News from the Denver Outpost August 30 2007

Dear Friends,

We will keep it short and sweet today. Rachel had another big day in PT and OT. The techs and nurses also kept things moving. The biggest event was getting a walking boot fitted and in place for her to use in transfers and pivots only. This means she can not use it to walk on, but only to maintain balance while transferring between seats. She can transfer from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to car or airline seat etc, etc. It is a big black boot that should mix well into her ensemble of clothing.

We also made our second trip to the pond/fountain, except this time Rachel did most of the locomotion herself. She pulls with the heel of her left foot/shoe and pushes with her left arm and hand. To reverse, she does the opposite with both appendages. We were able to go through the connecting tunnel from the elevators to the fountain without going outside and around the hospital like last time.

For Jay, Leah, Britanie, Jerry, Julia, and Aunt K.: Our black diamond method of getting around the hospital is changing daily. Monday, the tiles had colors written beside them at different intersections. Tuesday the tiles were changed to include 6 different colored lines that drift off in different directions at those intersections. So to go to the emergency room entry doors you have to follow the black line from the visitor’s elevators to the doors, and visa versa the other way. Now when the night guard needs to send someone somewhere, they will just send them there by having them follow a different colored line.

I am attaching a few pictures this evening. One shows Rachel and Physical Therapist Janet as fashion models for the new walking boot. The other is Rachel sitting in front of the fountain/pond, wearing the most fashionable outfit the hospital provides. The bright, sunshiny yellow frock over the aquamarine gown offsets the austere black walking boot, demonstrating the highest regard for patient security and safety while preserving the trend-setting homogenous hegemony currently in vogue at Swedish Medical Center. The final photo shows Rachel’s sports model wheelchair with therapists Maria and Liz.

Jay, Renee, Britanie, Leah and Zach’s Dad