Budget Cuts

Like everyone else, it appears that CHLA is suffering from the failing economy and have had to make certain budget cuts in house keeping and landscaping. In order to make up for the cuts, reliable sources say that CHLA has resorted to putting their unsuspecting patients to work washing windows and doing landscaping, all under the guise of therapy. In the last post I reported that Cole's alleged therapy included  window washing which, he was told, would exercise his arms. Today, again under the pretense of therapy, Cole was assigned to the hospital garden where his supposed therapy included pulling weeds, standing for prolonged periods of time watering plants and performing other gardening chores. When contacted for comment, the hospital spokesman said that with impending budget cuts in valet parking, they expect to implement a valet parking therapy program very soon.

Cole's energy and stamina are improving. Today, using his walker, he walked all the way from his room on the 6th floor of the west wing down to the HBO Cafe which is on the 1st floor of the east wing. After having lunch there, he walked all the way back to his room and immediately went into group physical therapy for about an hour. He was a little tired after all that and took a short nap. After the nap, Cole had another therapy session where among other exercises, he climbed stairs and dribbled a basketball with his feet (advancing the ball forward using both feet while walking forward).

Speech therapy went very well today too. The therapist said is was his best day so far. Rhonda adds that Cole is consistently more engaged in conversations and is constantly improving on communicating his thoughts.

The speech, occupational and physical therapists will all take Cole on a little field trip outside the hospital possibly by the end of the week. When that happens we'll be sure to give a full report. Also, in the near future, Tom and Rhonda expect to be allowed to take Cole home for the day.

Walking the stairs

Walking the stairs

Grant at the race with his Cole's the Man t-shirt

Lunch at the HBO

Dribbling with the feet

More dribbling