Monday marked our return to Birmingham for three weeks of intensive physical therapy. We weren't able to get the apartment again, so this time we are staying with my dad and stepmom ("Papa & Bebe"). Their home is about 30 minutes to the Children's South therapy office, but that's alright because it's not crucial that we be close like it was following the surgery when Sarah Kate was unable to ride for more than a few minutes in the car. Although it is a longer drive in each morning, Sarah Kate only goes once per day (instead of twice like before), and it's nice to have some help with her (plus I don't have to clean or cook!) Papa & Bebe have horses, a dog, and multiple felines, so Sarah Kate is going to enjoy it here. We will be coming home on Fridays and returning on Sundays.
Yesterday was her first day of UEU ("Universal Exercise Unit"), as they call it, but the first day was primarily an evaluation of her progress and any "body issues" she has, such as joints that aren't positioned just right. They also studied her flexibility and watched her do things like walk, sit, etc. The evaluation took about three hours total and she began working today.
We arrived at 8:30 this morning and her session started off with heat and massage. After that, she did some exercises (disguised as play) to help strengthen her trunk, and did a "6-minute walk" where they got her to walk down and back in a long hallway for 15 minutes (just kidding!) and kept track of how many times she fell down (or didn't). Following the 6-minute walk, she did some exercises using pulleys with sandbag weights. She got a chance to have snack (cheese, peanut butter crackers, peanuts, and apple juice), and then was fitted into the Adeli suit to work some more. She finished up about 1:00 and then we went for some well-deserved lunch - she requested Mexican food!
The Adeli suit (pronounced like where you'd go to get a sandwich) is a broad-shouldered vest, knee pads, and shorts set with a series of hooks and velcro straps, and a pair of Vans tennis shoes modified to work with the suit. The therapists take a lot of little bungees and connect them to various points on the suit (I can't begin to estimate how many options exist) and onto the shoes. The purpose is to hold her body as close to perfect alignment as possible - hips, ankles, knees, thighs, back, and so on. She then does regular therapy activities in the suit, and the intent is to train the body (including the brain) to do things the "right" way. If you'd like to read more about it, follow this link: http://www.adeli-suit.com/English/adeli_suite.htm
We got some news on the insurance front! Scott heard from our case manager at BCBS today and they have worked out an agreement with Children's Health System to cover the 15 UEU visits at a reduced amount. The agreement is instead of, not in addition to, the 30 visits with the cap that we were given last week. What that means for us is that instead of buying a loaded Toyota Camry, we only owe half of one :-) Although that sum is still significant, it's much more manageable than what we were looking at just a few days ago. It's not coming as quickly as we would like sometimes, but God is providing for us. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and continues to pray for us.
I'll do my best to blog more frequently during the next three weeks (I'm not cooking or cleaning, so I should have time, right?) I appreciate all of you who have faithfully read the blog and encouraged me throughout this journey. I am constantly surprised at the messages that I receive and to hear exactly who is reading the blog. God bless you all!
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:12
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