Palomar Hospital

After being released from Tri City Hospital's ICU, Suzy was moved to the Neuro ward at Palomar Hospital. Her room was in a wing specifically for stoke patients.

In order to be accepted into a rehabilitation facility she first needed to be in a rehab situation where the doctors could assess her to see if she was a good candidate for acute rehab. (The first time I heard  "acute rehab" I thought it meant the patient was really bad off, but instead it means the rehab is very intense.~Michelle)

While at Palomar, physical therapy consisted of Suzy trying to lift her right leg or her right hip, bending her knees and moving them from side to side, and some resistance excercises for the right leg. She also had to sit in a wheelchair and walk herself around the hallways using her left foot.

Speech therapy required looking at pictures on a page and naming the item in the picture, completing a sentence such as, "her hair is long, his hair is ____.", and finishing the grouping, "banana, apple, ____, ____." It is hard work and sometimes the words get stuck in Suzy's head, but even from yesterday to today the words are coming quicker and the speech is improving.

Occupational therapy is relearning how to dress, brush teeth and hair, tie shoes, etc...

The nurses and therapists at Palomar were all very friendly and took really good care of Suzy, but we had a few favorites:

~ Barbara, is the RN that is the Director of the Stroke Division. She has a wealth of knowledge and was very helpful in educating us about what to expect in the future. She gave Suzy a tee shirt that has a picture of a brain and says, "Different Strokes for Different Folks."

~ Mai was the CNA assigned to Suzy. She cared for Suzy with just the right mix of caring, love and bossiness...She also gave Suzy her cute braids.

Barbara, Suzy, Mai...Just before transport to Sharp, September 10, 2010.