Right Hand - Use It vs Move It

I gave some thought to marking the passage of one month (June 23rd to July 23rd) with some profound observation ... but I thought better of it. While there are some benefits to writing this blog that go beyond the mere posting of her current status, I don't think it would be appropriate focus on them. Naturally, I'm flattered if you find the writing agreeable and are enamored with our "love story", (as more than one reader has commented) but this isn't my soap box, it is about Bettie.

Today, Bettie was scheduled to have another scan of her abdomen area. It seems that when they did the scan last week, to determine the gall bladder status, they noticed what appears to be an aneurysm on a artery to one kidney. Today's scan was to focus on that and determine an appropriate course of action. It has been put off until tomorrow morning.

This evening, as I was helping her get ready for bed, I saw her do something new. She is starting to actually use her right hand, as opposed to merely moving it. While taking off her sweater, she put her right had over to the left sleeve to try to pull it off, as it was caught on an IV attach point in her left arm. She could not get the fingers to pinch together to grip it, but the intention was there. Another time, she used the right hand to push her shoes under the bed.

Until now, though she has been moving the right arm and hand to some extent, she has never actually tried to use it. Recovery of hand functionality is a huge step. Just think of the difference between having one usable hand and having two. More epic stuff.