The plan is the plan until...

The plan is the plan until the plan changes. We had our first “Team Conference” with the rehab team today to go over Becky’s progress and determine the new plan and timeline to get her strong enough for discharge. After her first week of rehab, the team decided to move her tentative rehab discharge date from January 10th to the 16th. The team uses both medical and physical criteria as well as the home situation to determine when somebody is ready to take that next step.

In our case, the plan is for Becky to be independent enough to be at home alone while I return to work in the office. That means she has to be strong enough to stand on her own (from the bed, the chair, or the bathroom) and walk around the house. There may be some home health care, and will likely be some out-patient therapy, but not full-time nursing care at home or as an out-patient. Zale also provides a social worker to help us coordinate whatever medical  equipment, supplies, therapy, and health care Becky will need when we get home. I’m not quite sure yet about what kinds of grab bars I might need to install or if I might make a quick trip to Georgetown to do some prep, but one hurdle at a time.

In addition to regaining enough strength to be independent, Becky’s still working on finding her appetite. She’s been battling some pretty consistent nausea the past few days and nothing tastes right to her. We’re trying a couple different medications to see if they’re more effective than what she has been taking for the nausea. So the appetite and taste issues combined with the tube down her throat are making it a challenge for her to get excited about trying to eat. I continue to hope and pray for some kind of breakthrough so she doesn’t have to go home with the feeding tube.

In the meantime, here’s my latest view of the Dallas skyline from my new office/couch.