September 22, 2007

I’ve been at the rehab center for about 10 days now and am getting stronger every day. My appetite is back with a vengeance. I am still on a low bacteria, GvHD diet so my food is mostly protein, and some carbs. The cooking staff has been very accommodating to give me LOTS of what I need. I’ll eat breakfast, a morning snack, full lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack and a snack in the middle of the night. Snacks are generally half a sandwich and bowl of soup.

With all of this I am not gaining weight. My gut lining is still healing so my absorption isn’t what it should be. All of the nutrition I’m getting seems to go into rebuilding and healing.

At first I was really disappointed in the slow progress of physical therapy. Now therapy is starting to show results. For example, I couldn’t stand up out of my wheel chair, but today I did it. My quads are starting to get stronger along with my other muscles.

I don’t have a clue on how long I’ll be here now. It could be another week or a month. Before I go home I have to be able to shower, go to the bathroom, climb our stairs, and do all other daily functions by my self. The therapy department will assess our home conditions and ensure I’m ready to be in my environment. There are 14 steps between our downstairs and upstairs and climbing 14 steps is the most difficult task for me to complete.

I’m certainly in a place where I’m getting better at a rapid rate. Is it God, God and the meds, temporary, long term? Barbara and I are certainly learning to live one day at a time and wait on the Lord to see what that day brings.