Today was therapeutic, or at least filled with therapy.  Paige had two sessions of physical therapy, one of occupational therapy, and one with speech pathology, met the recreational therapist, and took memory tests with the doctor.  She was cleared for swallowing regular liquids and can say goodbye to those juices that were thickened to nectar consistency.

Paige could retrieve some old information and some new.  She said Liz is known as a rower, Brooks as a boater and she as a swimmer, and she counted a long dead beagle as one of the dogs waiting at home.  She said that she likes being kissed by her mom out of the blue.  And when her doctor asked her about the framed invitation to the inauguration that sits by her bed, she proudly told him that she is the president of the Kent Young Democrats.

Paige has a lot of work ahead of her.  We must repeat the blog health warning at the end of the rosy reports: the sparkly, spunky Paige is not back yet, and may not be for weeks or even months.  The physical therapy will bring back the strength lost to injuries and being bedridden. The occupational therapy will work on basic skills such as dressing, counting, and writing.  We still have to learn about recreational therapy, but it sounds great.  The brain needs to do its healing.

We are aware of many waiting visitors out there, and are grateful for your collective enthusiasm.  Her team here at Burke is helping formulate visiting guidelines that fit with her recovery.  We hope that limited visits can begin soon.

Thank you again for the mail and comments that poured in today.  You are all a blessing to Paige.