Initial assessment by the team

Yesterday my mom got the first report from Bob's case manager. It includes goals set by the doctor and therapists as well as expectations of what Bob can recover. It is accompanied by a disclaimer: this can change weekly and it is not written in stone. Bob's team will meet at least once a week to discuss his progress. They will make the appropriate changes in his plan as he improves and meets or exceeds their expectations. Yes, I have high expectations...

The target date for Bob to leave Spaulding is April 5th. Here are some of his team's goals:

• Bob will leave Spaulding requiring a contact guard. That is a person who will help him transition from one place to another. Bob will always need supervision, he may never be left alone. 
• Bob will have minimal assistance for washing and dressing. That means he does 75% and someone else does 25%. 
• Bob will be able to groom himself (shave, comb, brush teeth) independently while sitting down.
• Bob will have a normal diet. That means he can come to restaurants with the family and eat anything he wants from the menu. 
• Bob will use a wheel chair independently. Not an electric wheel chair, but one which can be maneuvered with just his left hand.
• Bob will understand basic information given a cue. 
• Bob will speak eight to ten basic words that will help him express his needs such as "yes", "no", "hungry" and "toilet". 

Bob might not go home after he leaves Spaulding. After Spaulding (which is considered an acute therapy rehabilitation center) he may go to a skilled nursing facility (which is different from a nursing home because it provides physical, speech and occupational therapy). From there he can then go home and receive in home care, and then finally attend an outpatient rehabilitation facility.

Today I took the kids to see vovô again and picked up my husband at work so he could join us during his lunch hour. We found him in good spirits again. The grandkids enjoyed hanging out with Bob and he even helped Zoe color the book she had brought. The four of us went to have lunch at the cafeteria while Bob had physical therapy at one o'clock. After lunch we met him in his room and Bob was very tired. He napped before his three o'clock occupational therapy session. We went home while he was napping and left him a note saying we will be back tomorrow. My mom said he understood it.

Below is a picture of Bob in the dinning room of his floor during his occupational therapy session. He is wearing a special glove that stimulates his right arm. It was opening and closing his hands for him. Bob was quite mesmerized by it.

During the weekend the therapies aren't as frequent, but Bob will have a ton of visitors. Besides my mom who has been there daily, the four of us will be back along with my cousin Cecilia and her whole family. They are coming to spend the day from New York to see Bob.

Thanks for reading and keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming.