The power of positive distractions

Today was a day about building on gains. The medical establishment isn’t happy with a spark here and peek there of the person before surgery. It wants you on solidly on the road back to your regular self with your regular routine.

So today was about eating and drinking more. There really wasn’t much else on the agenda, except a few visits from relatives.

Morning: 1/2 a pancake, 1/4 cup of milk

Snack: 2 Timbits, 1/8 cup of milk

Lunch: full serving of shepherds’ pie, couple of sips of milk

Deane, sister and I sitting on the edge of the bed – one of the things Deane misses since the surgery

Out of town uncle and cousin arrived, followed shortly by Dad and sister. Chit chat. Merry Christmas wishes. Hanging out as a family in Deane’s increasingly full room.

As we were preparing for the second wheelchair ride of the day, one of Deane’s classmate’s appeared in the doorway. What was a dull day full of much the same old stuff with fewer people suddenly became a great day.

There was news about school, who missed Deane, what he had missed at school and, of course, another trip to Tim Hortons to hang out.

Deane and classmate on their way to Tim Hortons.

It’s amazing how an unexpected visit can make the world of difference when your stuck in a hospital bed.

During the visit, Deane was in the wheelchair for at least twice as long as he had tolerated it up until then – amazing what a positive distraction can do. But once they  left, Deane headed back to bed for a nap.

Dinner: a few bites of shepherds’ pie – and another Timbit.