Dara Update: July 17, 2020

I have a bit of surprising news about Dara's situation. I caution about reading much into it, but it is a bit of good news. Dara will be leaving the facility she has been in since September during the first week of August. She is looking at August 3rd or 4th as a date to move back home to the apartment with her boyfriend.

While I take this news with caution, I support the move. Dara says she is emotionally more than ready to leave the facility though she is not sure she is physically ready. She knows the first few weeks will be a challenge, but she thinks she might get stronger while being at home because she will have to make so many adjustments. She will undoubtedly have to stretch and get up more often.

Her boyfriend wants her home because he loves her and he cannot visit her because of COVID. The nursing facility did not do much to help her throughout the day. She had to stay in bed almost all day long and did not receive adequate care. Since COVID struck, they seldom had activities and visitors were not allowed. Dara kept asking, "Why am I here when I could be at home doing just a few more activities on my own?" One positive thing about the nursing facility is that they kept her COVID-free.

With the L.A. virus cases spiking, few professionals are allowed to enter into people's home. Therefore, any homecare, physical therapy, and visiting nurses may be delayed. As Dara's left arm strength is improving, she can use some of her strength to lift her body up to the walker and wheelchair. She is looking forward to sleeping in her own bed where she may be able to sleep on her side or on her stomach every once in a while. She has only slept supine, not her natural position, for a whole year, which may have exacerbated her headaches.

Anyways, this is all positive news. Until she works out a rhythm, she knows life will be tough for a while, but she hopes to get stronger by forcing herself to do more in her natural setting. If it doesn't work out or is just too premature, she knows she can always return to a nursing facility, though she has no intent on returning to Baycrest.

I'm grateful for her boyfriend who is willing to do this. We pray, that in the long run, she will be okay and will continue to improve.