Lots to report

I don’t think I’m a very good blogger. It’s been a while since my last report and a lot has happened. Right before I got released from Shirley Ryan the second time in December, Henry and Cole tested positive for Covid. My doctors didn’t want me to go home and suggested I stay with family or friends however it was Christmas Eve, my mother lives in the Virgin Islands, my father is dead, henry’s parents are both passed away, Neither one of us have brothers or sisters and all of our friends were out of town. So I went on Booking.com and searched for Chicago hotel that had handicap accessibility, wheelchair accessible room, and most importantly safety bars in the bathroom. The only way I would be able to function alone in a hotel in my wheelchair was if the bathroom has safety bars.

Only one available hotel came up from the filtered search so I booked a stay there to keep isolated Henry and Cole until they were done quarantining. We FaceTimed on Christmas morning and I got to see Cole‘s reaction to opening his presents which was great especially when he got his vintage air Jordans he didn’t think he was gonna get that grandma Shirryl sent to him. I was able to record our FaceTime session for Christmas morning on my phone because I did it on my iPad and then sent a video from my phone to my mom so she got to see his face when he opened her gift as well. Crazy times with technology and Covid right?

I was able to go home on December 31 and we celebrated Christmas late but all together with a special meal and more presents etc.

Because of insurance issues I had to wait until January to start my outpatient physical therapy three days a week at the Shirley Ryan Burr Ridge.

The weeks that went by where I did not have physical therapy led to my legs getting weaker and weaker the less I use them the more I lose strength basically. I was gaining strength at outpatient physical therapy however then we had a snowstorm and below zero weather and I was unable to get out the door and downstairs to get to physical therapy. I also started my chemotherapy pills and on the last day of that cycle when I tried to go down the front six steps out to the carMy leg was just too weak and I couldn’t stand. Our chairs Stair Lift have been ordered and are supposed to be installed but the weather prevented that along with some shipping delays and weird equipment damage issues. The stair chair lifts are still not installed we hope it’s going to be happening this coming week.

my right leg is the one that became useless after the surgery, now the left leg was starting to act up and not do what I wanted it to do. Basically both legs were useless by the beginning of February. So it became unsafe for me at home and I was admitted back to Rush Hospital downtown for observation and assessment and more tests.Having MRIs done and trying to figure out what’s causing the leg weakness. So far they think it’s inflammation from the radiation. There’s Inflammation on the right side of my brain now affecting my left leg. They’re going to increase my steroid dose which is not good news for me I hate being on steroids they make me mean hungry ragey and swollen puffy.

It’s February 8 and I am actually at Rush awaiting transport to go down and get another MRI with contrast dye so that they can look more thoroughly at my spine and brain and this potential inflammation issue. It sounds like I’ll probably be released to another intense physical therapy facility possibly Shirley Ryan again I’ll keep everyone posted. I’ll try to be better about timely blogging! I use voice recognition so please excuse the errors.