I got the word on a Thursday afternoon that I was being transferred the following to day to rehab... I had no idea what to expect... I had always seen on the tv shows that rehab was the hardest thing to experience and that it was all up to the patient on how successful rehab turned out to be...
I guess there are a few things that stick out in my mind about that day...
Being told that if I transferred to rehab via taxi cab, I would have to pay for it is high on that list... I quickly called dad and he came and drove me. This would be the first time I got into a car for about a month and it was a mix of emotions... freedom... vulnerable... and why is my right leg sinking lower and lower in the seat??? Never considered exactly what a foot does beyond standing/walking on it!!!
We arrived at Modbury Hospital and used my wheelchair to go in... I was referred to the fourth floor and to what would be my home for the next few weeks... My bed wasn't quite ready yet so I waited in the dining room where I was presented with a ward wheelchair for me to use and got to meet some of the volunteers and patients of the ward... It was very daunting and I really didn't know what to expect. I got shown to my room and as I was unpacking I got a visit from my Physiotherapist Tony. He assessed me with transferring to and from the bed and toilet and determined I was independent. I shared a room with 3 other patients and I was given the low-down on how things worked... They encouraged me to eat my meals in the dinning room. It felt good to be eating at a table again after having all my meals in bed for the last few weeks. It wasn't just amputees there either, there were a wide range of reasons why people were needing rehab...
As I got there on a Friday, I didn't start my program until Monday and was facing a weekend in ward... It was too late for me to organise day release but I was lucy enough to be able to go to the shopping centre across the road on Sunday as long as I was escorted my friends and family.
I learnt a bit on that Sunday... This was the first time going anywhere public in a wheelchair... Adults avoided looking me in the eye and children stared with wide eyes... It was good to be out and about....
Even though rehab was a ward in a hospital, it was very different than being in hospital... I was told we were expected to be showered and dressed after breakfast everyday ready for therapy in the gym,,,, A new routine was put in place. Breakfast at 8, Gym from 9, Lunch in the dinning room at 12, back in the gym for 1, dinner at 5.
There wasn't heeps to do before I got my prothsetic leg but I went about doing my stretch and balance exercises and the following Wednesday, I had my first cast made for a leg to be made for me... I was dubious about the process after the pain I experienced with the last cast I had made but this was amazing in comparison. It was determined the leg would be ready to be fitted on the following Monday... I was excited at the thought of walking again but it would turn out to be not that easy... I started gastro type symptoms on Thursday night/Friday morning and was quarantined tht weekend and included not being able to go to my fitting on the Monday. I started back in the Gym on Tuesday and we organised for the leg to be brought to the ward from the Royal Adelaide on Wednesday...
I guess there are a few things that stick out in my mind about that day...
Being told that if I transferred to rehab via taxi cab, I would have to pay for it is high on that list... I quickly called dad and he came and drove me. This would be the first time I got into a car for about a month and it was a mix of emotions... freedom... vulnerable... and why is my right leg sinking lower and lower in the seat??? Never considered exactly what a foot does beyond standing/walking on it!!!
We arrived at Modbury Hospital and used my wheelchair to go in... I was referred to the fourth floor and to what would be my home for the next few weeks... My bed wasn't quite ready yet so I waited in the dining room where I was presented with a ward wheelchair for me to use and got to meet some of the volunteers and patients of the ward... It was very daunting and I really didn't know what to expect. I got shown to my room and as I was unpacking I got a visit from my Physiotherapist Tony. He assessed me with transferring to and from the bed and toilet and determined I was independent. I shared a room with 3 other patients and I was given the low-down on how things worked... They encouraged me to eat my meals in the dinning room. It felt good to be eating at a table again after having all my meals in bed for the last few weeks. It wasn't just amputees there either, there were a wide range of reasons why people were needing rehab...
As I got there on a Friday, I didn't start my program until Monday and was facing a weekend in ward... It was too late for me to organise day release but I was lucy enough to be able to go to the shopping centre across the road on Sunday as long as I was escorted my friends and family.
I learnt a bit on that Sunday... This was the first time going anywhere public in a wheelchair... Adults avoided looking me in the eye and children stared with wide eyes... It was good to be out and about....
Even though rehab was a ward in a hospital, it was very different than being in hospital... I was told we were expected to be showered and dressed after breakfast everyday ready for therapy in the gym,,,, A new routine was put in place. Breakfast at 8, Gym from 9, Lunch in the dinning room at 12, back in the gym for 1, dinner at 5.
There wasn't heeps to do before I got my prothsetic leg but I went about doing my stretch and balance exercises and the following Wednesday, I had my first cast made for a leg to be made for me... I was dubious about the process after the pain I experienced with the last cast I had made but this was amazing in comparison. It was determined the leg would be ready to be fitted on the following Monday... I was excited at the thought of walking again but it would turn out to be not that easy... I started gastro type symptoms on Thursday night/Friday morning and was quarantined tht weekend and included not being able to go to my fitting on the Monday. I started back in the Gym on Tuesday and we organised for the leg to be brought to the ward from the Royal Adelaide on Wednesday...