Don't judge a book by it's cover. I've learned that it applies to people too. Over the last month, I've been working on what they call a PATH unit. Essentially, many people on the unit are medically stable and waiting for a nursing home. Often times, the reason they can't live on their own anymore is because they have some sort of cognitive impairment, for example Alzheimer's or dementia, or they've had a stroke, or for different reasons trouble mobilising or completing activities of daily living. Many of the patients have been "written off" so to speak.
Jon got transferred to the unit a week ago. He had been on the rehab unit; however, was deemed to be wheelchair bound and no longer had the potential to be a "functional walker" - meaning he likely would not be able to ever walk on his own again for any length of distance. Apparently, this designation happened over a month ago and they hadn't tried since then. Yes, this patient has a non-treatable rectal tumor and his days are numbered, yes he's been in the hospital since July and on rehab since September, yes his hip muscles are weak and not likely to improve - but is that a reason to stop trying? Jon surprised me. The first day I saw him, he stood up on his own in the parallel bars and walked 3 lengths. He then walked 25m with a walker. On Monday, he improved even more and walked 70m in the morning, then 100m in the afternoon, and has been improving since then. He still has trouble standing up, but with a higher seat and the right equipment set up he'll be able to walk at home. He told me he didn't want to move onto the PATH unit, but that it happened for a reason because otherwise he wouldn't have met me and would have gone home wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, however long that will be. I'm glad I met him. It taught me a lesson - don't give up on people, despite what the odds may be because some may just surprise you.
Jon got transferred to the unit a week ago. He had been on the rehab unit; however, was deemed to be wheelchair bound and no longer had the potential to be a "functional walker" - meaning he likely would not be able to ever walk on his own again for any length of distance. Apparently, this designation happened over a month ago and they hadn't tried since then. Yes, this patient has a non-treatable rectal tumor and his days are numbered, yes he's been in the hospital since July and on rehab since September, yes his hip muscles are weak and not likely to improve - but is that a reason to stop trying? Jon surprised me. The first day I saw him, he stood up on his own in the parallel bars and walked 3 lengths. He then walked 25m with a walker. On Monday, he improved even more and walked 70m in the morning, then 100m in the afternoon, and has been improving since then. He still has trouble standing up, but with a higher seat and the right equipment set up he'll be able to walk at home. He told me he didn't want to move onto the PATH unit, but that it happened for a reason because otherwise he wouldn't have met me and would have gone home wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, however long that will be. I'm glad I met him. It taught me a lesson - don't give up on people, despite what the odds may be because some may just surprise you.
2 comments:
Cool! Pray that God continues to use you as a facilitator of physical and spiritual hope to those on the 'path'. (ie. everyone alive)
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