ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

I feel good to be moving forward with positive, constructive behaviors designed with a clear intention and purpose. That could apply to anyone at any time. However, in this situation, my overall goal is, as they say here is “to get my life back” so I can once again function independently at the highest levels possible. That is a worthy pursuit from my perspective. Being immobile and losing strength for over a month took a toll, losing 18 pounds during that time, and losing the ability to take care of myself. That’s a new one for me! The two issues that took me out of action were thought to be caused by heart problems and breathing, coming from different but related sources. Pneumonia was a specific issue which is being being treated and resolved.

Here, is Dignity Rehabilitation Hospital, a 60-patient facility across the parking lot from the hospital where I arrived a week ago last Saturday in Henderson, Nevada. (See my former post “BUMP IN THE ROAD” for details.) I was transferred to rehab 5 days ago and began a regimen of prescribed therapies. My room looks out on the parking lot where hundreds of cars are covered by solar paneled roofs. Beyond the hospital are the mountains in the high desert of southwest Nevada. The projection at this point is that I will be ready to leave here on the 21^st and now we have to plan next steps in a move back to the U.S. from Mexico. The logistics are, at times, a bit overwhelming so we try and break it down into smaller pieces.

First a temporary move into an Airbnb, get our house in San Miguel on the market and sold ASAP, sell our car in Mexico, arrange for movers to ship all our stuff here and either put it into storage or into a long term rental post Airbnb. One step at a time which parallels my progress on a personal level. No need to rush. Time is a gift.

The team of nurses, doctors, and. therapists here are top drawer, highly trained and skilled and the facility is state of the art in the field of rehabilitation. There are different kinds of rehabilitation depending on diagnoses, conditions and prescribed treatments. This is not for alcohol or drug addiction rehab. n Each patient has a program designed to focus on specific and personal needs. It’s like having a full time job again with a schedule of meetings with different therapists, each one evaluating my progress. I have asked some of the therapists about how and why they got into this field of health care and the responses have ranged from family influences to a desire for more hands on treatment and a relationship with the patient.

I am grateful first to my family for their enormous and generous support, secondly to this treatment facility and the staff here and finally to be given the opportunity and challenge to put the pieces back in place that will make things work again to my advantage. It is rather amazing what we can learn even in more undesirable experiences and circumstances. Relearning things that I might have taken for granted earlier deepens my appreciation for the details. Here’s a prime example. Bending over to pick something up off the floor was easy, automatic, without thinking about it. Not so now. It’s the same with walking and balance.

OK, I will leave you here for now. A small but important upside is I have to give my preferences for tomorrow’s breakfast, lunch and dinner, one of the benefits of being served well by a large staff. I now fantasize about having a full time personal assistant but that is not on the agenda! It’s hard to imagine the logistics of what goes on behind the scenes here from all the supplies and support services to fulfill each patient’s requirements. The Rotec International Bed, Versatech 600 ULB design and function is one small sample of high tech support. And think of all the laundry! Each day I wake up and look at the white board on the wall with my assignments for the day. Five sessions today, one more to go and then rest until tomorrow. Onward!