Day Program Week 2

This week marked the completion of my second week in the Out-Patient Day Program at the Shepherd Center. The week was busy and challenging with a variety of physical, occupational and therapeutic recreation therapies. The highlights of therapy for the week were:

-Working on improving transfers. Transfers are the most important therapy for me to increase my independence. These are movements from my wheelchair to other seating surfaces like a car, the shower, my bed or a couch.

-Going on a group “push” with other patients and tackling the challenging gradients inside and outside the tunnels and walkways at Shepherd. A “push” is a group wheelchair exercise session similar to a group run or ride where you exercise upper body muscles instead of lower body ones.

-Getting into one of the many standing frames multiple times for up to 1 hour per session. Standing frames are devices that assist patients to stand vertically by fully supporting the legs; the benefits are improved cardiovascular health and bone density.

-Using a Para-Golfer with one of the sport specialists (pictures to follow). This piece of specialized equipment is a motorized cart that places an individual into a vertical position so a golf ball can be hit as naturally as possible.

-“Walking” and playing (in my wheelchair) with Mazy - one of the many dogs that come to Shepherd to help patients get acclimated with caring for their own pets (we’ll be ready for you Ernie!).

-Being interviewed for an upcoming newspaper article about patients at Atlanta hospitals.

We also had the opportunity to experience winter-like weather early in the week; a little cold and snow to remind us of New York!

We look forward to another week of out-patient therapy and the pleasant Southern weather that is “rolling” into town - tomorrow it is suppose to be 60 degrees!

My thanks to everyone for their continued love and support! It has really helped keep me motivated and stay focused on my recovery.

Signing off from Atlanta.

Best,
Dana