31

Today was a busy day. I did a one hour and two half hour PT sessions, as well as an hour of OT. I've added some directions on how to find me to the side bar. Visitors are welcome during the day, but I very likely won't be in my room. The staff have no problem with visitors in the rehab areas, so just meander down if you can't find me. The target I've been told is 3-4 weeks as an inpatient, then moving back home and continuing as an outpatient. However, that estimate can change, depending on my progress. I may be back home in time for my birthday.

I was chatting with the occupational therapist today while doing exercises and she mentioned that most of their GBS patients come from the valley, like Langley and Abbotsford. That's an interesting anecdote, since I worked out in Langley for 2.5 years.

30

I saw the doctor today, and it looks like I will be here for 3-4 weeks. It will take a few months to be able to walk without an aid, but I should be at the point of being able to walk short distances (like within my apartment) when they discharge me. A full recovery will still take a long time. The prognosis is good.

29

I'm now at GF Strong in the neuromusculoskeletal wing, room 440. Their priority is to take patients from VGH, which delayed my transfer from St. Paul's. The facility is nice and the atmosphere is a lot better than the hospital. One of GF Strong's criteria is to take patients who actually have the motivation to get better, so that they are not wasting their time on people who won't try. There are also no street people here. I don't have a phone next to my bed, so calls will have to go to my cell phone. They will have to be kept short before 7pm as I only have a limited number of daytime minutes.

The food here is far superior to St. Paul's. Lunch and dinner are served in the cafeteria, and you can just keep going up and getting more food. It's like two buffets everyday. Tonight, I had three slices of meatloaf, a side salad, rice, cooked vegetables, jello, and pudding. I also got a night-time snack delivered that I haven't eaten yet. It's some sort of meat sandwich. There is a fridge stocked with juices, puddings, cheese, and bread for the taking. At St. Paul's, once dinner was cleared away, there was no food on the ward until breakfast at 8:30 the next morning. I certainly won't starve here.

We have a computer lab in the building for patient use. I can check my e-mail without having to go home. Unfortunately, there is no wireless access from my room. Otherwise I would be setting up my VOIP line there.

Games night is on for tomorrow, probably around 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome.

28

The word is in, and I'm transferring to GF Strong Monday morning at 9:30.

I was also able to stand up from a chair on my own today, but it was about 2 feet high, above the average height of a chair. Still, it's progress. My goal is to be able to get up from a sitting position independently within a few weeks, using both my arms and legs.

Unfortunately, it's looking like I won't make the Seattle Exchange this year. I was looking forward to it. I'll still be sure to get a T-shirt.

27

The head nurse for my ward came in today and told me I'm number three in line for GF Strong. The two ahead of me are from VGH but may not be ready to go yet, which means I might jump past them. The soonest I'll transfer is Friday, but that is unlikely and it will probably be some time next week. Games night might just be at GF Strong next week.

I spoke with one of the neurologists yesterday and asked him how long he thinks it will take for me to get back to 100%. He said it could be a year. Next, I asked him how long it would take to walk without a walking aid. His estimate was three to four months. Nerves regrow at a rate of about 1mm per day.

When all of this is done, I want to go travelling. I'm thinking Thailand in February or March 2007 if I'm in a good enough condition by the new year. I want to ride an elephant while I'm there. I also want to sleep in a hut on a beach with the sound of the waves nearby. I'm sure Thailand also has a lot of temples and cultural things that would also be worth seeing. I need to do some research.

26

I won't be transferring to GF Strong until Thursday at the earliest. The intake nurse at GF Strong is off until Wednesday, and she is the one who can say if it will be days, weeks, or months before I can get in. I'm hoping for the prediction of DAYS.