This Is Where We are At.

Happy 4th of July from the 6th floor of UMMC! I really can't think of any place I'd rather be or any other people I'd rather have taking care of me.

This is where we are currently:

• I am at about 95% mental acuity. I feel like myself! I am able to compute, think clearly, write, and say meaningful sentences.
  
• I am at about 75% physical ability. Today, I was able to walk up 4 steps (twice), do standing exercises, do an arm ergometer for 10 minutes, and go for 3 walks. I do have to use a walker, just for safety's sake
  
• I had a second blood marrow biopsy while on 6C. This biopsy showed no sign of any blood marrow disease or blood cancers! Yay! A Green Light for the transplant team!
  
• The concussion on June 2nd put me on a 6 week hold from being active on the transplant list. I will need to be on blood thinners during transplant surgery and they do not want to risk any further brain bleeds. I will be eligible for the list around July 16th.
  
• Most of all, I feel ready to go home! I still have some medical stabilizing to do (Iron infusions, moving from IV diuretics to oral diuretics) that my doctors think can be accomplished in the next day or so.
  
• I will continue with Physical and Occupational Therapy here in the hospital and once I go home to ensure that I can be in top condition for the transplant surgery.

That is the good and bad news from 6C at UMMC. I should be home by the end of the week!

Note: (Visit the permalink to watch the video content).

Am I Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Well, maybe so... not sure...

So, I continue to recover from being the crazy lady du-jour and I was finally released from ICU on June 28th (after 3 weeks in ICU - half of which I was the crazy lady du-jour, and half of that spent figuring out what was going on). Now is the most difficult part. I need to recover in order to return home. There are no rehab facilities willing to take me and my medication needs. I'm working on cognitive recovery, strength, and balance. At a minimum, I need to be able to climb the 4 steps into the house and the stamina to walk around the house. I will have a home health aide visit for PT & OT once I get home.

Surprisingly, the cognitive portion was very difficult for me: Simple tasks such as remembering a list of 5 items, for about 20 minutes while doing word math problems, memory questions – it really caused more confusion that it should have. But Kyle, my OT tech said I did well and scored a B. We'll hopefully see that score improve over my baseline the next few days. I would love to be ready to go home by the middle of next week. I don't think I'd have any events scheduled outside of the house, but fresh air, my happy spots, and getting stronger in my own surroundings sounds like a wonderful way to recover.

Additionally, I walk 3 times a day, work with PT on a gym machine (a recumbent type bike) for up to 30 minutes a day and I work with OT on walking and balance skills (no more going boom at Byerly's).

Today Joe and I celebrate out 12th year anniversary of our 1st date. We normally play a bit of tennis and have some appetizers at the original restaurant we dated at (now closed). This year, we will spend it in the hospital and celebrate over a strawberry shake from DQ (I hope.)