22 November 2024
Today Cassie brought Kevin instead of Jayce (who was otherwise occupied) to work with Joyce. She gave Joyce a choice of walking to sit in the wheelchair or standing up three times.
Joyce went for standing up three times.
We put her magic shoes on and she more easily moved her feet off the bed and her legs to the edge of the bed.
Cassie had her sit up and scooted her to the edge. Then Joyce put her feet on the ground. She did scream in fear as she stood up but got up under her own power.
But not the second or third time. On the second she actually straightened up and looked around when Cassie asked her to say what color Kevin's eyes are. It was a good distraction. "They change," he said when she couldn't tell.
So she held her position longer than yesterday before sitting back down and then getting back up for the third time. She even shuffled her feet a bit.
When she sat back down, Cassie took her through the leg and arm exercises she's been doing with Joyce.
Yesterday's standing up seemed a little unconvincing. But today's was convincing. She seems strong enough for it but still cautious if not afraid of being upright.
Cassie is working Sunday this week so we agreed to try it all again then. When she passed Christina reading by the nurses' station, she told her all about it. Cassie was very happy with Joyce's progress.
Lunch was the usual unpalatable plate but Joyce did drink some coffee and milk and ate some apple sauce and soup. I told her not to give up on the food. It should taste better each day as the Zoloft leaves her system.
But, on the whole, an encouraging day.