Team SARA is in Training.

The core care team for Sara has been training the last week on how to take care of her. We've been learning range of motion exercises, traech care, cleaning of the supplies, changing her breathing tube, suctioning, administering medication via her feeding tube, working the feeding pump and flushing lines, and draining and changing her foley (pee) bag.

Each person has been working independently with recuperative skills to get trained on a schedule that works for them, since there are repeat visits and demonstrations of skills that are required, as well.

Everybody seems to be doing well and only really needs practice to become comfortable. Sara indicated to me that she feels good seeing people come up to train. It tells her that home is getting closer.

I still have some nursing decisions and arrangements to make, but we are getting there. Still have to finish the bathroom (will make a lot of headway this weekend towards that), widen a couple of doorways, and finish the touchup and shelves in her room.

Part of our challenge has been finding LVN nursing coverage. If you know of any LVNs in the county that may want to pick up some extra hours and help out an absolutely fabulous young woman, let me know.

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She continues to do well and progress slowly. She is now able to, with a lot of encouragement, lift her head out of the "flopped forward" position, and slowly move back onto the pillow. That means that she now can move her head in all 4 directions (front, back, left, right.) She gets stronger at rotating her head shoulder to shoulder and will follow you around the room as you talk to her or if you come in. She can't be considered a tetraplegic anymore (unable to move 4 limbs and head/neck). I told her that she's got one down and 4 more to go...to which she just grins wide and blinks "Yes"!