She's getting busy on hospital day 30

Mily had a busy day yesterday(Monday). She gets dressed every day now - a nice change from a months' worth of (blech!) hospital gowns. She was taken via wheelchair to the gym where she will be spending lots of time for awhile. It's full of weight machines and neat apperatus for PT to get her going. Speech therapy is working with her daily and for the most part right now evaluating her ability to swallow effectively without pulling anything into her lungs in the process. They also look at whether thin liquids like water are safe or if they need to be thicker. She had a little vanilla pudding yesterday and some thickened cranberry juice which she LOVED. Thickeners can be added to just about anything and don't alter taste at all, so she will surely be enjoying some of her favorite things again soon. She had a hard time with her Levaquin (antibiotic) last night - she started itching; BUT told the nurse she needed Benadryl! Not only did she know what she needed, but she was able to communicate it, and that's exactly what the doc ordered when the nurse called in the fact that she had the itchies. She's having a hard time emotionally with her left arm. She doesn't feel it and isn't moving it, and she is frustrated by it's presence; normal but still difficult for her and for us to hear about. Based on her progress, I think she will do really well with regaining enough function in her left leg to be able to get around safely on her own. As far as regaining function, feeling and dexterity on the left arm long term - that remains to be seen. The likelihood is she will have a deficit that she'll have to learn to accept and manage - but I've been wrong before and would love to be wrong again! Your emails and posts are making her smile - please keep it up in droves - she's not smiling about much else right now. Although the critical phase has passed, she needs to hear from us now more than ever! If anyone is able to help out with some things she needs right now, send me an email to msgsformily@gmail.com and I will pass on what's on the wish list and get you an address for where to send things. Banking details are in process, will have info on monetary donations soon - promise! Have a beautiful day - spend a few minutes in the sun if you get the chance. B