Day 33, 6 p.m. medical update

Greetings from sunny New Hampshire.
This morning, Sage saw Maureen, the Physical Therapist, Barbara the Occupational Therapist, and Claudia, the Speech Therapist! Sage walked eight steps today on her own, using a walker in front of her to hold onto with both hands, AND she did this three times - forward and backward! It was awesome and wonderful to see!
Maureen started with 'warm-up' exercises in the chair, and then Sage was ready to go. She pulled herself up and held on to the walker, with Maureen nearby. Sage 'kicked the can' as it were for good measure, tapping the cabinet with each foot. Bravo!
Claudia and Barbara checked Sage's swallowing today, by having her drink/swallow different consistencies of liquids. The first type had the consistency of honey, the second was a bit more thick - like nectar or a smoothie - and the third was jello. While Sage tried each one out, Claudia would check Sage's with her stethoscope.
Sage then was ready for the fourth: applesauce. She did a wonderful job and was given the green light to start taking in foods such as applesauce, jello, pudding and custard. Claudia explained that the sense of taste is connected to our sense of smell, and due to the placement of the trach and air not going to her upper airway, Sage's sense of smell is not present (at present!).
Claudia explained to Sage that there are two parts to talking: articulation and the sound we make when air passes our vocal chords, which is our speaking and voice. Right now what Sage can practice is over-articulating, to strengthen the muscles around her mouth and face. Claudia also recommended that when reading a book or magazine that Sage mouth the words as though reading out loud.
Barbara talked with Sage about daily tasks she can do for herself that will help to strengthen her and move her along the road of healing: washing her face with a washcloth, putting on her glasses herself, taking her socks on and off, with one big goal being to brush her hair herself.
Barbara had Sage write her name, the date, the name of her dog (Sandy Belle), and also draw circles, all to strengthen her finger grip. She also gave Sage some silly putty with which to exercise her hands and fingers - squeezing it, pulling on it, taking it in and out of the container.
The plan is to continue to wean Sage off the ventilator. This is done by reducing the pressure support of the ventilator. The pressure support is what assists Sage with each breath she takes.
A clarification about the "downsizing of the mechanism of the trach": what this means is that the actual size of the tube that sits in the trachea and the trach collar that holds it in place is replaced with a smaller diameter trach tube. This is done as time goes on and Sage's breathing gets stronger. Right now, Sage has a number 8 'Shiley' (name of the company that makes the device). The 'shiley' is the small mechanism connected to the tubing that provides the support from the ventilator.
By reducing the size of the 'shiley' and having a smaller one, it helps to close the actual physical hole and make it tighter and smaller. This is all part of the plan and progress to become independent of the ventilator. The goal of a smaller 'shiley' is that it is one of the forward steps for Sage to eat different foods, talk, and get off the ventilator.
And an extra bonus: Sage got to eat some black raspberrry sherbet this afternoon. Tuesday is a good day!

the guys are ready for Physical Therapy! Sage's cheering squad!

exhausted! and ecstatic....