WOW, he's free!!!

Today started with slightly limited expectations, but it really was a big, triumphant day!  Another field trip in an ambulance took Grandpa to the OHSU center on the river to see the orthopedic surgeon who operated on his feet and wrists.  His main caretaker, Estera, said, as he was being wheeled out the door by the very kind paramedics, "Maybe you'll get your leg braces off."  We were very quick to not get anyone's hopes up, but we didn't have to!  

Sitting in the large exam room full of family with Grandpa in the middle, the surgeon's physician's assistant came in and took off the wrist braces and boots, and when arms and legs were all "naked," as Grandpa would say, "They stinketh!"  Then, all of our jaws dropped and eyes lit up when she said that he could move around his wrists and ankles and ........ put weight on his feet!!!  We were all cheering, clapping, and dancing, especially because we all thought that the process would take a lot longer! With a written statement from the very nice woman (the surgeon's P.A.), Grandpa can put as much weight on his legs as he can take and he can sleep without his boots!  With some more physical therapy on Thursday, the prospect of getting around by himself, by strengthening his muscles in his arms and legs, is now tangibly within reach!  He can walk around in the boots and lift himself with his wrist braces on, but his range of motion and "independence" is very much improving!  

 

While Grandpa was getting x-rayed, Kate, Aunt Kelli, and I rode the tram up to the main campus of OHSU and back down!  It was so cool - a mix of a funicular, the London Eye pod that you ride in, and the elevators of the Eiffel Tower!  It was very fun to see, and it would be very fun for Grandpa too!  When we came back down to see Grandpa, we got to see those x-rays for the first time, and it was very interesting - all of those screws and pins, it was kind of cool-looking! 

 

After that big excursion, we returned to his care house to a very lovely and relaxing meal, which even included a big hunk of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream!  If it hadn't been raining, it would have been a nice picnic on the lovely deck, but Kate wheeled Grandpa outside anyway.  He didn't even melt!  When it got toward bedtime, Kate wheeled him back into his room to wait for Estera to get him from his wheelchair to his bed.  When she came in, he hugged her around the neck, and he got up on his feet to pivot onto his bed!  The first weight on those feet in 3 whole months!  It was relatively smooth, and we left him to read his book, listening to the rain fall on the leaves outside his window!  What a big day, and a great answer to all of our prayers!  Who'da thunk that Grandpa would be able to walk this soon?!?

~ Sophie : )