Chris made it home for Christmas and for that we are forever grateful.
Lots of adjustments needed to be made for/by both of us before we settled into a new/next stage of our lives.
Rehab continued as an outpatient program, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. This consisted of 3 hrs doing physio, OT, hydrotherapy and 2 sessions of psychological assessments.
After a Rehab Specialist review, the doctor suggested the next step would be hydrotherapy sessions 2 times a week to help improve strength and balance.
Chris was encouraged to walk for exercise. He found the local cricket/football oval with a metre high fence around it, ideal for support when needed. It also meant that he was safe to take the dog for a walk.
Fatigue persisted and outings were kept short initially. As Chris improved we were able to do more.
Tuesdays are our lunch days. I had an existing arrangement with some close friends and they made sure I was able to continue to keep our lunch day throughout Chris’s illness. Since he came home the husband’s have banded together to take Chris out for lunch. They either go to the local pub or take turns to meet at one of their houses for a cook up. They enjoy their time together and Chris really appreciates their company.
The specialist told us that recovery could take up to 2 years and here we are on the verge of 1 year, who would have thought, life could have been so different for us. We have a lot to be thankful for and have learnt many lessons along the way and will no doubt continue to do so. Life is good and full of good people/friends who have helped us more than they will ever know and for that we say thanks.
Joans jottings 