Physical Therapy Begins

Larisa had a restful night and was able to sleep all night. With the sedation medication no longer needed, she is awake more during the day. The nurses would like her to be awake a little longer in the day to help her sleep at night. However, the pain medications do make her feel tired. Today she has felt really tired and several areas are quite painful. They just continue to monitor the pain and give medications as needed.

They have begun some very simple physical therapy. They actually had her sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs bent and hanging for about 2 minutes. If you are like me, I was wondering how she was doing that since both legs have broken bones and her hip and pelvis are broken. The femur is not in any type of cast, just taped, since it has the titanium rod, drainage tube and pump in it. This allows her to bend at the knee. The other leg is in a cast at about 2 inches below the knee on down. Most of the damage is below knee, with exception of the patella -- which was broken. We are unsure how it is put back together, but, they are encouraging her to bend that leg anyway. Either way, she was able to do it for about 2 mins. Her knee was really hurting today, as a result of having surgery on it yesterday. Despite the discomfort, she did enjoy being in a new position, even for just a moment.

The ventilator is off! She is still hooked up to oxygen for the purpose of keeping the lungs from drying out. The Trach is still in, in case it would be needed while she is strengthening her lungs.
We are still unsure as to when they will finish her foot, but we are hopeful that will be the last of the surgeries - for now. Everything else has been put back together and the healing is underway.

There is still no time frame as to when and where she will go after the Trauma Unit. Most likely it will be a Unit between, ICU and Trauma. Visitors will still not be able to see her for awhile. She is still limited to only her parents and her siblings over 18, 4 hours a day. This is to protect her from germs as well as allow her lots of time to rest and to let her body heal.

Chantel said it has been great to see some of Larisa start to shine through all the battle wounds and the medications. She said she still rolls her eyes at her Mama and cops a little attitude about things she doesn't like. She brought in some pictures from when she was at the beach and loved looking at her friends and family. Over all she is moving forward and doing great.

Chantel told me that while driving home from the hospital the other night, she happened to notice all the little crosses people place on the sides of the road for loved ones they have lost and she just thanked her Father in Heaven that there will be no reminder left behind of a loved one past on. But, that their Larisa continues to be a bright spot in their life daily.