Hot Wheels

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. They say.... well... on second thought, I don't really know what the saying is for women, but I can tell you the way to my mother's heart: Hot Wheels.

A nurse noticed today that my mom has some hot wheels still in the packaging up on display. My Aunt Esy explained that my mom collects Hot Wheels, and that one of her nephews used the money he had been saving up in his piggy bank to buy them for my mom as a "Get Well" gift.

Well earlier this morning my mom got the ultimate set of hot wheels, the only kind that can provide her any kind of mobility or freedom: a wheel chair. She & I were free to roam around wherever we wanted, as long it remained on the hospital property. I've never been so excited about a freaking wheel chair in all my life. It was my mom's first time out of the hospital bed that didn't require some kind of procedure or facility transfer.

Initially, the physical therapists granted us an hour. We used up the first half outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine and gusty winds. "You have no idea how good this feels" she said, as she was basking in the sunlight. I teared up a little. I noticed her wound specialist had arrived as he left his car from the parking lot. We went back inside soon afterward because it was getting nippy. As we rolled into the lobby, one of the nurses summoned us back to the room to see the doctor who had just arrived. Our time was cut short. My Step Dad and Aunt Esy, responding to my excited phone call, showed up to join in on this momentous occasion just as we got back into the room.

My mom will be spending more and more time on the wheel chair as time progresses and the doctor assured us there would be better schedule coordinating so that her time wouldn't be cut short again. As her doctor examined her wounds he said that she was healing very well and looked much better from the last time he saw her this week.

On Monday she'll begin wound care treatment in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber... more details on this to come.

She's settled in nicely at the new facility, has attentive nurses and caring staff. Things are looking up.