Update #11: 13Sep 8pm

 So, a good but hard day.  It seems like Jennifer plateaued a bit mental status wise.  Speech still fluid, but with some regular bouts of confusion.

Hospital-wise, today was a busy Monday.

First, Occupational Therapy came.  They did some exercises—sitting, pushing up from lying down, standing, taking some steps with assistance, taking some steps with a walker.  Small shuffling steps.  Exhausting.  Went to the sink and washed her face.  Their assessment was that she is ready for the inpatient rehab.  They think she can handle the three hours of therapy per day.  But the discharge and transfer is the call of the Trauma Surgery Team.

They arrived about 1pm. New attending.  But we all agreed that she is stable with regard to her injuries, making good improvements and is ready for discharge.  Yay.

Third, the Case Manager.  She talked specifically about the Rehab options (for the 7-14day program).  One company—Encompass—two choice locations, Bridgeport (closer to our farm) or Morgantown (around the corner for this current hospital).  We asked for the Bridgeport option but now it’s all about “bed availability” and “insurance approval”.  Pray for those obstacles to be removed.

Last, the call from Encompass.  We talked through most of the things we have already heard.  What to expect issues. While we are thrilled to get her started in the Inpatient Rehab, one big bummer is the different visitor policy.  We have enjoyed the University Hospital’s policy of two visitors in the room from 8am-7pm.  Any two.  Mix and match, swap in and out.  The Rehab policy is “ONE PERSON PER DAY.”  (12-6). That is the same one person.  No more, one person subbing in for another.  One unique individual can visit Jennifer per day.  This policy arose because they had some patients get Covid due to a parade of visitors swapping in and out. This is going to be hard for our kids who are arriving over the next few days.  Julia and Abby coming Wednesday-Sunday. Jack and Luke coming for a week starting Friday. 

A couple more thoughts about Jennifer’s general state of mind.

It’s a continual battle for her to let go and rest.  She feels guilty for being in the hospital, for causing this ruckus (and “it seems like it wouldn’t be so bad to recruit an army of prayer if I was doing something valiant and heroic in Africa…but wiping out on my bicycle in West Virginia?”).  She’s constantly thinking about the team, the Area, the prayer meetings (“have you arranged the biweekly prayer meetings, Scott?”).  Helping her to embrace the fact that her job is to rest and heal IS A BATTLE.

And when the Trauma Team did their rounds, she asked the Trauma surgeon- can I expect to return to normal —or am I looking for find a new Normal? And is this a time line of months or years?  These are questions for which we have no answers.  It’s that fog of uncertainty in which all of us are staggering.