Warning to all visitors: Jilly is desperate to bust out of the hospital. If she can find a way to jump into your pocket or sneak out behind you, she may try it. An alarm will sound. Locks will click on the perimeter doors. Not sure she knows this yet, but she is in a Catch-22 situation: She doesn't understand why she needs to be there, and that's why she needs to be there.
Another thing she doesn't understand is any potential benefits of her physical therapy sessions. She stuck through only about fifteen minutes of of today's scheduled activities, objecting to them on the grounds that she was too tired and that the treadmill isn't going to make her fit for dance.
Just talking about what she had planned for the fall makes me tired, but she believes she is ready for all of it. It's hard for me to realize that the trach downsizing, and subsequently her first audible words, happened just a week ago tomorrow, because she's made such great strides. I just hope we are able to set a reasonable pace and motivate her to follow through with the often-difficult steps she needs to take while she is at Bellevue.
Balancing the exhilaration of visiting hours with the demanding routine of therapy is quite a challenge. Yesterday brought two great friends from Albuquerque days. Rani Waterman from Jillian's Academy class, and Ana Archuleta, who danced with Jilly at Alwin's and in the Performers Ballet & Jazz Company from elementary through high school. Ariel was there at the same time, as were a few other people, so we broke a few rules to have everybody hang out in the day room for awhile. A second wave, this time of NY friends, followed. Jilly thoroughly enjoyed all these welcome visitors, but I'm afraid I let it go on a bit too late, especially since they were followed by a visit from the choreographer with whom she was working before the accident. I fear this may have contributed to today's fatigue. Happily, a more moderate procession appeared today; let's hope the result is a more cooperative session with the physical therapist. The stimulation of friendship and the discipline of all the therapies are both critical to Jillian's recovery, so I hope we are achieving a good mix.
Ingrid
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2 comments:
Thanks so much for all the comments, Ingrid. It is so helpful to truly get a better handle on Jillian's recovery. Please send her my best from Chicago. I will send over a fun gift very soon. Love, Kristen Cox
Hello...I am moved by what you are doing to help your friend and would like to help too.
I would like to donate some sessions of Alexander Technique and/or Craniosacral Therapy, both of which are extremely gentle hands-on techniques for helping the body/mind to heal.
If Jillian is interested, please contact me through my website: michaelhanko.com
Give my best to Jillian and good luck spreading the word for her.
Michael Hanko
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