April 27, 2013 - Day 21

April 27, 2013 - Day 21

Bella was much better today. She ate relatively well, though the doctors are still very worried that she is not eating and drinking enough. They keep threatening to put her on IV fluids, and that is a good enough threat to force her to eat. 
She had sessions with both OT and PT. It's disheartening to watch her and hear about her sessions because she has relapsed so far. Bella had ordered some Legos while she was in rehab and wanted to work on them with OT. However, the pieces are too smal for her fingers to work with right now. Her hands shake terribly. We encourage her to hold her own cup and try to feed herself but she honestly has little control - especially with a spoon or fork. Her PT session was spent doing leg slides (try to bend one leg and slide the heel down the shin of the other leg) and sitting upright. She is not able to balance herself for more than a few seconds in a seated position. Less than a week ago, she was standing with very little assistance for a minute!
Faith, Brody and I went up to spend a few hours with Bella this afternoon. She was so much happier than yesterday and she seemed okay with the next round of plex.
Brian stayed at the hospital all day and is staying tonight again (then I will stay tomorrow night). He'll handle the next few plex treatments. It is hard for me not to be there but probably better that I'm not on those days. I'll be with Bella on the non-plex days this week.
The neuro docs have scheduled an EMG (Electromyography) for Monday. This will help determine whether it is just the nerve coverings that have been damaged or if the nerves themselves are also damaged. I have a lot of questions about this procedure and what the findings mean that I will get answered before Monday.
I am still so shaken from yesterday and I'm scared. Please pray extra for Bella tomorrow - she'll be going through her next plex while many will be in church.