It's Monday - and the work begins

Kylie (my daughter) spent the night with Donna last night and is still there this morning. She has lots to report - I mentioned before that the catheter is out but moving around, getting up and down is quite difficult for Donna, so there have been accidents. We think she is waiting too long to start getting up and then uh-oh it's too late. Well, that will probably take care of itself soon because Physical Therapy just put her through a workout. They made her walk down the hall (I gave her rides in a wheelchair because she refused to walk). She used a walker and made it 90 feet. Whoo hoo ! They are bringing her own walker to the room today so she can practice all she wants.
They also showed Donna (and Kylie) some leg exercises to be done as much as possible and Kylie says Donna does NOT like to do them at all ! ! ! While yesterday was a lazy day - they are not going to let her lay around in bed today. She must be sitting up in her chair at least 2 hours and the best news yet - she gets to take a shower ! ! ! We are all ever so grateful for this as it's been two weeks now and she is stinky! (Just kidding, she's had sponge baths but nothing like a good hot shower to make you feel like a new woman !)

When the PT asked her - What's your husband's name - she proudly answered LOUIE ! When asked what her name was she had to think and answered Kylie, who happened to be sitting right there. Maybe next time. By the way, she is really enjoying the pictures and often she is able to tell us the names of most of the people in them. Thank you all for sending the photos, she looks at them several times a day.

Physically as I mentioned, she is very weak and she complained a lot yesterday that it just hurt to move around. Although, I'm not sure where or what hurts as she couldn't say. (I think she sat in bed too long and needs to get up and moving to work out some of the soreness.) Her right foot is speckled with red dots and what looks like red bruising and it may be sore to walk on it. The doctors say that it is some of the infection/bacteria working it's way out. She continues to receive antibiotics via the central IV line in her right shoulder area - so they plug her in and when it's through they take it off so she can move around freely. She is still taking the drug to regulate her heartbeat and they had quit giving it via IV and tried pills instead. Apparently it's not doing the trick as the doctor said her heart is changing patterns so they are back to administering it via the IV. (As Joseph, my husband, had heart valve repair and Donna had heart valve replacement, I'm somewhat familiar with all the procedures following this type of surgery. I remember the same thing happened to Joseph - the fluctuating heart and it kept it up for about 3 months then finally settled in to a good strong, regular rhythm. So don't worry, the doctors are not alarmed and say it's all part of the healing process.)

Right now she is sitting in the recliner, waiting for the speech therapist to arrive and then that long awaited shower!