Home from his four-month hospitalization on July 12, Steve has been making steady improvement. He has been working hard in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. His diabetes has been under perfect control; his appetite has increased. Home Hemodialysis has gone well with a wonderful new fistula that has produced NO problems!
But the biggest news is this: Steve stood up - spotted, but unaided, for a minute-and-a-half yesterday. He stood two more times, for a total of three minutes! (His Physical Therapist and exceptional caregiver, Angelito, flanked him - of course.)
Steve understands that walking remains a ways away....but what a great start! For me, it was hard not to have been there to see it.
It was a little like having your child take their first steps at daycare. You celebrate the victory, but ache to have been there in person!
This is not a complaint, mind you. I am so pleased with the way Steve has progressed. Walking does seem to be on the horizon at some point. What's best, though, is that Steve has made an excellent recovery with his virtually re-built heart - and no new problems have surfaced. We are so thankful.
So Critical Illness Myopathy? We see this...and move to conquer this challenge, too! Resilience is the single most important quality a person can have!
Take care,
Linda Gromko, MD
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