It was simply one busy day.  Arla did well with physical therapy today.  It is very clear that she is able to follow commands and work toward improvement.  It is also becoming very clear that her number one supporter and encourager is Harold.  Harold eagerly participates in her therapy sessions and is becoming her motivator.  Today, Arla was able to sit unaided for a short while.  The therapist would give her directions to correct her balance as Arla would begin to lean to the right.  Arla also has an additional therapy companion, a tiger her grandson Jared won at the fair for her.  Today, the tiger became part of the therapy session.  Arla is also moving her right toes on command.

To prepare for Arla to be able to move from the hospital to a rehabilitation setting, she needed to have the nasal gastric tube removed.  To provide nutrition and hydration, the doctor did a PEG, Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy, to place a food tube directly though the abdominal wall and into the stomach.  The procedure went well.  By this evening, Arla was moved out of ICU into the Cardiac Telemetry unit…one more step toward being out the door and into rehab.

And the arrangement for a rehabilitation placement was what Mary Ann worked on today.  Visits and checklists and questions were handled.   We hope that soon Arla will be working hard at learning to regain so many of the functions she has lost.  All the while we must continue to look to the Lord, but we know he is in command of our lives.  And through all the events of the day, we know one thing for sure…God has a purpose for each of us.  And He is still working through and in Arla.  Though her purpose may change, God is still using her to show the love of Christ.