I am being released from the rehab hospital tomorrow (Fri, 8/8). I am unable to climb the steep stairs into the RV and don't have enough balance to walk without a walker yet -- which I don't believe will be easy to navigate with inside the CoW. The plan is to live again with my brother in law in the house. I will have home health care come to the house for physical therapy, whereby I hope they will help me practice in the RV with it in the driveway.
If I maintain the same level of progress at home as I did while in the hospital, I think it's a reasonable goal that I can resume life in the RV by the end of next week! I can't wait - I miss it so much! I'm not sure how much traveling I'll be able to do, and I'll probably need outpatient PT for a little while, but at least it will be nice moving to a campground and living at home again.
I'll keep you posted.
Lucky Mike said
06:32 PM Aug 7, 2014
you go girl!!!!!
BiggarView said
06:38 PM Aug 7, 2014
Small steps, Cheryl, small steps. We have every confidence on a smooth recovery and soon enough, you'll be back on the road... continuing the dream.
SnowGypsy said
06:47 PM Aug 7, 2014
Great news! Motivation makes all the difference. I agree though, small steps.
bigboomer said
07:08 PM Aug 7, 2014
Cheryl,
We got you in our prayers for a continued and speedy recovery. GOD Speed.
Les and Sue
RickandJanice said
08:00 PM Aug 7, 2014
Great news!! keep pushing ahead and you will get there soon. Our prayers are with you for a full recovery.
Lets get moving said
08:19 PM Aug 7, 2014
That's great news Cheryl! I'm sure you'll do even better once you get back in your CoW!
The Junkman said
08:45 PM Aug 7, 2014
Get well .. Maybe catch up to you folks soon.
PIEERE said
09:35 PM Aug 7, 2014
May you be blessed with continued recovery. My thought and prayers will continue! Now the bumps in the road will get smoother!
NWescapee said
11:31 PM Aug 7, 2014
Go Cheryl, Go Cheryl!!! You have already overcome so many obstacles that I am absolutely confident you will keep surprising everyone with your resilience!! Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery are with you!!
mylittledogs said
05:38 AM Aug 8, 2014
Cheryl just don't over do it,and try to move to fast. We will keep you in our prayers to.
Kenny & frances
TheNewhalls said
06:30 AM Aug 8, 2014
Good luck Cheryl!
Jo And Craig said
10:00 AM Aug 8, 2014
All the best, Cheryl, for a speedy recovery! See you in September?
southernvagabond said
10:46 AM Aug 8, 2014
Cheryl, so glad you are doing well! The COW waiting for you is great motivation for your continued recovery - but as someone already said don't over do it. Progress as you are told by the therapist & don't try to get too ambitious too soon. So, hopefully this will not happen again and you can continue your RV life for many wonderful (pain free) years to come.
Meanwhile relax and enjoy your stay in northwest Florida. If you are a seafood lover you need to try Captain Anderson's while you are there. The grilled shrimp are the best you will ever have. With your walker you may even get seated sooner :)
Former Northwest Floridians
Brenda & Rodney
el Rojo and Pam said
10:52 AM Aug 8, 2014
Great news Cheryl! Keep up the good work.
NurseJudy said
11:07 AM Aug 8, 2014
So glad you are on the road to recovery Cheryl. Take it easy at home and work hard on the "strengthening" exercises. They help the most. Watch out for trip hazards like throw rugs and small dogs/cats. Be especially careful in the shower (use a seat). I think you will do great!
Camper Chronicles said
01:22 PM Aug 8, 2014
Great news
Bobc said
03:31 PM Aug 8, 2014
Come on Cheryl. The new rig needs to be washed, no excuses now! You can,t expect your husband to do it, let's goooooo!
Good luck glad to see you still have a great attutude you will be out running around faster than you expected😎🌞👯👯👯
DebbieM said
07:52 PM Aug 8, 2014
Good for you!! Baby steps!
Bob and Lindy said
07:52 PM Aug 8, 2014
Congrats on your progress. Slow and steady. Follow the doctor's (therapist's) orders and you'll pass this detour of your dreams in short order.
jrzygrl64 said
08:29 PM Aug 9, 2014
Prayers for continued quick recovery!
cherylbrv said
09:42 PM Aug 9, 2014
Next weekend may be a little too ambitious, but I'll get there. Maybe there's a way to modify the stairs to lower the handrail on the left and add one on the right?
