Friday Day 4 after surgery

What a day we had today!  Haley slept well last night and after a quick breakfast, Beth, the morning PT, came in the room to show us how to position Haley to a sitting position and how to lift her up out of the bed.  It was the first time for Haley to sit up at a 90 degree angle and to also sit up in her wheel chair.  She was a bit wobbly and had a little difficulty holding her head up, but in a short amount of time, she was already improving.  Jeff was the first to practice lifting and positioning with her and she was allowed to leave the room and so we headed to the 8th floor  to the play area.  We got to see lots of smiles from Haley--it was so good to see a little of her old self again!

Haley with her favorite nurse, Julie.

Irwin and Haley playing basketball!  Irwin is a 3 year old boy who came all the way from Louisville, KY who also received the rhizotomy surgery the same day Haley did.  He's doing very well and such a sweetie!

Haley could only be upright for 1 hour -- so we headed back upstairs where she had a nap as she was pretty worn out.  Micheal, another PT arrived at our room by 1pm--who we found was like a big kid--he has tons of energy!  Haley immediately liked him and we headed to the 4th floor gym area where Jeff and Lynel learned how to stretch Haley's muscles and good positioning for standing.  It was truly amazing when we felt her legs while stretching--she is so loose!!!!  Before, it would take almost 2 people to stretch her legs out and now it's such a breeze with just one person--just amazing.  She also tolerated it so much better.  We could still feel how tight the tendons are, but in time that should change.  

Then, the part we were most anxious about -- could she stand???  After teaching Haley how to sit back up from a lying down position, he placed a bench under her feet and with Jeff behind her supporting her bottom, Jeff said he could feel her muscles working as she pushed on her legs to stand up!  It was just such a great moment to know she was not standing just by using the spasticity or tone that had been there--she was now using all the appropriate muscles to stand like you and I.  She was weak and it wasn't a long time standing, but it was wonderful to see.

   On the way back to the elevator we explained Haley's story to Michael and he was amazed at where she had come from and according to what he saw from her today, he said he felt confident she would do quite well.  

     Dr. Park came in to quickly see how she was doing this afternoon and he said that the best therapy she can do for herself is to "walk, walk, walk"....it's hard to imagine her walking more now than seeing her crawl all the time--we have hopefully rounded a corner where she will no longer be crawling everywhere, but walking everywhere!  (with help of her walker, of course--but hopefully later on independently!)