"Are We There Yet?"

March has been a busy month in Isabel's life and it's a long while since we have posted an update.

Isabel's successful surgery in December of 2008 to lengthen her contracted Achilles Tendons of both her ankles now means that she has the ability to stand and to walk with some assistance. Mum is quick to say that she is not about to run any races, however, her strength and ability has amazed her therapists and her family. She can now walk short distances using a tall walking frame and assisted by a therapist on each side of her. Another therapist follows with Mum's wheelchair that holds her portable ventilator. Mum walked on her 2-6 Unit this week amid the cheers of her nurses.

Two months ago, her physiatrist (specialist of physical medicine) said that he expected that Mum would be able to take a few steps by the next time he saw her in April. Well, Mum is thrilled to say that she has taken many more than "a few steps". Mum's progress has meant an increase in therapy time, and she now has 5 hours of what she calls "heavy therapy" each week with her physiotherapist Margot and occupational therapist Mei. Mum says on her letterboard THOSE TWO NEVER GIVE UP ON ME. And they are quick to respond "Isabel has never given up on herself ~ or her trust in us." In addition, to the diligent work of this three-person team ~ Isabel, Mei and Margot ~ their assistants Barb, Karen and Ronna do therapy with Mum at 8 am for 15 minutes three days a week.

On Saturday, Isabel had her first outing of the spring and attended a theatre production at Sunset United Church in south-western Regina. Thanks to Mum's niece Gayle and friend Joyce who helped make all this possible. The musical that included 40 children and adults was the story of Moses and Miriam and the journey of the people of Israel. "Are We There Yet?" was an apt title for the play, and a reminder to us all of the journeys of faith that we make in our lives. Mum has said several times over the last few months I SO WANT TO WALK AGAIN. Well, Mum, you are "there"! You are walking again defying the predictions of many who have assessed your health in the last 17 months. Who knows what other meanings "Are we there yet?" may have in this journey of yours and of all who support you.

There is more good news to report ~ including about Rufus 11 ~ but that needs to wait for another posting.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This winter one of our cousins from Ottawa~Bristol, Quebec wrote Isabel a letter about his boyhood memories of her Grandfather Andrew Russell. The letter came shortly after Robbie Burns' Day, and he reminded Mum that she has Irish ancestry, too!

So here's to March 17th and the 'wearing of the green'!

Today Isabel is off to physio-therapy and her music class, and is training another family member in the riding~driving of Rufus.

Introducing Rufus the Second

Isabel has named her new power-wheelchair, Rufus the Second.

In 1947, while teaching at her first one-room school of grades 1-8 southeast of Saskatoon, Isabel’s mode of transportation was a horse by the name of Rufus. From Monday through Friday, she hitched Rufus to a two-wheeled gig to make the journey from where she boarded to the school. Rufus pulled Miss Robertson, 3 students, 4 lunches, a flour sack of books, a cream can of drinking water, and a sheaf of oats to and fro on a daily basis. On the weekend, Isabel rode Rufus to her home at Bradwell (a distance of 8 or 9 miles).

With one look at Rufus 11, you can see the comparison to his namesake. Behind Mum’s seat on Rufus 11 is a tray that holds her ventilator and large battery, oxygen, and 3 bags of equipment that she might need while on outings. All of this paraphernalia accompanies Mum every time she leaves her room.

Rufus, Mum, and all the belongings add up to approximately 500 pounds. Keep your toes out of the way!

When we visited Mum recently, she was in her old chair and announced on her letter board that RUFUS IS AT THE VET’S. Rufus’ gears needed adjustment and off he had gone to visit the wheelchair techie. Each evening, Rufus 11 goes to “the barn” to spend the night with 12 other “horses” for “hay and a sleep” (also known as 12 hours of battery recharging) before the next day’s “ride”.

Photos of Rufus 1 and Rufus 11 hang beside each other in Isabel’s room. Visitors are likely to hear the escapades of both “horses” when visiting Isabel.

Isabel trained the original Rufus to pull a cart down a straight lane leading to her family home. Rufus 11 is learning to “neck rein” in the straight halls of Wascana. Mum has use of only her index finger and thumb of her left hand and Rufus 11 needs to turn with just a slight touch of her hand.

Rufus 1 had four gears – walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Mum’s Occupational Therapist made sure that Rufus 11 had only two gears – walk and canter (the latter for the staff’s use when Isabel needs to make a quick trip down the hall to therapy). “Walk” might better be described as “bull-low” for those of you who know what it is like to drive a grain truck during harvest. “Bull-low” is the gear below “low” –designed so that an over-eager driver with a heavy load does not strip the gears.

