Sleepover!!

Today started with PT and Tyler had a successful board transfer. I mentioned board transfers before, so for the uninitiated, a board transfer is pretty much how it sounds: a transfer via board (wood or plastic) to and from a wheelchair. 

The board is a critical tool and takes quite a bit of strength to use, and of course Tyler has already mastered his transfer; he's got it down to just 3 moves! 

Then he did quite a bit of seated stability work to relearn how to move his body from sitting up, to sitting back, lying on his side. It may not sound like much but every single rep of that is maximum effort. 

His final PT hour had a ton of hamstring stretches. This is important to keep those muscles long so he can dress himself. 

Then OT was a lot of seated strength work. Today, Tyler sat at a table to work his core. He did a sliding exercise which makes him more functional in the chair. It’s remarkable the difference he’s already seeing and feeling. His first day in the chair was 6 days ago and it felt so hard and exhausting he wanted to pass out. Now he’s rolling himself from class to class. The more he does this work, the more normal it feels. 

Then the afternoon PT was more tilt table work followed by “the shoulder protocol.” His shoulder protocol included shoulder resistance training and table shoulder flexion stretches.

He also got to catch up with Cousin Mia (hey cousin!) and she kept him company until I got here. Then we got to catch up while Tyler was in PT. This year  . . . whew!

I’m writing this from Tyler’s rehab room (I’m staying the night tonight), so for once it includes his reflections, right from the source :) He’s feeling stronger each day and is looking forward to seeing more visitors over the next couple weeks.