Let's Eat

June 2, 2009

Today Airica had to prove that she could eat enough pureed food to meet her calorie needs, so that she could avoid a, I mean another, feeding tube.  So, as you can imagine from what you know about Airica, she was going to do it.  They brought her the tray of bland pureed food and a thick Ensure.  I began to slowly feed her a couple of bites.  It wasn't even fast enough for her.  She took the spoon from me and started feeding herself.  She had to be careful not to get anything, like we say, down the wrong pipe, because her lungs were still so fragile.  If she were to get food or water into her lungs they wouldn't be strong enough to get it out and it could cause infection.  Which reminds me, she couldn't have water because of this, but she wanted some so badly.  She had an IV of fluids, so she was hydrated she just wanted the drinking water refreshment.

When the PT came in today Airica showed her the hand finger progress that she had made.  She did those exercises constantly.  The PT was very impressed at her strength and motivation.  Then asked Airica if she thinks that she wanted to try to stand up and take a few steps.  Airica of course said yes.  The PT helped her but encouraged her to use as many muscles as she could to sit up.

Once Airica was up, the PT asked her if she felt alright to sit on her own. Airica nodded her head and the PT slowly let go and Airica was sitting there all by herself.  Then she was ready to stand.  She had stood before, we had a way to hold her so she was fully supported and wouldn't fall.  This time it was going to be a lot more of her.  The PT talked her through which muscles to engage and assisted her in standing up.  She was wobbly, and somewhat supported, but standing.  Now for some steps.  Airica was a little scared at first, but lifted her foot, then her leg, placed it out in front her, then followed with the other.  It was amazing.  I was crying, she was so proud.  

These movements were a lot for her after all that she had been through, and the PT expected only a couple of steps.  After those couple of steps I stood in front of her and we hugged.  A full, standing, embrace.  I held her so close, as tight as I could, then she whispered, "Now I gotta pee Mommy."  I squeezed the pee out of her.  Daddy went to get the wheel chair to take her to the bathroom, and she shook her head no.  She continued to take slow careful steps all the way to the bathroom, then all the way back to the bed.

We were all speechless.  The PT said that she had never seen someone come so far so fast.  The PT said that she was going to refer Airica to a special rehabilitation program that chemo patients usually don't qualify for because they are too weak, but not this girl.

After that workout she needed some calories, so we went and got her a 500 calories Chocolate Peanut Butter Moo'd smoothie from Jamba Juice.  She really enjoyed that smoothie.  It tasted a lot better than applesauce and pureed peas.