Vickie made her first visit to her new dr. this morning. Since the anti-motionsickness patch was removed several weeks ago she has traveled without problems. The removal of the patch also seems to have helped her cognitive ability.

Due to the unseasonable warm sunny weather, Vickie was able to supervise some wheelchair ramp touchup work and some yard work from the deck over her back yard.

Vickie's remarkable progress continues. So far, no new medical problems to set her back.

Vickie was visited by the occupational therapist and the VNA nurse that will be working with her at home. They came to do their preliminary evaluation and to determine what the course of treatment will be.

No problems today.
We are not sure if it's the environment or some new medication, but Vickie's cognitive ability seems to be getting noticeably better each day.

Vickie has now been in her home for a full day. We are all working to adjust to our new situation and schedule.
Vickie's appetite has returned so she won't need tube feeding for now. It will still take a lot of perseverance and some mechanical devices to deal with all of Vickie's needs.
If she can avoid the virus that seems to be everywhere now, she will do fine.

After morning therapy sessions Vickie had her last lunch at RIO. She made the trip home without problem, where she will now live barring any new medical emergency.
Providing around the clock care for Vickie may prove to be a daunting task, but we are determined to try our best, considering the alternative choice.

No holiday for Vickie, some serious therapy today. Now that she is feeling better, the therapy sessions are more rigorous, again pushing her limits to increase her ability to resume a more normal life.

Vickie returned to her room at RIO this evening, again making the trip without problems.
The primary reason for the overnight stay at her home was to determine Vickie's caregivers ability to properly care for her without professional help and facilities.

This afternoon, Vickie was in her home for the first time since the middle of last June. She made the trip without incident and without using any medication for motion sickness. After a mini tour of the house and a bowl of soup, she took a long nap. Pizza and chocolate creme pie at her own dining table along with good conversation with family were the high points of the evening for everyone present.
Tomorrow she returns to RIO for more therapy and an evaluation of her care givers performance.

Vickie had therapy today that was a little more challenging. She is showing noticeable improvement on the infection that's kept her down this last week.

Vickie resumed her RIO therapy only with fewer sessions during the day. She seems to be feeling better and is getting back to her regular self.

Vickie begins the ninth month of her recovery back in her RIO room. She was brought down late in the afternoon, just in time for dinner. She didn't have much of an appetite so she will receive nourishment thru the tube. The heavy congestion persists, but seems to be less bothersome.

Vickie is showing some improvement over the pneumonia. She was able to be in her wheel chair for a while today and feed herself. She could possibly return to the RIO floor tomorrow.

Vickie is still in a room on the 4th floor. She is still on oxygen due to the severe congestion she is experiencing.

Vickie is still at the medical floor of the hospital. She was feeling a little better this evening, although she still has serious congestion and is very tired. If the progress continues she might return to RIO Monday.

Everything changed today. Vickie became very sick early in the morning. Nausea, fever and respiratory difficulties caused all plans to be canceled. She was transferred to a medical room this evening for treatment. The tentative diagnosis is pneumonia again. Anti-biotics and oxygen are being administered. Vickie slept most of the day.

Vickie responded to her therapy well today. She is now receiving a new medication that is supposed to help her cognitive ability.
We will be doing around the clock care giver training this weekend so Vickie won't be able to have any visitors at RIO Saturday or Sunday.

The therapy is still ongoing. Vickie is now being pushed beyond her comfort zone. At times Vickie is almost terrified as she is urged to do tasks she hasn't been asked to do before. Sitting on the edge of her bed is a frightening event for her. Even though it's difficult, it's a necessary part of the recovery process.

Preparations are continuing for Vickie's return home sometime later next week.
Vickie is still progressing. She still has her good attitude from before.

At the weekly meeting this morning the RIO staff expressed their concern about our ability to care for Vickie in her home. Apparently they don't realize how determined we are to not have her return to a nursing facility.

Vickie's improvement continues.
Since she has been at RIO there have been no medical problems.

Vickie had therapy sessions in the morning and then had the rest of the day to goof off. She is eating her meals [ the food quality is somewhat better than Rest Harbor's] and she is paying attention to her environment.

Even the RIO staff is remarking about the improvement in Vickie's behavior in the few days she has been with them. She is more alert and cognizant than she has been since June 16th.

The motion sickness patch is off, maybe a coincidence but Vickie seemed more alert and aware today. She participated in vigorous therapy and had a good appetite.

Vickie was tired and ready for bed early in the evening after the full day of therapy.
The therapy includes training Vickie's care givers safe methods for moving her when she goes home.

Vickie had a full schedule of therapy sessions today.

Vickie made it through her second day at RIO without any serious problems.
The staff believes they can work with Vickie to improve her ability to help with her basic needs. They will just have two weeks to accomplish their goal.
We have begun modifying Vickie's home to accommodate her when she comes home to stay. A tilt type wheel chair has been purchased and a donated bed will arrive this week. A wheel chair ramp is now under construction.