My parents’ 62nd anniversary fell on a Saturday, which meant we could have a celebration dinner during the day on the actual day. Like every other celebration since mid-April, we reserved the setting room down the hall from Dad’s rehab room, pushed the tables together and laid out the spread: fried chicken, pulled pork, hush puppies, cole slaw, baked beans, fried fish and a gallon of Arnold Palmer. My pescatarian sister and her husband had a mushroom and cheese pizza and my vegan niece had a tempeh sub.
With all that food, we STILL forgot to bring a dessert. Actually, I knew I’d eat dessert at the second event for the day at a barbecue. Besides, none of us needed to tempt diabetes.
The Happy Couple
Although Dad appreciated the effort to be together with family, especially his out-of-town daughter and her family, he was ready to return to his room soon after. More concerning, Dad either had no energy or no motivation to maneuver his wheelchair. Whether physiological or psychological, Dad regressed to being pushed in his wheelchair rather than ambulating without assistance.
At the end of the month, the plan is to bring Dad home, which is what he’s wanted for months. The biggest concern for the rest of us is that he’s still not walking nor appearing to be stronger. Some of us optimistically think that once home, Dad will be so happy that he’ll regain motivation to walk again.
I hope so. As much as we’re preparing for his return, the accommodations won’t be anything like rehab. I cringe to think where his spirits will be if he has to return to rehab after a brief stint at home.