Get the "A Child, Scorned" reference? -- "A Darcy, Scolded" Ha...ha..................ha.
So, Convolescent leave is over, and we're back in Palo Alto. The Polytraumatic Transitional Rehab Program (PTRP) that Joel now belongs to is quite the change from having free reign to swim, nap, go to the movies, snack, fight with his bros and hang with his friends whenever he wants to.
He arrived at 8am to the program and unpacked his belongings. We had a tour of the place and he quickly got to work with Physical Therapy, followed by an assessment by the Doc, followed by a meeting with the nurse (talking about the rules and regulations of the place and consequences for not following them), and Speech.
Let me take a little break from his schedule to discuss the rules and regulations:
-Take part in all groups (he'll do this just fine... he won't like it, though!)
-Visiting hours are from 12-1 and from when he gets out of his last therapy until 10pm
-Follow your "pass" level. Based upon their assessment of your capabilities, they give you a pass level. "Red" means you cannot leave the building. "Orange" means you can move about the VA Campus alone. "Yellow" means you can go to approved places off campus alone (via bus, taxi, car if you can drive, etc), and "Green" means you are approved to go anywhere by yourself.
-You must fill out paperwork to be granted a weekend pass (to stay away for the weekend)
-and some others...
...and consequences:
-you'll be given a stricter pass level
-your command will be notified
-you will be expelled from the program
OK, on with the day...
Doug and I joined Joel for lunch. I brought him a spicy hotdog, a hamburger, and coleslaw. I couldn't stand to see him eat the hospital food after having such great food for the past 2 weeks (and he wouldn't stand to eat it!). At 1pm, he had another Physical Therapy appointment that was cancelled. Because it was cancelled, Doug and I decided to hang out longer, thinking it was OK since he had nothing to do. Otherwise, he'd be staring at the wall, watching TV, or doing something else alone (since everyone else was in therapy). The next thing I know, the nurse is outside the door with a disappointed look, motioning with his finger for me to go out there. I did, and was greeted with "It's only the first day and I already have to talk to you about visiting hours again." I felt like a scolded child! I mean, no kidding I don't understand them! It IS only the first day. Maybe the thing I didn't understand was logic of them. So, we followed orders and left Joel alone in his room with no one around, kicking and wailing. It was sad.
At 2:30pm he had a Neurological appointment in the main hospital with an actual Neuro-Surgeon (we haven't seen one of these since Bethesda!) Joel said he waited there for 3 hours and finally was seen by the Doc who had no idea why Joel was there. He looked through his file, and came to the conclusion that he might need a shunt to be put in the ventricles in his brain that are too wide! This requires surgery on his brain. WHAT?! Just when you think you are out of the woods... Well, like I said, the Doc wasn't even expecting Joel today, so I doubt he examined all of his CAT scans. Yikes. We'll keep you updated on that.
We finally got Joel out of there, and I made dinner at the Fisher House. It was pretty good. I'm not a well-versed cook by any means. I always feel bad cooking for Doug who is used to Ellen's great cooking (or his own.) The herb/garlic chicken was cooked just right (Doug said!), the rice and sausage was good (except Joel didn't like it), the large broccoli florets turned into broccoli flakes, and the cupcakes turned into craters. However, it was all eaten up! Who cares about presentation anyway, right?
Hopefully it'll only get better from here (both Joel's time at PTRP AND my cooking)!