Adam: my comeback

 Monday August 10th It’s like Groundhog Day around here Monday to Friday… Wake up 7am ⏰  Nurse in to check vitals and give medicine  Make coffee ☕️  Shower 🚿 and dress Breakfast 🍳 served at 8:30 Hit the gym at 9am for light cardio on bike/stepper Occupational therapy at 10am with Rammjot Lunch 🍴 served at 12:30 Physiotherapy at 1pm with Melissa Nap from 3 to 4pm Read/relax Dinner 🍴 served at 5:30 Blog Watch TV 📺  Lights out whenever... Overall was a pretty good day… Definitely seeing some improvement in my left arm and hand. Walking continues to improve.  🚶 💪🦵🦶🤚 Let’s talk about hospital food for a minute… According to the hospitalist making rounds this afternoon, the daily dollar allotment per patient is $13.  $13 PER DAY!   3 meals for $13.  I think I was paying about $13 a day for lunch in the city at work.  Well here’s what $13 bought today… I think they might’ve even gotten some change back. 😉  Breakfast  (app...

 Sunday August 9th Evening calm One month since my stroke... Well... After today I’ve only got one more weekend to get thru in here.  Is it just me? Or has it been 30° and sunny ever since I got here? I sure hope there’s more summer left for me when I get home… Can’t wait to sit in the backyard, spend time in the pool, hang out with the family, and enjoy some summer sunshine. I got a feeling my front crawl is going to need some work…🏊‍♂️   It was great to see another familiar face today.  My buddy Paul Nicholson snuck down the hall to see me, as he was visiting his mother-in-law. Just a couple good looking guys.  #goRaptors It has been such a huge relief knowing that the kids are well looked after this past month.  Through all the chaos, from getting back from Sault Ste. Marie until today, we’ve been lucky to have so much help from family and friends.  There’s no one we’ve leaned on more than Anneke.  Having her around has just given Jillian the ...

 Saturday August 8th How can this not make you smile? Care package arrived at the hospital today for me… Put a huge smile on my face. It was exactly what I needed on a day when I needed a lift. Thank you so much Sherry, Cheryl, Nicky & Craig!  Here’s just a sampling of my new meditation book… So good I was playing with my new EMS toy…put it on the BUTTOCKS setting.  🙄 Physiotherapist Jen introduced kinesiology tape into the treatment plan today. KT tape as it’s called, lifts the skin, decompresses the layers of fascia, allowing for greater movement of lymphatic fluid.  It’s improves bloodflow and helps to support muscles by helping the muscles to not overextend or over contract. KT TAPE Sushi for dinner on the patio with Jillian. 🍣🍱 Hospital food ain’t half bad...😝 ♥️💪 13 more sleeps...

 Friday August 7th Friday Sunrise Wasn’t a great night Sleep last night. They put a fingertip oximeter on me last night to monitor my oxygen levels through the night, looking for sleep apnoea.  Needless to say, I was not pleased… What the ....? 🥱 One thing that I have found surprising is the feeling of exhaustion that I have after Physio and occupational therapy. It’s only an hour of each, but boy does it take a lot out of you. Here I was thinking that I would be doing eight hours of rehab a day. Now I know Just how foolish it was to think that.  #AMEN As my left arm and hand need the most attention right now, both were worked on this afternoon. Lots of activation, both assisted and unassisted. Pushing, pulling, on my hands and knees to engage my arm.  Bending and straightening my left arm at my elbow. Reaching forward, reaching to the side.  All seemingly simple tasks… but to me, as tough as I can possibly imagine.  I try, I fail. I try, I fail. I’ll just...

