Wednesday, October 13, 2010

1cm Away From Normal!!!!

We traveled to Portland today for two doctor appointments. One was today, this afternoon, with one of my OT's (occupational therapists) from the burn center to do some measurements on my neck mobility. And it was GREAT news! My neck extension was 16cm (a normal neck extension is 17 cm)!!!!! And the degrees to which I could rotate my neck left and right was: to the left, 75 degrees and to the right, 80 degrees!! My last measurements, which were BEFORE this last neck surgery were: neck extension - 14 cm, rotation to the left and right both - 60 degrees. Yay!!! I'm 1cm away from having a normal neck extension!

My OT, Helen, and I took a look at where I was in July of '09 when we started tracking all these measurements I was as follows: neck extension 5 cm!!!!!, rotation to the left and right both - 30 degrees! Can you believe that?! My chin was completely captured. It was basically tucked to my chest. I want to show you pictures of it so bad but I'm sooo scared. It's pretty shocking. I'll show you some day when i'm feeling really brave. I'm actually feeling pretty confident right now and probably would put it on this post but I'm on my mom's computer and she doesn't have the photos. Maybe I'll come back later and add them :)

Anyway, it was a good news day. Tomorrow, however, will not be so good. Tomorrow will be a day full of immense pain. I have to get my last expansion done before surgery and these expansions hurt. I'm also gonna ask Dr. V. a couple questions about his future plans for me - like some dermal abrasion for the scars on my face. Sand those puppies down! Get rid of them! We'll see what he has to say....until my next post!

5 comments:

Laura Mo said...

This is amazing! It must feel so good to be able to look up and turn so far. Congratulations!!!

Amanda Moring said...

Praying for you, Sarahbeth. You are the bravest person I have ever "met". I can't wait to see what God has in store for you. :)

Unknown said...

Good days follow bad days! God knew you needed a good day. :-)

rikkijo said...

YAY SARAH!!!! Such exciting news! I will be thinking of you.

Amanda said...

Woo! Your neck looks AMAZING, too! I remember the first time you told me the 5cm and 30 degrees. I measured it, and tried to imagine living stuck like that, and it made me weep.

How wonderful, wonderful, wonderful that you can move so well now!