RickandJanice said
07:05 AM Aug 10, 2014
Cheryl, not sure how you can lower the stairs or attach a second grab bar. Maybe you could get a set of portable stairs like one of these, www.hofmannccr.com/
cherylbrv said
08:03 AM Aug 10, 2014
RickandJanice wrote:
Cheryl, not sure how you can lower the stairs or attach a second grab bar. Maybe you could get a set of portable stairs like one of these, www.hofmannccr.com/
Awesome! I didn't even think of something like this. Thanks for the link
WestWardHo said
06:16 PM Aug 10, 2014
Cheryl, So glad your surgery was successful. Please follow other's advice and don't push it too hard. I'd be anxious too but you want to be back out there enjoying. You two have had a rough go of it. Hope it's your time now!
Sherry
LandL Partners said
11:01 PM Aug 11, 2014
Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery! We're thinking of you both during your rehab and hope you get to enjoy your new home very soon - take care!
The Bear II said
08:23 AM Aug 12, 2014
Cheryl,
I used a Hoyer Patient Lift I bought off of Craigslist for $300 to get my Dad into the RV.
Using the Hoyer, I would lift him out of his wheelchair then place the wheelchair in the doorway of the RV. Move the lift into position and lower him into the wheelchair. It worked well and was very stable.
Just make sure the lift can go high enough to get into the wheel chair while it is in the rv.
Other alternative is a Burr Handi-lift. www.burractuators.com/lifts/handy_lift.htm I installed one of these on our 5th wheel. It worked very well and with modification allowed me to lift him while he was still in his wheelchair.
But I liked the Hoyer Lift due to it being portable and could use it wherever we needed it.
cherylbrv said
11:05 AM Aug 12, 2014
Thanks, Larry. Fortunately, I am ambulatory and with a little more strength in my leg and some balance (which will happen with practice and therapy), I will be able to climb the stairs again. The link to the stairs seems like the best solution, although Mitch doesn't really want to invest in it at this point since I may not need to use them beyond a few more weeks. For now, I'm focusing on finding a way to get into the truck because I need to turn so my back is facing the seat and then pivot my body into the seat. Looking for a step stool that's wide enough to allow me to turn on it (rather than climbing onto it backwards). I did find a few models on Amazon that may work. That will need to be a long term solution and it needs to be portable enough so that I can just grab it when getting in and out of the truck, rather than having to rely on Mitch to set it up all the time (stool with handle).
I was afraid to try to climb yesterday, but therapist returns tomorrow so I may give it another try. Saw dr. today who removed the staples and was very pleased with my progress.
The Bear II said
11:10 AM Aug 12, 2014
I would place a large plastic trashbag on the seat and set my dad down onto it, then it was easier to swing his legs in to get him facing forward.
southernvagabond said
03:19 PM Aug 12, 2014
Cheryl, check out Lowe's for a step stool. We found a nice folding one with wide steps and a handle. My mother in law has to use it to get in our truck. I think we paid around $20 or $30 for it.
cherylbrv said
10:33 AM Aug 13, 2014
I made it into the CoW today!!!
It was more of a challenge getting over to the steps, which are on uneven grass with holes and trenches, then it was to climb them. I was worried about nothing! Therapist also worked with me inside to see how I would function, including sitting and getting up off the recliner and kitchen chair. Again, not as difficult as I anticipated. May actually be able to move to a campground within the week!
el Rojo and Pam said
10:38 AM Aug 13, 2014
Sounds good Cheryl.
The Bear II said
03:12 PM Aug 13, 2014
Great....
Bob and Lindy said
05:43 PM Aug 13, 2014
Slow & steady! You will get there, independence that is.
PIEERE said
09:57 AM Aug 14, 2014
I am so pleased to here that all is going well! Prayers for healing still being sent!! Easy does it; but go for it! PIEERE
WestWardHo said
07:31 AM Aug 15, 2014
Cheryl,
Love your progress. You're doing great, so glad it was easier than you anticipated. Keep us posted on your progress.
Sherry
cherylbrv said
03:31 PM Aug 15, 2014
I got into the Bull today!!! All obstacles are now overcome, at least in terms of what was keeping me in my brother in law's house - which was the inability to climb into the RV or truck. Today is Friday and the plan/goal is to move to a campground on Tuesday. We will stay there for about a month so I can continue with physical therapy. The only problem I may have is that of the 3 campgrounds in the area, they may all be sold out for the Labor Day weekend, although the rest of the month is available. We'll call them on Monday to figure it all out.
