Can You Hear Me Now?

Well, once you’ve made “going home” your goal, they certainly don’t waste any time. I’m a “possible discharge” for Wednesday already, and the only reason they are waiting that long is because I won’t be around here tomorrow to talk to, the social worker is off Monday, and my mom is off Wednesday and will be able to get my power chair home in their trailer that day. I am going to try to talk with someone tomorrow morning before I leave for the day, to try to get more time. I really want to get set up with a lock box at the front door so Home Care (and anyone I want) can access a key to let themselves in. AND I have an amazing opportunity on Wednesday afternoon I still want to be here for.

That would be The Bioness Foot Drop System. I saw a short piece on the news about it the other night (and I never watch the news, or barely any TV here at all, so that was fate) and I thought, woah, that is perfect for me! So I went to their website, didn’t see a location in Calgary, so I emailed them and asked. I heard back from a guy in Montreal who said “oh, perfect timing, we are coming into Calgary NEXT WEEK, can we make an appointment to see you on Wednesday?” D’oh! I tell you, it’s fate. I told him about my current situation, and he wants to come to see me here on Wednesday afternoon with the physiotherapist. I didn’t get that email until 7:00 tonight though, so I haven’t been able to ask anyone if I can stay an extra day for this appointment. I think the physio here would really benefit from the visit too, so I hope they go for it.

Now, these units cost several thousand dollars, but I know from researching it that the government is buying 500 units (from a different manufacturer, though) and funding a Pilot Project for those who qualify. So if Bioness is trying to get in on a piece of that action and I qualify, then I should be able to get funded for it. If Bioness just wants me to buy it, I will say no thanks and go to one of the suppliers that the government is funding for the project (I got all that information today, too, from the place that made my AFO). I just need to qualify, which I will know on Wednesday, and agree to many follow up appointments over the next year. I can do that! If it means I will be walking again, a LOT more!! I will have to walk my very best on Wednesday, to prove to them I am a good candidate. You need to be able to walk at least 10 meters (33 feet). Hopefully that is while wearing an AFO.

Anyway, there are a few things I want to get arranged before I go home. Their only concern is that home care is in place, but really, they let another woman with MS stay here until her house was finished being renovated and more suitable for her, so they sure as hell better not kick me out until I have everything I want in place. Except a new apartment, I know I can’t live here while looking for that. Although… house renos/accessible apartment? Isn’t the waiting time similar? I think they played favourites with her. Hmmm…

I just received an email that made me cry. Ange, if you’re reading this, you made me cry! Love to you, and I will respond ASAP.

I tried to have a conversation/screaming match with my roommate tonight. It went kind of okay. I feel bad for her because she is so alone and sooooo bored. Her son comes once every few days, but she doesn’t have the ability to make friends (hard enough with this crowd, anyway!) or a computer or her own TV that she can turn up as loud as she wants. The past few days she has been putting herself to bed at 1:00, thinking (and probably hoping) that it was bed time, until the staff caught her (they don’t respond to those alarms very fast).

Rick was doing better today. I hear his wife is coming to stay here for her recovery as well, so I’m sure that cheered him up. Tom, on the other hand, has been replaced at our table by Garth. I panicked, “what happened to Tom?!” and was told he is too sick and will not be returning to the dining room for meals. Goddammit. Nothing against Garth, who is funny and talkative and interesting and only in his mid-50’s, but Goddammit. Nick reads my Facebook so he knows I’m going home next week, and was all “not fair! I’m going to die in this place!” Geez, I hope not.

Pita, hanging out.

This was one of my Meals on Wheels dinners. Ick. Even Pita just picked at it!