Forging ahead

They have pinpointed the source of Chukka's fever -- she has some infection in one of the legs. This is basically being treated the same way they did in Austria-- they suction out the infection once or twice a day, and then pack the site with some kind of dressing that draws the rest of the fluid out. At the same time, they are hitting her with antibiotics., switching them as necessary.

This sounds all very scary, but she is doing well. She is back to a full schedule of occupational and physical therapy -- 3 hours a day of each of them. Physical therapy is about strengthening and learning how to use her body in general -- there is a PT room with a huge mat where she can do rolls and so on. OT is more about how to do specific things for every day -- like getting into the shower, doing the laundry (yes, there's a washing machine on the floor, and she will learn how to do her own clothes) , etc. She is forging ahead, zooming around in her wheelchair and is in good spirits again, after a brief hard patch during the worst of the fever (on her birthday no less -- how rotten is that?)

Art Auction Saturday!

Karine has put together an online auction for Chukka & it's tomorrow! I've sent my piece in. I wanted to do a fish (of course) but truly I haven't had time since the accident.

For more pictures and to bid online go here.

Chukka continues to do well. She is in acute rehab, and her work is to continue to get stronger, so that she can transfer herself in and out of her wheelchair. IN the meantime, her family and friends at home are getting the house ready -- making plans for a ramp, rearranging things so Chukka can move downstairs, and so on. It's hard, because we really couldn't start this while she was in Austria, and now she is probably coming home within a month, so there is a lot to be done in a short time. My Dad and some good friends have taken the baton and are doing most of the work for that, for which I am truly grateful -- this is ahrd work and there's allways something different.

She's Got Fever

Chukka got a fever about the middle of last week -- it has been quite high at times. We had to cancel the surprise party, because she was tired and weak. I think I was more disappointed than she was -- after all, she didn't know it was going to happen! People did come by for her birthday, but lower key, of course.

She is better today, although they are still monitoring her. She has had some nausea and loss of appetite, but now she is able to eat. She is now in a private room, but a small one, and since there is always some sort of hospital personnel in there, it can get quite crowded. She is supposed to do her breathing exercises still, but I don't see when she is supposed to have time! Even with the fever, they have tried to sit her up in a wheelchair every day. Her spirits are still good -- she takes all the procedures and pain better than I do! I was a little faint out there today -- I guess if I'd ever had kids, I be less squeamish.

I put Star where Chukka could see her -- apparently when Chukka was most nauseous, Star didn't want to take the risk of being vomited on, so she is sitting on an enormous basket of goodies Crypto's friend Jimmi brought.

I couldn't raise the wireless network on my laptop. I know it's out there somewhere, but it's tricky to find, and it may need a key.

My cousin Saami asked exactly what the phantom pain is. It's a side effect of the amputation -- I think it's the brain trying to figure out where the legs went. When I saw her, her (virtual) feet were cold, and she couldn't warm them up, even when she put them inside each other.

Keep those letters and cards coming. Packages, flowers, stuffed animals all welcome. Maybe a stuffed rhinoceros?

Don't forget you can send her a card via the internet:

https://www.johnmuirhealth.com/index.php/greeting.html

Her current room is 510.