Sylvia's Journal

It was merry making and mayhem at the Rehab center today. Axel completed a lap up and down the ward aided by a walker and chased by his physical terrorists. This was followed by a birthday celebration that lasted most of the afternoon.

Sylvia was on hand to wish the young man a happy birthday. In one close encounter she said, “Axel, you’re squinting so much. Are you alright?” to which the birthday boy replied, “I love you, but I don’t want to see 2 of you.”

There was a nearly constant stream of phone calls from as far away as Beirut and Belgium and Beverly, MA. And visitors arrived bearing gifts.

Much to the dismay of Axel’s roommate Steve (also a pilot – WWII, Korea, and Vietnam!) our birthday boy received a harmonica and a CD of blues harp music to accompany. Now, I don’t know if this gift is intended to help him while away the lonely late night hours on the ward like some lost cowboy on the plains, or whether it is to motivate him to join the other patients in that smoky dive bar next to the nurses station. Either way, a blues harp is good for respiratory rehab!

Half way through our little party, Axel’s rehab MD arrived for an interview. The prognosis is good for a full recovery. The questionable bit now is related to recovery of nerve function in this left arm, wrist, and hand. Currently, Axel can flex his fingers (close them around something) but can’t extend his fingers and wrist (as one would do to “high five” or “flip the bird” as the situation may demand.

Relief #7 – The Doc says this nerve healing will take some months to work out but he was optimistic that it was doable. I suggested that Axel visualize himself as Itzhak Perlman (no stranger to paralysis) or the guitar player from Pearl Jam. Both of those guys have a left hand that can really fly. Besides, visualizing one’s self as a rock star is therapeutic for anybody.

The suggestion from the Guestbook of “find your inner lion” was supported with the gift of a friendly looking stuffed lion (with paw in sling). Other gifts included a blank journal from the P.E.M. for working out hands and mind; a book about deep-sea divers; and, a really spectacular cake baked by Tessa complete with multiple creams, fruits, and white chocolate goodies stuck to the sides.

The afternoon party included a parade to the deck garden including Sylvia and Axel as grand marshals – each in their own float (wheel chair). Almost 10 of us took in the sun and appreciated our recovering friends joy at being together again and healing, healing, healing.

On the Magnuson-Vriesendorp home front, ramps are getting built to move the house toward wheel and walker friendliness. Tessa’s Steve, and their friend Roy, built a laminated wedge of wood and fiberglass to make it easier to wheel from the Sylvia’s healing nest to the rest of the house. Tomorrow we will begin building the ramp from the house to the front yard. No longer will a 6” step at the front door limit the adventures of freewheeling Sylvia. Besides, neighbors with roll-in showers are making offers that we’d like her to take advantage of! 😉

It was a grand day all around. Axel was helped back into bed. Sylvia was chauffeured back home and settled into the recliner with her leg-cast on a pillow, an O’Doules beer in her hand, and a new book in her lap. And wave after wave of your well wishes are lapping at the shore around Lobster Cove.

“Access means getting to a place where everybody else gets to, so you don’t have to make special calls to warn them of your arrival.” – Itzhak Perlman

“I first tried in a safe place: the Israel Philharmonic. I figured that if I was going to fall flat on my face, it was better to do it with friends. That got good results, and one thing led to another, and here we are.” – Itzhak Perlman