ICU Graduation

5/17/2023

We have reached the seventh floor, no longer in the ICU! It is evident that Ellen fought bravely for her life and surpassed the challenging odds against her. Each day, she resembles more of her true self, and her movements and postures reflect the familiar Ellen whom we all love and cherish. Now, on this floor, we engage in Physical Therapy twice a day, and we have received training in movement techniques that enable us to work with Ellen independently. It is an honor to offer our legs and shoulders to support her when she indicates a desire to sit on the edge of the bed or even stand up.

Balancing hope with the uncertainty of her future has become increasingly difficult. Statistically, the chances of her plateauing are as likely as her making a full recovery and inviting me for a walk along the river next week. The truth is, we simply don't know what to expect. However, my hope outweighs the statistical possibilities. I am confident that she will regain a version of herself that she adores, and I wholeheartedly share that sentiment. Here is a glimpse into the rehabilitation and therapy efforts we are navigating:
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A Summary from Nina’s 5/16 therapy notes:

During the session with speech therapist Adrienne, various techniques were used to assess Ellen's responsiveness and awareness. Adrienne asked about Ellen's agitation to light and inquired about anything she had said so far.

Some of the actions taken included cleaning Ellen's mouth with a sponge and a soft-bristled toothbrush using water, readjusting her catheter sticker, placing a cold washcloth in her right hand and counting to five to test if Ellen would squeeze back, applying an ice chip to her lips to observe her response, using a cold washcloth on her face to enhance awareness, offering sprite on a sponge to see if Ellen would lick her lips (which she did), guiding a spoon with an ice cube to her mouth (she reflexively took it), having Ellen chew up another ice cube, allowing her hands to hold a cup of ice, singing "happy birthday" while holding her hand to encourage movement, providing ice to her mouth resulting in her opening her eyes and reaching for it, and asking her to squeeze if it was hard to speak (she squeezed). In short, we observed her mouth opening, tongue sticking out, lips licking, and a small smile.

The session demonstrated intentional movement and cognitive progress. Adrienne will return tomorrow morning, and the nurse can call her anytime if needed.

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Yesterday, Ellen’s beloved friend Emma joined us. A childhood friend, her presence fills the room with a delightful sense of nostalgia. Logan and Nina are still here too, reminiscing about their cherished memories from New York City and the exciting adventures they had together.

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With a satisfied sigh, El celebrated the removal of her catheter this morning. Additionally, after the morning CT scan, the doctor conveyed that “unless they knew precisely where to search, today’s scan otherwise wouldn’t have revealed or detected anything significant. The bleed is essentially gone.”

Sweet Ellen - Rest if you need rest. Wiggle if you need to wiggle. Cry if you need to cry. Sit if sitting feels good. Stand when you are ready. Speak through word or action if you need ANYTHING… Just please don’t pull your feeding tube out or tug at the IV anymore! WE LOVE YOU EL!