Isabel has patiently explained “bull-low” on her letter board to her urban therapists and nurses. One day last week, her Physiotherapist asked Mum to demonstrate “bull-low” to her colleagues. Isabel grabbed the joystick of her chair, forgot about the huge load on the tray behind her seat, put Rufus 11 in reverse, and promptly ploughed into a wall.

Her Physiotherapist’s response: “You call that bull-low, Isabel? I call that bull-in-a-china shop!”

And so the training of Rufus 11 continues! Stay tuned for more adventures.

Calling the Shots from Behind the Glass

All is well at Wascana these days with the staff sneaking a look at the Canadian Women's Curling Championships on Isabel's TV. This has been a busy week with lots of therapy and Isabel watching lots of curling.

An Evening of Fine Music

Our thanks once again to Larry & Marj Middleton for their gift of dance music through sax and keyboard in the concourse of Wascana last Thursday evening.

The residents of Wascana were toe-tapping and wheel-chairs were dancing with the support of a crew of recreation therapists and volunteers.

Isabel loved every minute of the party and particularly the circle of Regina friends who joined her to celebrate Valentine's Day week. She kept busy "burning-up" her letterboard introducing her friends to each other and to the residents who were sitting near her.

We are grateful to volunteers who offer their gifts of music, time, and conversation each time they enter Wascana to bring energy and good cheer from the community.

And a big THANKS to all who sent Valentine's greetings in various forms: phone calls, letters, cards, flowers, chocolates, and a note in a bottle (with sand, shells, and lei) all the way from Hawaii!

The "Middletones" Return as Wascana Valentine's Special

The sunny days of February are bringing much music to Wascana.

This past week Isabel enjoyed a hour of barbershop harmony of 15 women's voices of Prairie Gold Chorus.

Today, she spent 1.5 hours listening to the 40-member Regina Mandolin Orchestra rehearse in preparation for a teacher's convention at the Centre of the Arts.

Thursday, Feb 12 at 7 pm, her friends, Larry and Marj Middleton return with sax & keyboard as the "Middletones" - the Valentine's Week evening entertainment at Wascana. Thanks Larry & Marj once again!

Isabel is organizing a row of friends to come along with her to hear Larry & Marj. The more the merrier. Join her at 6:45 (at the latest) in the concourse.

A First Anniversary

January 30 was the first anniversary of Isabel's move to Extended Care at Wascana. It is one year since Cousin Joy and "Isabel's Florist Shop" from the General Hospital made their way across town with Mum to her new home.

And just as 12 red roses and and an abundance of plants graced Mum's new room 365 days ago, much continues to bloom. There have been bouquets of wild and garden flowers and grains; and plants that have ranged from amaryllis and kalanche to cyclamen and poinsettia. The terrace garden that flourished all summer is now covered with snow that is nurturing 40 spring tulip bulbs.

And with the passing of each season, Isabel, too, has also found ways to bloom. Stable health, regular physio and occupational therapy, a continuing evolving letterboard to meet her increasing desire to talk all the time (!!), recent surgery on her Achilles tendons to allow more physio, the arrival of a power wheelchair, and significant relationships with a caring staff give us much to celebrate. All of this means an increased quality of life.

There are hours that are difficult for Mum. Hours when her call bell doesn't work; or the letterboard can't accommodate her rapid speed of thought; or breathing is difficult for some reason; or physical progress feels so slow. These are the days when Mum reads and re-reads your letters or zones out listening to music thinking about and praying for those she cares about including the residents and staff of Wascana.

However within hours, she sorts herself out and finds ways to move onward with dogged determination and her motto: "Can't look back. Keep going forward." She checks the big wall calendar to see what interesting event is happening today or this month.

And so onward we all go....

Last Saturday, the Leader-Post featured an article about Steven, the 24-year old man who lives kitty-corner from Mum on 2-6. Steven has muscular dystrophy and also uses a ventilator to help him breathe. Like Mum, Steven is determined to give back to the communities that support him. He cruises the halls for hours each day keeping an eye out for residents who may need a nurse's attention, and making plans for his annual campaign to raise funds at Wascana for the upcoming Tele-miracle. In last weekend's article, Steven and his mother said: "We don't need pity from our fellow citizens. We need their understanding and encouragement." How true.

And so to you ~ our family and friends ~ much of Isabel's stability and moving forward of the last year has been because of your love and care heaped on us in so many ways through your understanding and encouragement. Thank you again and again and again.

Here's to Year 2 of Life at Wascana! Stay tuned for news of Isabel's new companion, Rufus the Second.