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Steve

Lots to update today. I did get to Marilee and brought her all kinds of goodies on her wish list including the cell phone charger, reading glasses, books, Sqwiunchers and clothes!

Note: the Google link to the hospital in the earlier announcement post above pointed to the wrong hospital and has been corrected. Marilee is at:

Inova Mt Vernon Hospital
2501 Parkers Ln
Alexandria, VA 22306
703-664-7000

I parked in the free Blue Lot, free valet parking, took the visitors elevator up to the 5th floor to wing 5A. She is in Room 513 Bed 1, but she might be moved to another room as her roommate screams in her sleep. Cards can be mailed to Marilee Layman c/o the hospital, but hold off on food for a few more days as she is making fast progress and if she has no setbacks could be out next week.

Here’s a link to the hospital patient and visitor information:http://www.inova.org/patient-and-...a-mount-vernon-hospital/index.jsp

If you do follow the link there’s a virtual tour of the hospital facilities. Click on the Easy Street thumbnail. It’s an interesting physical Therapy set up to reacquaint patients with real world situations they will soon encounter. As soon as Marilee goes through that I think she’ll be released.

She is talking well, only a few stumbles for words, but nothing like last week. In fact you can see for yourself in a short video clip from today’s visit here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13012571@N07/sets/72157615662728814/

There is WiFi internet access in her room but the nearest computers are downstairs in a recreation area. Maybe she’ll be able to get to one this weekend. Check her LJ on Saturday just in case! I was online and able to show her the get well wishes that hadn’t been printed out yet.

While I was there her physical therapist showed up and was impressed at the range of motion and abilities Marilee was able to perform. She thought Marilee wouldn’t be there long either. But nobody will qualify how short “not long” is.

The therapist wanted to get Marilee dressed in regular clothes(!) to get her going into a regular life again. It was time for me to leave Embarassed

Things are looking up for Marilee.

_________________
Steve Johnsen
Book Group Friend

ckd · Guest

Steve: thanks again for the updates and for being the "man on the spot" for all of us who can't be there in person but are definitely there in spirit.

Steve · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: Friday Afternoon Update

Marilee called me via her cellphone a little while ago. She's been moved to Room 511 after another sleepless night due to her neighbor's sleepscreaming. (edit note: she originally had been moved to 515 but her roomie had an infection and now she has a room to herself).

She has gotten dressed, gone downstairs to the lobby lounge area. She was able to do some surfing on a computer but was unable to remember her LJ password. But she did check out Making Light and a few other sites.

She was also able to make some calls related to her bills so arrangements could be made for late payments without penalties.

Earlier today she had various therapies, including the Easy Street area where she got to practice buying fake vegetables and other arcane skills.

She's already been scolded a couple of times for doing things on her own without supervision, so you know she's doing much better. On Monday she'll be assessed again and she's been told she might be released as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday to go home.

She'll have therapy again on Saturday and then Sunday is a day off where she can read, maybe do some surfing or even go outside if somebody visits and signs for her.
_________________
Steve Johnsen
Book Group Friend

Maia · Guest

Thank you, thank you!! For those of us not nearby, your updates have been invaluable. It's wonderful to hear the impressive recovery Marilee is making, and to see it via your video, especially having read how difficult speech was for her right after the stroke. Thanks, again.

Maia

Janet K · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Washington DC

Thanks, Steve, for the updates (which I've been following when I could snatch some time on my friends' computers during my visit to New York City). Such wonderful progress!

I'm home now. I will try to visit Marilee Sunday.
_________________
jmk at his.com

heleninwales · Guest

Thanks for the update, Steve. It's much appreciated. I was so pleased to see Marilee looking so much better in the movie too.

Helen

Beki · Guest

Guest · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the video, Steve. Please pass on my best wishes to Marilee.

Jacey Bedford (rasfc)