A Working Lunch

KK helps Grandma with lunch and puzzles.

Adding a little more stretch to Mom's therapy every day, the PT this morning at 7:30 am came in at breakfast and asked if Mom had eaten yet.

"No, not yet."

"Okay, great! Today I want you to eat using your right hand!"

Mom bravely tried. Valiant efforts were made - success! It's so hard to learn new things. For the past several weeks, since recovering from surgery and adjusting to radiation, Mom has been able to eat many of her meals by using a spoon or fork in her left hand. Before Feb 10th, I'd be willing to say she's never eaten much out of her left hand, save for maybe a cracker and cheese while the right hand was holding a glass of chardonnay.

Lunch was a cheeseburger, tater tots, steamed carrots, and veggie beef soup. All but the soup is fairly easy to eat with your weaker hand, and Mom did a great job managing everything on her plate. Soup with the left hand though...give the poor right hand a break...soup is hard to eat without dripping even when you have a steady dominant hand!

All therapies went well today, we had Catherine along to help today, she was home from school with an upset tummy and, while not contagious, wasn't up to par and went to the doctor for a quick checkup. All clear there, she spent the afternoon helping Grandma with lunch, watching and discussing HGTV shows, and catching up on Facebook postings. Might be worth a playing hooky day for all the girls, they never get that kind of 1 on 1 time these days, and Catherine and Grandma really enjoyed their hours together. It was good for both of them, I think.

In group class, Mom found out one of her new friends has completed his treatments and is going home; another is scheduled to go home next Monday. It's a collective feeling of pride, joy, and hope for everyone in rehab to see a peer "graduate" from the program. We all know how they struggle, and the support they have for one another is quite motivational. They'll all make it, and one day it will be Mom's day to announce she's headed home!

But first, lots more working lunches ahead to get that right hand in the steady position. A wine glass and a chardonnay are ready and waiting!