Almost the end of week 2

A lot has been happening in the life of this OTS. However, the trade off to these 3 day weekends (working four 10 hour days) is exhausting. So, by the time I get home the last thing I feel like doing is typing a blog.

I'm seeing a lot of interesting things though. Remember my patient from Rehab who had transverse myelitis? Well, I saw a 16 year old with the same thing. She is doing well, but is in a wheelchair. It happened about 2 years ago I guess- and I couldn't get a definite answer about how her onset presented, but needless to say its just as shocking and devastating as my last patient who developed the symptoms overnight.

I also saw two boys with SCI, both at the cervical level, both 18. One has a complete lesion, one has an incomplete lesion. ...two little letters that make a big difference. The one with the complete lesion is in a power  chair, and unable to wiggle his toes, has no active finger/wrist movement, but is in great spirits. The one with the INcomplete lesion I literally saw WALK without an assistive device- with only hand held assist and an AFO. I couldn't believe it. It was amazing.

Next week I start treatments on kiddo's. I have 5 kids that I'm treatment planning for, and one of them I'm going to be doing completely independently because my CI has a meeting. I can't believe that.

Anyway, I have to leave for work. Two more days of work, then I get to go home. :)

Placement 2, Week 1, Day 2

So, Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Today is Day two, even though most weeks I'll have Monday's off. It has definitely been a transition from working with adults in inpatient, to working with children in outpatient. It's not the things I thought it would be that have me semi-disappointed. In patient adult- you think slow and boring... in fact it was anything but. Outpatient ped's you think wild and crazy busy- again, anything but. I saw a total of 4 patients today- in a 10 hour day! Once I start doing treatments and documenting I'm sure I'll be grateful for the breaks and chance to catch up- but right now, those 6 hours of "nothingness" are almost painful.

Don't get me wrong, the facility is AMAZING, the therapists are GREAT, and the kids are adorable- I think the issue is that I don't like outpatient- even the day I observed adult OP I was NOT a fan. Once I'm more  comfortable with the therapists, and this setting, and doing treatments I'm sure I'll enjoy it much more. Its just a transition- and one that I went through with IP too.

My CI's are great and SUPER helpful; willing to do anything to make this a great experience for me. I got to use some assistive technology for the computer today which was fun, and I saw a pt get a new wheelchair- it had been 8 years since he has had a new one. It was neat to see the adjustments and changes with that.

That's all I have for now... time to make dinner. Hope everyone is well!