Amazing Madelyn Grace: On a roll.

Hi! Happy Thursday and Happy Groundhog Day! I’m devastated that Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, but we shall persist! Here’s what’s been going on over the last few days:

Madelyn has been doing well with rehab! It consists of a lot of corn hole, checkers, obstacle courses and stationary bike riding. They have a couple of rehab gyms that she’s been to for various activities. OT concentrated on her hands today and she’s been getting better at using them for simple tasks. Speech therapy had her do an iPad program to test her cognitive skills. She likes to take walks and wheelchair rides around the halls of the third floor; she hasn’t been outside since she was in the burn ICU but that’s probably best since it’s been so cold.

She’s had some issues with nausea the last couple of days; the doctor believes it’s from the augmentin she’s been given so they’ve switched her to an IV antibiotic to see if it will help.

They’ve given Mad an anticipated discharge date of February 11th! She’s been very anxious that her nausea will set back her release date, but the Skyline rehab program director said that’s something they can treat elsewhere and that their goal is to settle the issue and keep her food down. They’ve told us that once she’s released, she’ll have to have rehab about three days a week.

She kind of just sits there and ponders most of the day, which works her up and makes her emotional. I hope that as she continues to do her rehab and get stronger she will have more confidence in herself and how far she’s come. She has been working so hard and I can’t even imagine how difficult her situation is, but with her resilience and determination there’s nothing that can stop her from making a full recovery. I also think being back in Centerville will help tremendously and finally able to escape the constricting four walls of a hospital.

Overall, physically she is doing well! Emotionally, she’s confused and tired and just wants things to be better. Grief is strong like waves and your emotions are so strong one day and you’re numb the next. I pray she gives herself the grace to be sad and mourn what she’s lost, but I also hope she understands that there are still moments to be enjoyed given her circumstances. I only wish she could see half of the love and generosity people have given to her and to us.

Thanks for all of the things all of the time. Birthday countdown is down to TWO DAYS! I’ll be sure and start curating a LillyOwens.com Madelyn-24th-birthday-extravaganza-special. Stay tuned! Love y’all!

Psalm 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.