Another month come and gone since my accident, a month in a coma and a month out. One of the best things is I am now eating solid food, it started with the shake and soup, moved up to mashed then solid food, at first it hurt a little and I had to get used to chewing again but I am happy to be eating and no longer having a feeding tube.
I over heard that some physio will begin, got me a little excited, before the crash I enjoyed working out, felt being fit helped me be a better driver, who knows maybe I can impress a few nurses. No really this is exciting news as up until now it was only on my right arm and now it will include a bit more.
I almost rushed my breakfast as my casts are to come off today, the left leg is the slowest to heal and isn't exactly ready but everything is, no small linger breaks, so to be clear in my rushing thoughts is left leg stays in the cat but my left leg comes out of the cast today, so I wanted to rush through breakfast but after not eating for so long I really have come to like taking the time to eat, taste and be grateful.
Florence came to take the tray away and told me my porter would be here soon to take me down to get the casts of as my collar bone is also being freed, I am thrilled so I am wanting to get moving.
Wow, I was wrong, my good arm wasn't a issue but the moment I went to on my left arm or right leg finally freed from the cast, nothing! I wasn't even sure if I was wiggling my toes, couldn't help but think to myself "What the hell?" but actually said it out loud as my voice and speech had finally returned , I hear a small laugh from my room door, seems I have a male therapist and he seems to find this funny.
"Sorry Dude, but it's not that easy after a wreck like that, not to mention two months of inactivity, like how eager you are though, your motivated, together we'll get there, we are a team."
"Why can't I feel if I wiggled by toes? It was just a break wasn't it?"
"Don't worry bud, I am here to help you get back in shape"
"You sound like a television ad for a gym membership"
"Sweet, nice suggestion for a second career, here I come television pitch man! See we get along already a good team and your chart says your Jonathan, I'm John"
" Nice to meet you, so were do we start?"
"I really do like your can do spirit" He does a message on my toes and foot, said it helps him feel where the muscle tone is at, some reflex thing he explains, nerve endings in our feet and what they connect to, seems to be working as I feel my foot and start to wiggle my toes with a smile on my face.
As his assessment continued he did the same message with all of me like he did with the foot and leg, some areas caused more pain then others, he reassured me that was normal after the trauma I suffered, after the message stage he started to move my foot back and forth, then around working the muscles and the joint, then lifted my leg up slowly, then down, then worked it for my knee to bend and push my leg up towards me, it really hurt again he could see the pain in my face and comforted me that this is good news, feeling my legs means I can move my legs.
After he worked the leg himself for a little longer, he placed it back down and said "now you try" I was in fact able to lift it a little higher then the nothing I had at the very first attempt, " Good, lower it and now again" he only had me do this 6 times, I did ask why not more, " Don't try to push it to much, let your body ease back into it, after all it has been working hard to heal" reluctantly I replied with " yeah, that does make sense".
A knock on the door and a lunch tray, "Look at that, a hour already, I'll be back tomorrow same time, enjoy your lunch" I smiled, couldn't help but wonder what was on the menu today, "Thank you, have a nice day" I told John on his way out but really didn't that seem a little lame?, should I have said enjoy your lunch too? oh well I have food on the brain and want to see what I get to eat that isn't soup or applesauce, pudding wasn't all bad or the Jello and the chocolate breakfast shake was the best, but not so filling. Let's face it the slow working up to solid food, those are good but I look forward to the solids a bit like a kid when off baby food.
I lift the lid from the plate, mash potatoes, steamed carrots and what looked like boiled chicken breast, ok still soft style but at least it is meat, I dig in and it just pulls apart nicely, easy to chew but a little under seasoned as it is bland, I don't see any salt or pepper packets, so I will take it mixed with the carrots and potatoes to get some flavor going, as it is at least a solid meal, plus I notice chocolate pudding for dessert to wash it down. Not tired of chocolate pudding.
I left nothing on my plate, I did notice that know I felt full and sleepy, I decided that I would see about a after lunch nap, so when the nurse came in to take the tray I asked if I needed to stay awake for anything, she said no enjoy your rest and turned out the light. Embracing it now, healing good, if rest is the way then that's ok.
Not sure why I found myself dreaming about swimming, mainly the beach, could be because every time Tony came in her would talk about getting me out to the beach even if he has to push this damn hospital bed himself, to get me fresh air and sun, he also talked about how they moved back here, but he wasn't giving up on getting me to Bali for a while, he must be here soon, he has come around two everyday since I came out of the coma, he hasn't had the girls with him, thinks they should wait till I look less scary so no feeding tube and only one cast, I hope I see them soon, wonder how big they have grown since I saw them six months ok, I guess more then that, my mind and sense of time should come back, I think.
Couldn't blame him, they freaked me out a little too, me the one with them attached let alone be young and first time seeing something like this, half asleep I end up letting out " I must have looked like a monster" all I hear is "No it's just your normal self" must be 2pm cause that is Tony I hear.
"Should I call you sleeping handsome? Shall I call for a nurse to kiss you? A Kiss to wake you up?" thank goodness, he seems to always cheer me up. His company really does help the time go by a little faster, he makes me laugh and we talk about the good old days.
Tony get's a text and has to leave but says " Don't worry I will be back again tomorrow" , were did the time go? That visit felt quick and short but thank goodness for timing as he goes out as the Florence comes in with my dinner tray, looks likes green beans, ham and apple sauce is my dinner tonight, I notice a jello cup, I dig in and eat every bite, I once again feel full and fall off asleep for the rest of the night.