Moving forward, I will need to rely heavily on Mitch to do the bending and lifting (including taking out clothes from the bottom dresser drawer and pots & pans in the kitchen, as well as lifting the 20 lb step stool every time I get in and out of the truck) but that's small stuff in the scheme of things.
I can't wait to go home!!!
Joe_Camper said
06:01 AM Aug 16, 2014
Great news Cheryl! Glad to hear you are getting better. I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to keep up with everyone. Keep on with your therapy!
RickandJanice said
06:14 AM Aug 16, 2014
Great news!!!! Glad to hear you are progressing so well. OT in conjunction with PT can really help people recuperate faster as long as they follow the instructions given. Sounds like you and Mitch have both followed the instructions and are now becoming able to move on with life. We say this with the utmost compliments, you are another inspirational story about overcoming life's challenges, like Lucky Mike, Pierre, and Westward Ho. Congratulations again!!
mylittledogs said
06:19 AM Aug 16, 2014
Keep the good news coming. Just don't over do.
Kenny & frances
cherylbrv said
04:27 PM Aug 18, 2014
Made the reservation to the campground, starting TOMORROW!!! Plan on staying in Panama City Beach until about Sept. 14th to continue physical therapy. Can't wait to "go home"!!! And yes, I promise to take it slow and easy and not overdo anything. Thanks for all your support.
I am being released from the rehab hospital tomorrow (Fri, 8/8). I am unable to climb the steep stairs into the RV and don't have enough balance to walk without a walker yet -- which I don't believe will be easy to navigate with inside the CoW. The plan is to live again with my brother in law in the house. I will have home health care come to the house for physical therapy, whereby I hope they will help me practice in the RV with it in the driveway.
If I maintain the same level of progress at home as I did while in the hospital, I think it's a reasonable goal that I can resume life in the RV by the end of next week! I can't wait - I miss it so much! I'm not sure how much traveling I'll be able to do, and I'll probably need outpatient PT for a little while, but at least it will be nice moving to a campground and living at home again.
I'll keep you posted.
Small steps, Cheryl, small steps. We have every confidence on a smooth recovery and soon enough, you'll be back on the road... continuing the dream.
Kenny & frances
Good luck Cheryl!
All the best, Cheryl, for a speedy recovery! See you in September?
Meanwhile relax and enjoy your stay in northwest Florida. If you are a seafood lover you need to try Captain Anderson's while you are there. The grilled shrimp are the best you will ever have. With your walker you may even get seated sooner :)
Former Northwest Floridians
Brenda & Rodney
Good luck glad to see you still have a great attutude you will be out running around faster than you expected😎🌞👯👯👯
Good for you!! Baby steps!
Awesome! I didn't even think of something like this. Thanks for the link
Sherry
I used a Hoyer Patient Lift I bought off of Craigslist for $300 to get my Dad into the RV.
Using the Hoyer, I would lift him out of his wheelchair then place the wheelchair in the doorway of the RV. Move the lift into position and lower him into the wheelchair. It worked well and was very stable.
Just make sure the lift can go high enough to get into the wheel chair while it is in the rv.
Other alternative is a Burr Handi-lift. www.burractuators.com/lifts/handy_lift.htm I installed one of these on our 5th wheel. It worked very well and with modification allowed me to lift him while he was still in his wheelchair.
But I liked the Hoyer Lift due to it being portable and could use it wherever we needed it.
I was afraid to try to climb yesterday, but therapist returns tomorrow so I may give it another try. Saw dr. today who removed the staples and was very pleased with my progress.
It was more of a challenge getting over to the steps, which are on uneven grass with holes and trenches, then it was to climb them. I was worried about nothing! Therapist also worked with me inside to see how I would function, including sitting and getting up off the recliner and kitchen chair. Again, not as difficult as I anticipated. May actually be able to move to a campground within the week!
Love your progress. You're doing great, so glad it was easier than you anticipated. Keep us posted on your progress.
Sherry
Moving forward, I will need to rely heavily on Mitch to do the bending and lifting (including taking out clothes from the bottom dresser drawer and pots & pans in the kitchen, as well as lifting the 20 lb step stool every time I get in and out of the truck) but that's small stuff in the scheme of things.
I can't wait to go home!!!
Kenny & frances