Walking with the walker

If you ever need to pull things into perspective, watch a physical therapist pull out a walker that seems so little it must be a joke, and put it in front of your 4 year old to help him walk.

Rowan and I went over to the rehab center of the hospital today so the Physical Therapist could take a look at Rowan's balance and mobility and determine if it would be safe enough for him to come home.

How I understand it is: Rowan had a pretty major surgery. There was alot happening very close to the areas that control balance. In non-medical terms, the therapist said since things were shaken up back there a bit, it has thrown Rowan's balance off. Add that to the fact that his little neck is so stiff from the muscles being cut, that it is hard for him to walk straight without swaying.

The therapist put a belt around Rowan's chest so he could hold Rowan  and keep him from falling. Rowan walked first using a set of parallel bars that lowered down to his height. Next, out came the walker. The therapist let Rowan lead him around the area, watching how he did with balance. Rowan's tendency was to pull back, so the walker helped him keep his focus forward. It was very cute and disturbing at the same time.

The therapist asked several questions about stairs in the house (he can use them but with close supervision), tight spaces, and of course if we have a dog, and the dog's size. Poor Cleo can be a very big hazard without even trying. Rowan is supposed to take the walker for a spin down the hall tonight and again tomorrow morning. The therapist on duty tomorrow will be coming by to check Rowan out again, but basically on that end we are clear to go home. Chances are high that we will need to take Rowan to the outpatient physical therapy clinic through Gillette in Burnsville, where Rowan has been before, for a couple weeks. That will be fine, especially since for the next month either Jeff or I will be home with him everyday.

Rowan kept down food all day, including his oral meds, so hopefully that will also earn a green light from the neuro nurse practitioner who visits him each day. She had a concern when he was throwing up so much that he might be one of the 1/4 of kids who have the surgery that need a steroid to stop the sick feeling. She said during the sugery blood gets into the spinal fluid and some kids are affected more than others.

So there is a possibility that he will come home tomorrow, but the neuro nurse was going to do whatever she had to do to get our insurance coverage extended  in case he needs a longer stay.
Hopefully tomorrow is the day.