchair or higher,). And we only have couches not tall, hard chairs (so he can only sit in his wheelchair all day unless we get something higher). So we are planning to switch out kids’ beds tonight as the higher bed is in a room with a narrower doorway. Ha ha. We are also looking at acquiring a tall firm chair and a bidet to make toileting with two casted arms more possible  (TMI?)

Prayer requests: a skinny wheelchair to match our skinny Kaden and our skinny doorways. BUT with extra long supports for his extra long leg! (Insurance should cover it, it’s just a matter of finding it/getting it ordered.) also, digestion progress, getting our house ready for him, learning how to get into a vehicle(!) with no hands and one good leg and keeping the other leg straight. learning to do life temporarily with one limb. Thankfully - this is all temporary. Praise God for all the blessings!

We are so thankful for his ability to hold utensils and even a tooth brush with 2-4 fingers on his right hand (he’s usually left-handed). We are thankful for him getting into a chair twice today and staying in it for 60-80 minutes each time. We are thankful he made it to the hallway in the chair. And so many other things!