Update for Friday..

Edi continues to improve and is doing well at the rehab.  It really is a good thing he is there instead of going straight back home after the stay at the ward.  Both Terry and myself were not too happy if he were to be taken directly home because Edi would need the physiotherapy sessions which are better accessed if he is in the rehab (as he is now).

Below are an extract of vivien's email this morning..

"Thur, 10/12/09
5.15 pm visit  -  Edi was dozing, probably effect from tablet for his rash.  Good to see that the only thing left from his main meal was some mashed potato.  Cake with custard for desert was left aside, after the tiniest of morsel in his mouth.  Milk, definitely no, no but Nurse Jasmine offered to heat up the 150ml bottle of pasteurised Pura milk before she finished her shift at about 9'ish tonight.

Fri, 11/12/09
10 am visit -  helped to apply some cream on his body which is still covered with a rash, like hives.  We discussed some nutritious soup recipes which we will start preparing for him on a daily basis, starting from tomorrow.  Combined with his balanced meals at the hospital, this is a strategy to help him regain energy and heal quicker.

Followed him into the "gym" with Caitlin and witnessed the different exercises Edi did, eg: placing both hands together and stretching the arms up towards the ceiling.  I could hear him pushing himself to raise his arms because he inhaled strongly.  Other activities were to do step ups and downs, stand on his toes, sit down and get out of chair without using the arms for leverage, place hands under chin and rotate body waist up to left and to right.  The value of his physiotherapy really comes home to me from watching the session which lasted over ½ hour. Physios don't work on the weekend but Edi will be given a paper detailing these exercises to be repeated over the next two days.

Caitlin has the personality for this type of work; like many health care workers that we've come across, she treats Edi's state of mind as well.  I guess this must be part of their training.  She raised the example of a person's muscles starting to waste when in bed for 3-5 days, so Edi mustn't be discouraged with his present condition, not when he's been in hospital for a month before starting rehab.  She's also always smiling and reassuring.  I said to brother that it was a good thing that we didn't go straight home from Ward 4 East.  What he's doing will increase his mobility quickly and in turn, this will bring him to a more positive frame of mind."