Acute rehabilitation unit 58

The next step in my journey begins at Foothills SSB unit 58. The first week or so it was just settling in and continuing with my range of motion exercises with the physiotherapy team. Then we had a family meeting with my hospitalist, the rehab physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, transitional services, my Mom, Marilyn, and Sara to discuss my care plan. The aim is to increase my tolerance in the wheelchair; provide range of motion exercises and get involved with recreational therapy too. It was explained to me they were taking a chance on me as I wasn’t sitting in the wheelchair for more than 2 hours per day nor was I making significant improvements in my limb movements either. So I was told by the rehab physician that I will stay 3 to 6 months and if no significant changes were seen then I will be sent back to PLC for recovery, BUT I will be monitored on a week by week basis. Wow - wasn’t expecting that response. Took some time to absorb that information.

Settling into my new routine, I saw this unit has a good working team - physio twice a week; seeing a psychologist once a week and recreational therapy 4 days a week. The occupational therapy supported physio and recreational therapies. This unit was special as it had it’s own dining room for the patients. You don’t realise how the team members overlap and are important in one’s recovery.

Over the, almost 7 months, I am to stay at Foothills, I learned to socialise with new people and to feel comfortable in public being in a wheelchair. It took a few weeks before I would agree to eat in the dining room. We started with lunch time as my therapy would end when lunch was served. One of the hardest things for me was getting comfortable being fed in a public setting. I am glad this unit had it’s own dining room as it help me ease into what it would feel like to be in a public setting; hard not to feel self-conscious thinking people are staring at you.