Visiting Erik @ Providence

Erik was moved to Providence Acute Rehab Center today. It is at Providence Portland hospital, on 49th and Glison. Find the blue Elevators, and go to the fourth floor. He is unit 4K room 4k14.
Visitors ARE welcome, but the visits need to be short and if a rehab is going on visitors should either watch quietly or wait in the waiting room (whatever you think Erik would feel comfortable with). Erik is in rehab for three hours a day and it takes place intermittently between 9 and 5. The rehab schedule for the day is written on the dry erase board in Erik's room. Erik does have his cell phone with him - it is hit or miss weather he will answer or not.

We need to go back to the 2 people in the room at one time - this is not strictly enforced but the Occupational Therapist thinks it would be a good idea. She said that Erik has trouble focusing on things when too much is going on at one time. This is very common with head injuries.
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Erik will only be at PARC for 7-10 days, and then he will be coming home! This place he is living at is so great. They are showing him how to do every day stuff. They are helping Erik to gain his independence back.

The Occupational Therapist (OT) works on Activities of Daily living. Today she had Erik put on his own pants, she had Erik open up the lids off of his meal, and tear open the packages that his crackers and pepper came in. Tomorrow I will be bringing in Erik's clothes and personal hygiene items from home. Everyone gets dressed in their own stuff every morning. He will be so much more comfortable. For now, Erik is not supposed to get up without the help of a nurse. She will be showing him how to use a wheelchair so he can get around without the fear of having a fall.

The Physical Therapist (PT) is there to help Erik with walking and balancing. She had Erik walk 100 feet to the Therapy room today, sit down, and walk 100 feet back. I was so shocked and so impressed. Erik was a bit dizzy, but less so than he has been. the Doc. even saw him do it and made a silent Wow! in my direction.

I have yet to meet the Speech Therapist (ST). Their goal is to help Erik with his thought process. They will help him with his cognitive problems affecting his communication like memory, attention and orientation. Also behavioral issues such as being impulsive.

Dr. Hoeflick came in this afternoon and had Erik say the months backwards starting with December, which he was able to do, a little slower than normal but still accurate. She asked him about his family, his house, and his occupation. She tested his grip and his strength. She had him resist her push on his legs and arms.

It is so neat to see this team talk to Erik and test his knowledge. They know exactly what to say and how to help him to accomplish tasks. It feels good to have him in their hands. They are respectful and give him the chance to prove his strength in all areas. For the first day at Rehab, he did phenomenal. I cant wait to see what happens tomorrow! Honestly I couldn't believe what was happening in front of me. I was sitting there watching at a loss for words (we all know that doesn't happen very often).

They let me borrow a book on traumatic brain injury and I am just starting to realize the ramifications of the accident. Erik has a lot of work to do, but he has accomplished so much in 2-1/2 weeks. I cant believe that we are probably more than 1/2 way to getting him home. Erik is such a strong guy, I asked him earlier what he thought about the rehab and he actually said, "I think I could do more". Go E-Rock!

What's going on physically: Erik's eyes are still very swollen and in pain. The Therapy teams made him keep his eyes open to help him orient himself. He says that his eyes are blurry and sensitive to light. Eriks peripheral vision has a little double vision - but the plastic surgeon warned me about this & it could still go away. On top of the swelling, his luscious lashes are still stuck together which makes them even harder to open. I don't know what all this eye stuff means long term yet.

OHSU took off Eriks neck brace, which makes him a little more comfortable, but he looks like Grizzly Adams with all that hair! Erik has no tubes or bandages on his body except for the staples on his head (which are pretty sore). Now that the bandage is off his nose you can tell that Eriks face is a little swollen, it looks like his nose is a bit crooked too. I'm cool with that - it gives him character, I hope he will be ok with it too. I am just grateful that he is alive to have a crooked nose! Erik was actually able to take a shower this morning, and will be able to continue to do this every other day. He looks a lot more cleaned up and comfortable.

Erik will return to OHSU within the next couple of weeks for his 1st follow up with the doctors. He will have different appointments with his plastic surgeon, and his neurology surgeon (maybe more OHSU doc's). He was transported from OHSU on a stretcher in a medical transport van that is similar to a ambulance. If needed, he will be transported back for his appointments in a similar way.

After he is discharged from PARC and returns home, he will need someone at the house 24hrs a day to make sure that he is ok. I am unsure how long this will be necessary. He will have a OT & PT visit the home for a few visits if he is unable to get to outpatient therapy. He will go to outpatient therapy once he is able for an undetermined amount of time. That will be the time when we look back at all of this as just a memory.