An Overdue Mike O'Malley Update...

Most of you have been keeping up on the daily updates on my Dad's Care Page website. On Thursday, January 19th my Dad was moved to the Inpatient Rehab at UW Hospital. A week and a half has passed since he has moved and his progress is incredible. Everday he continues to improve. He started out with just a whisper and by Friday January 27th he was speaking full sentences in his normal voice. He went to rehab and he had not walked in over 5-6 weeks and the same day he was moved he insisted on getting out of his bed to go to the bathroom. Since his first day in rehab he has walked up and down the hallways and continues to gain strength with every Physical Therapy session. He has a busy schedule everyday. He has Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. He usually has 30-45 minute sessions and meets with each therapist twice a day (6 sessions total). Last Thursday, January 26th they had therapy dogs come up to his floor. There was a yellow lab that looked a lot like his puppy - Bailey. They say therapy dogs help inspire the patients to get better faster and go home to see their own pets. Someday soon when he is off his medications and fluids we will be allowed to take him home for a day pass. If he goes home we will observe how he handles the stairs and being in his own environment. He is eager to go home but we have to remind him everyday that we still need to get him healthy and strong enough to be ready to go home. Right now he has a tenative discharge date for February 10th. They will re-evaluate his progress as the days pass and determine if he will be ready on February 10th. He has come so far since December 11th. We are so incredibly proud of him. He continues to amaze us everyday. We love you Dad!