Thursday August 6th Routine day in terms of treatment....PT and OT.  Productive, predictable.....no cartwheels yet, if you’re wondering.  🤸‍♂️  Had a meeting today with My “team“… Social worker, therapist, doctor and Jillian.  We discussed what my transition to home is going to look like and what some of my options will be for outpatient therapy. That can only mean one thing… getting closer to going home.  Two weeks tomorrow! Also had a visit from cardiology this afternoon.  On my first two week Holter monitor there was one episode of ventricular tachycardia noted.  Just one more thing to keep an eye on I guess. For dinner tonight, Jillian has prepared for us grilled chicken Caesar salad!🥗 What’s in that styrofoam cup? 🍷🙄 Lovely flowers from Anne & Eric ♥️ 15 more sleeps till I’m home... 💤 

Wednesday august 5th Fluffy Cloud kind of Morning I’m not gonna lie… I’m pretty sore as I lay here tonight thinking about what to write.  I had a really busy day of rehab that started with me finally getting on the upright bicycle. While it wasn’t the real thing, it sure felt great to do a little pedalling again.... 🚲 can’t wait to get on my bike again 🚲  Then it was time for some electromuscular stimulation… Time Lapse Soooo Good My OT and my PT were both busy this afternoon practising MFR and NDT on me....Let me explain.  MFR is myofascial release , an alternative therapy were by they relax contracting muscles, improving blood, oxygen, and lymphatic circulation, and stimulatingT the stretch reflex in muscles.   NDT is Neuro-developmental treatment, or the Bobath method, where are you have to learn how to control postures and movements and then progress to more difficult ones. I’m not sure I really know what I’m talking about....lol. 🤷🏼‍♂️  All I know is th...

Tuesday august 4th Pancake Tuesday it is....Hit the jackpot today with a solid half dozen!  #PancakeBites  1,2,3,4,5,6! 🥞 Last week I asked mom and dad to bring me my pitching wedge. I needed a little motivation to get my hand moving to get me back out on the golf course as soon as possible.  Never too early to start dreaming about the next golf trip... A long way to go... ⛳️ “If you can’t laugh at yourself, don’t worry others will...!” Spectacular storm blew through this evening... ⛈ 🌈

Monday August 3rd Sagittal FLAIR Thought it might be interesting to show a couple pictures from my MRI that diagnosed my stroke. According to Dr. Jillian, “ The stroke occurred in the posterior limb of the right internal capsule, affecting the motor function on my left side.”  Amazing how something so small and seemingly insignificant is wreaking such havoc for me, and my brain!  🧠  (Note: by convention, the patient’s right is always on the left side of the image… As confusing as that may seem.) Diffusion Clap, clap, clap.....pretty simple right?  WRONG.  Kathy, my physiotherapist today, wants me to practice clapping.  It involves both hands equally, in total symmetry.  They both work separately to come together. A task like this so repetitive, so repeatable.  And very easy to see improvement, when it comes.  And she stressed how important it is to laugh and giggle each time don’t succeed....because If you’re  giggling, then you’re not ...

Sunday august 2nd Jillian was here for visiting hours again today. We got outside for about an hour… Just sat and enjoyed some fresh air and blustery wind… Felt so good.  Dallas was here again visiting her mom, so we met her outside and had a nice chat with her too. She also came bearing banana bread for me! 😋. Dallas is quite impressed with my walking, and my minimal left arm movement. 💪.  We had a delicious dinner in my room, sitting by the window. It’s like our own private restaurant. (Shout out to the Das family for the yummy flank steak). 🥩🍷🧀 #dinnerandashow These spectacular bracelets came in the mail on Friday....Our friend Adriana made and sent them to us.  A business she runs, called Pura Vida Malas makes and sells these bracelets.  Made with healing stones, they provide pain relief, balance, energy, and physical strength. We welcome anything that will help the healing process!  Check out her website… Beautiful stuff.  Thank you Adriana. ♥️?...

Saturday August 1st Tukker’s 3rd Birthday!!! 🐶  No real stroke related news today. Fire truck! 🔥🚒. Excitement outside the window. Weekends are definitely tougher around here… Very quiet, and only one physiotherapist on duty. Spent my day getting caught up on emails, FaceTime with friends, reading, and watching the world outside my window.    ♥️ 👋  Thank goodness my idol 🙄 dropped lunch off for me.... #SandwichSociety Dinner with my MAIN SQUEEZE . ♥️🍕🍷 She spoils me 😊  A pretty good little Saturday... 20 more sleeps.  Be safe out there... You’re welcome.