Joyce's KP Adventure mikepasini.com headlines
Trekking Again
24 April 2025
Yesterday Joyce complained that I didn't bring her trekking pole with me. So today, against my better judgment, I did.
When she finished dressing I asked her if she wanted to try standing up with the trekking pole instead of the walker. She did.
I handed it to her as she sat on the edge of the bed but she said, "Let me get up first."
So I did. And she did.
She stood up with a little help and reached for the pole. Then, to my surprise (horror actually), she'd started walking out of the room.
Cassie was walking by at that very moment and stopped to marvel at the sight.
"Is this a good idea?" I whispered to her. She shook her head and stayed close in case Joyce needed help.
But Joyce turned the corner out of the room and walked to the end of the hall holding the handrail on the wall with her free hand, turning the corner and taking a few steps more with no support other than the pole to where I had stashed her wheelchair.
Cassie was amazed.
She decided to try Joyce on the stairs again. Kevin joined us and up she went, turned around and came down. No foot stubbing either. Best attempt yet.
And then she did it again. No problem. She was not afraid, she said.
Kevin wanted to see her walk with the pole so he cajoled her into walking around the corner. And she did. Half the shorter hallway.
How about you go the fish tank halfway down the long hall?
She complained but she did it. She walked more upright, he noticed, and faster than with the walker. Amazing.
But that was all she was going to do. "I'm done," she announced as she sat in the wheelchair in front of the fish tank. They gave her high fives.
It really was a breakthrough. The first time she's walked with just a trekking pole since she fell in September last year. Maybe getting out for two days to get her teeth cleaned and her wound debriefed got her motor running.
We're still a long way from getting her home but we're going in the right direction at last.