A Very Proud Caitlin!

Yesterday when I got to the hospital Caitlin was in bed with a huge grin on her face. She pointed to the DynaVox, an electronic communication device on which she types messages and then can have it speak for her, and was insistent I push the correct spot for talking. The message she had typed for me said, "I walked fifty feet with Roger today!". I was so excited! Soon I heard many cheers from the nurse, CNA, and wife of another patient that Caitlin had been walking with the assistance of a physical therapist on both sides. Of course with Roger and Loren on either side Caitlin was in her glory! It really did happen and Caitlin was glowing with pride!
Today, Caitlin got wheeled over to the therapy pool at St. Mary's Fitness Center and had her first hour of in the water therapy. It was more happy moments. Caitlin's trust and confidence in the physical therapists is phenomenal. Paul, put her into a chair that gently glides one down into the heated pool. He then had a floating device around her neck and another floating pad under her hips. He held her as she floated in the water. That grin and wide eyed look lasted the entire hour she was in the pool. Paul had Caitlin moving her left leg and using it to move her right leg as well. He worked on relaxing Caitlin's right arm which is usually clenched to her chest unless someone straightens it out for her. It was so exhilarating to watch this therapy take place. Caitlin's cousins, Brett and Rachel, were in Reno overnight to see Caitlin before they flew back east to their respective colleges. They sat in the very hot room of the heated pool with me as we watched. In Caitlin's honor we were sweating quite a bit! We were also laughing quite a bit because as Caitlin was being taken out of the pool the women in the adjacent water aerobics class were all watching Caitlin as they were doing an exercise moving their arms up and down. I told her they were cheering for her. They picked up on it and all the women were working hard at waving their arms up and down while smiling big at Caitlin. It was just priceless!
We continue to attempt to get Caitlin to eat more. She isn't very fond of protein powder added to food. She is liking some soups these days which is a great diversion from the smoothies but doesn't pack in the calories. We now understand more that her tongue isn't strong enough on the right side for her to move food from side to side. This is necessary to get food to the back of the throat to swallow. Also, when food gets stuck on the roof of Caitlin's mouth she doesn't have the tongue strength to get it off. On a positive note though, Caitlin is drinking quite well from a cup which definitely helps the intake of fluids. Her favorite is an orange julius type drink her dad has been making her in the Magic Bullet. She then drinks from the Magic Bullet mug. Watching her sit with her left leg crossed over right leg with her face buried in the mug as she concentrates on drinking is such a happy sight. Each day Caitlin is coming back stronger and stronger. She is laughing and joking with everyone on the Acute Rehab Unit. What a great group of people they are! It is so wonderful to walk into Caitlin's room and see her surrounded by laughter, love, and encouragement! It does feel so very good to be celebrating Caitlin's accomplishments with her!