By Lisa Ansay —
This will be my last day with Taylor for awhile and thought it would be interesting for all who read this to know what a day is like at The Briles Therapy House. The day starts at midnight with a quick check on Taylor’s status. We check vitals and for nasal drainage (since we’re still watching that pretty closely post-surgery). Bathroom break and back to bed. We get up for 5 am. meds and to start the day. Walk the dogs before it gets too hot. Feed the dogs. Laundry, trash, clean bathrooms, recycle, kitchen, etc. At 6 a.m. Taylor gets scheduled meds, food and water via feeding tube. (There is a port for the G-tube right in his belly.) He will have a feeding tube until his jaw is aligned properly. Taylor then can sleep for a little longer, depending on scheduled dr. visits, etc.
By 9 a.m. he is up, dressed, teeth brushed and ready for the day. More food and water via feeding tube. He get speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy every day. We are the administrators of the therapies. Tread mill, most every day. 30 minutes at 2 miles an hour at a 3.5% incline. The different therapies are spread throughout the day along with swimming and pool therapies. His naps are around noon and can range for 2-3 hours. While he rests we administer meds. Then more food and water. The days go by like a blur with activity, and laced with lots of laughter. Sometimes another swim. After dinner we play games, such as Monopoly. We use dominoes instead of dice so he can count the raised dots. We play Scattergories and Cranium. He loves these and does very well. He has even played Yahtzee. We sometimes play a movie with Action Narrative that describes all the action for Taylor. More food, water and meds. Our day ends early as he is wiped out by 8 p.m. and so are we. The days are spent with and for Taylor, doing what is necessary and will aid in his recovery. He smiles a lot and has a great sense of humor. He can get sarcastic in a humorous way and love is everywhere. This has been a wonderful experience and it will not stop here. This is a very important part of our lives and his enthusiasm drives us to do all we can. Tomorrow will be my flight out of Arizona. Sad, but happy in the sense that recovery is an ongoing experience. Small things that he initiates or says on his own mean tremendous hurdles he has overcome. Keep praying. It is working.
Kay
