Steps Toward Walking

I know I'm way past due for an update here! Please forgive the lack of posts. To be honest, since Mom is doing so much better now and I know that she regularly reads my blogs, I feel a bit strange writing about her. Like I imagine mothers of toddlers feel as they blog about a child learning to walk or being toilet trained, all the while aware that someday that child will read it himself. Ha-ha.

Anyway, Mom is doing quite well. Here's a recent email from Dad:

Today was a red letter day! This morning at PT [Physical Therapy], Mom started with intense stretching, but it was less painful than lately. Then I thought that Carme [Mom's physical therapist] was going to either have Mom walk with the LightGait or with a walker, but she took one arm, and I took the other, and we strolled (Mom says we lurched, and that's closer to the truth) around the room. Then Carme got a cane (the kind with four feet) and she and Mom walked around the room again. Holding Mom's arm, she had Mom actually step up onto the treadmill, about a 4-6 inch step, and stand there while she put on the harness. Getting into the LightGait used to be a 10 minute process, involving three adults. This time it was Carme and Mom in about two or three minutes. Then Mom walked 0.25 miles in 16 minutes. She was exhausted, but happy, and it was beyond amazing, given what the doctors initially told us! Mom's left leg still has a long way to go to get straight, but we're seeing progress.

After we got home, we still did our usual therapy schedule, for the rest of the day. Then tonight, Mom helped cook dinner, folded laundry, rubbed my back (a red letter day for sure) and we're about to get ready for bed.

Isn't Mom's continuing progress amazing? Please keep praying - it is a great source of encouragement to Mom and to all of us!

Here's a picture of Mom in the LiteGait: