Day 1003

Thursday January 25th, 2024

Anel is doing well!

She has continued to show improvement in all areas of her therapy. Last November she was discharged from Baylor Rehab and CNS in Irving accepted her. It’s been a hard lesson to learn but the rehab facilities all have an internal clock and when they’re done, it’s adios. I believe they don’t think Anel will progress anymore and they aren’t willing to risk the relationship with insurance. In all but one case the transitions were cryptic and painful. And in each one insurance approved the next facility without any issue. Besides the leaving part, they’ve all been great to Anel and contributed to her recovery. This new facility is top-notch. The most organized and thorough of the outpatient Day Neuro programs for sure and Anel is loving it.

Two weeks ago today Anel began the walking program, which means she takes her walker to school and the wheelchair stays at the house. They have someone walk behind her keeping their hands on her as she goes from class to class. It gives her the much-needed repetition she needs to get the added strength and find her balance. The last two weeks have shown significant improvements. Our walks are still at a slower pace, we wouldn’t take the walker to the mall just yet, but she did want to take it to Rodeo Goat. And for those in the know, a couple of fainting goats will put anyone in a walker so she fits right in.

This morning I was up talking to the crew on the phone, texting clients, and putting a load of laundry on. I headed back to the bedroom to get Anel out of bed. Walked into the room, grabbed something off the floor, and looked up. Anel was sitting up on the edge of the bed. Her feet on the floor, looking at me in silence with a huge grin on her face. My jaw dropped open as I stopped in my tracks and spread my arms open wide. “Babygirl!”, is all I could get out. She was looking at me with the biggest proudest smile I’ve ever seen and she said “I did it all by myself!” We hugged, we laughed, we shed some tears, and we repeated the same line over and over, “You did it!”, “I did it all by myself!”

Needless to say, the last two weeks have been bright and shiny around here. Walking more arm and arm, I walk backward, and now sitting up out of bed on her own. What will the next two weeks hold?

Brick by brick.

With love, Ken.