Saturday

Benjamin and lovely fiancée Laura with Tashie

Vicki, one of Tashie's first and most beloved teachers at Montcrest, came out from Halifax last week to visit and help Tashie continue her healing. She takes off tomorrow, after having been an amazing addition to the household in very way, from overseeing Tashie's medications to reminding her to take deep breaths to moving the sprinklers around outside.
Bethany's family reunion has been happening at the Ashram this weekend, and Tashie has been receiving visitors throughout the day.

Tashie and Rebecca the Rescuer

Wednesday

Vicki, one of Tashie's first and dearest Montcrest teachers, arrived from Halifax yesterday for a week's stay at Camp Sherman. Clarke has been the faithful and smooth driving chauffeur for Wanda, Rachel, and now Vicki - fortunately, he loves to drive, and now knows that road by heart. Tashie is working hard on her therapy, although she tried (unsuccessfully) to talk Rachel into stopping at 3 laps rather than continuing to the prescribed 6.
Bobo is in attendance for one more day, and will be sorely missed before he even leaves the driveway. Rachel also is slated to return to Portland, handing the sceptre to Vicki this afternoon. Tashie is moving around quite independently now, manoeuvering her walker with little or no outside help. She'll seems to be returning rather quickly to her pre-fall state - what a trooper! I'll send photos when the family photographers get up there on Friday. In the meantime, we can always be comforted and exhilarated by images of the land that sustains us.

Home at Last!

I have become a remote observer from Victoria, so rely on telephone conversations and emails for blog material. Last Wednesday, Bruce and Bob gently escorted Tashie  out of the St. Charles rehab unit, and back home to Camp Sherman.The first many hours were busy with her team: therapists (occupational and physio), her case manager, etc. They were assessing Tashie's environment, scheduling therapies, and generally planning her care. He first night at home was a rough one, probably due to the peaks and valleys of settling into a new space and a new routine. The second night she slept almost like a baby, and the third night (last night) she slept really like a baby. She has lots of work to do in the realm of therapy: walking, exercises, regaining muscle, and loosening areas of tightness and tension. At Tashie's request, Clarke brought the felines to CS for a visit.  They have become so used to being piled into their crate and into the car for Tashie visits that they seem to regard the mechanisms of travel with amazing aplomb.

Home Stretch

Practice stairs in background

Rachel, Clarke and Eliza drove up with the felines, to find Tashie's room empty; we were directed down to the rehab gym, where she was practicing walking up and down steps with Brooke, her physiotherapist. We just watched for a while, and when she was finished, went back upstairs with her - we had to held her back from running to Vashti and Micah, who were waiting in her room. Brooke asked that we bring a pair of real shoes for her, so that they could practice outdoor walking before discharge, so while Tashie reveled in her reunion with the kitties, and visited with R & C, I drove to Camp Sherman and picked up her shoes, socks, and Lal's walker that Cynthia, Sara and Laura have passed on to Tashie. The walker is just like the one she has been using at the hospital, except that the nieces sewed various pockets which are cleverly draped over the bars, and are tailor made by Cynthia to hold such items as a book, glasses, newspaper, etc. So the home preparations are rolling, and she is eager to get back to her nest.

Tashie's HIP re-"pear"

George writes from Toronto: "Monitoring Tashie's recovery via the blog.  Here's a little message via pears, eggs, blueberries and strawberries."

Hip Pears...

Hip Eggs...

Hooray Blueberries & Strawberries!

Square House

Since we have this rapt audience, this might be the perfect forum to spread the word that the Square House has been readied for rental. Photos tell the story.

Welcome Mat is Out!

Tashie is doing so very well that she is restless for diversion. Although she is working hard for a good part of the day, with brief rests in between, her work day ends at around four o'clock, at which time she will be receiving. Call her during the day to arrange an approximate time, so that the riches of visitors can be spread out a bit. She is in room 440 at St. Charles Hospital, and her telephone number is 541-382-4321.
The plan is that Tashie will be coming home to Camp Sherman on Wednesday, with Bruce managing the homecoming. Bob will be spending a couple of days with her as well, and then Fred and Wanda arrive on Friday night.