The Answer to Last Night's Question

Bob will leave Spaulding on Friday, March 30th at ten in the morning. That morning my mom will drive Bob to his new temporary home, Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation Center in Natick. Clicking on the name will take you to their website so feel free to explore. I have not been there yet.

Bob worked really hard today. He had physical therapy, group occupational therapy, music therapy together with speech therapy and occupational therapy.

During musical therapy, Bob tried to sing songs along with the therapist who played the guitar. One of the songs was "Over the rainbow". I saw a video of it and it was hard not to tear up. Bob really strained to copy the words. He was in good spirits and enjoyed the session. Caitlin was there helping him along.

Dan, Bob's physical therapist, taught my mom how to walk with Bob and how to help him travel from the chair to the bed and back. She saw Bob walk up ten steps. Dan felt it wasn't time for her to assist him with steps yet.

I arrived at Spaulding with the kids while Bob was finishing up his occupational therapy session with Amanda. They were listening to a song called "Amanda" and trying to get Bob to say her name. We all saw Bob get up on his own and take steps on his own. Here is a video of it:

You can see Bob using his hemi-walker. Unfortunately he will not be able to take the hemi-walker with him to Kindred nor will he be able to take the wheel-chair. Bob will be able to take the brace for his right foot as well as the arm brace for the right arm that he wears while sleeping. My mom was told that the next facility will provide Bob with a walker and a wheel-chair.

After therapy was over we all hung out in the lobby and my mom treated the grandkids to munchkins while Bob had a donut. It was nice to hang out until it was dinner time for Bob. He seemed happy. This was our family's last visit to Bob at Spaulding and I felt an odd sense of relief mixed with apprehension. I was glad he is well enough to have "graduated", but anxious about how Bob will adjust to his next rehabilitation place. Well, when things are out of your control you just have to go with it, there is no other choice.

Tomorrow Bob will have his last day of therapies at Spaulding. My mom will start to take down the room decorations: all the pictures and drawings by grandkids as well as get well cards sent by friends that were hanging up on the wall. Another chapter of the story of Bob's recovery ended - it was sooner than we expected. But here's to new beginnings.

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