This blog was created to document our experience dealing with Bailey, our 16 year old daughter's stroke. Until September 15th, she was a perfectly healthy, active teenage girl. She is a junior in high school this year. She has a part time job, many friends and a busy social life. She is involved with the marching band, cross country skiing and the school theater group. Her class schedule reads like that of my nightmares - Honors classes, Advanced placement classes and even a "college in school" physics class. She has a smile that shows itself with the slightest of provocation. She is happy, easy going and a bit goofy. Generally, there was no reason to expect any health issues and definitely we would not ever have even thought a stroke was a possibility.

So, this is our story. I am hoping it will help others who experience this sort of misfortune to understand they are not alone. Maybe they are feeling the way we do and will take some comfort our story.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Our first full day of therapy

The way therapy works at SKI is that they provide the patient with a schedule for the next day.  It gives the time of each appointment, how long it will last and who the therapist is.  .Her first schedule looked intimidating and as it turned out was quite intimidating.  She had physical therapy twice today, occupational therapy twice today, and speech therapy once.  She starts at 8 AM and goes til 4 PM.  She gets about 2.5 hours off during that time.

It was a very long day and she was super tired afterward but seemed even more determined to keep up the hard work.

We did have one small crisis today.  During her morning occupational therapy session her therapist helps her get ready for her day.  They brush her teeth, get her dressed, brush her hair, and eat her breakfast.  They basically help her to regain her day to day independence.  Today was supposed to be shower day but Bailey wasn't quite ready to let some total stranger help her bath.

After OT was over Bailey called me very upset.  She told me that her occupational therapist was very mean.  I asked her what Michelle had done that was so mean.  Bailey's answer was "She watches me do everything.  I don't have any privacy.  And she thinks I am gross."  I was not at all surprised that her therapist was watching her every move, after all, that was her job but the gross thing was a bit worrisome.  I pushed further to have her explain if her therapist had actually said she was gross and it turned out that Michelle had been teasing Bailey about her hairy legs.  (Note: You can't use a razor when you are on the amount of blood thinners that they have Bay on at the moment)  Michelle had no idea that this was a sort spot for Bay so she didn't realize she would be so sensitive about it.  I explained to Bay that maybe she took it wrong because she was tired.  She agreed that it was likely the truth.

Other then being told she was gross and being completely exhausted the day went well. 

When it came time for me to leave I was a bit worried that we would have another meltdown like the night before but she simply said "OK" and reached for the button to lower the head of her bed!

Overall, it was a good day!
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