End of Phase 3

Mary Ann had a graduation of sorts on Wednesday, and here is her good-bye photo!

Mary Ann and Christa saying good-bye.

Due to a scheduling mixup, Monday didn't turn out to be Mary Ann's final day of physical therapy, but Wednesday was.  In that session, Mary Ann took several walks without her cane, as Christa followed and watched carefully.  Then she gave her professional assessment of how Mary Ann did and recommended a few exercises for her to do at home.  She also gave her a length of rubber-like material to assist in one of them.  Then it was time for words of thanks and goodbye, and, of course, the photo which you see above! 

Thank you, Christa!  We both feel that you are highly skilled and did an excellent job in helping Mary Ann.  We were fortunate to have you as Mary Ann's primary physical therapist.

This brings to a close what I think of as Phase 3:  out-patient physical therapy.  It began on July 6 and ended on August 17.

Phase 1 was Mary Ann's hip replacement surgery and time in Winter Park Hospital, June 20-24. 

Phase 2 was in-patient care and rehab at Life Care of Altamonte Springs, June 24-July 6. 

Now we enter Phase 4, which will be a time of building up stamina and endurance, a time of applying the principles learned and mastered at Life Care to new situations: longer walks, inclines, stairways, all the challenges we encounter in every day life.  I think it's fair to say that we enter this new phase with feelings of accomplishment, optimism, and faith in continued progress.

We are also filled with appreciation and gratitude for all the people who have helped us in any way, and we thank you all.  This includes not only every single person in the hospital and at Life Care who in any way cared for Mary Ann, but also for all of our family members and friends who supported us with good wishes, kind words, kind works, prayers, and just plain love.

There may be more blog entries as we go forward.

  

A good week...

...in which Mary Ann walked and walked.  Here she is on Friday near the end of her physical therapy session:

 She walked up and down those steps several times with no difficulty.

The focus of this past week was walking with the cane and then weaning herself from it to walk without assistance.  The walker has fallen into disuse. 

Mary Ann made several trips outside again with Christa, worked on walking indoors while looking up and down and from side to side, and did some two-step routines led by Christa that required quick foot movements.  She did the exercise with the steps that you see above, going and down multiple steps.  She practiced at home with and without the cane.

Interspersed with all of this were various exercises, like getting up from a chair by leaning forward and using leg muscles--without using the arms of the chair.  It was challenging because always using the arms to get up is one of the hip precautions that Mary Ann needed to observe for the first five weeks after her surgery, and also because it requires good balance and strong leg muscles .

She has come a long way through this physical therapy and I am proud of her.  We have another session this morning that may be her final one.



Walking on the Grass & Improving on 20-30

Mary Ann's physical therapy on Friday
Christa started by watching Mary Ann walk with a cane.  During two long walks that Mary Ann took without tiring, she observed that--except for one or two times--Mary Ann's hip was in the correct position.  Then she took Mary Ann outside so she could feel what it's like to walk on the grass, the concrete, and the wood chips that are immediately outside the back door.  I think Mary Ann surprised herself by how well she did. 


Then back inside, Christa instructed her in how to coordinate the movement of her right arm--the one without the cane--with her steps.  She pointed out that Mary Ann had been using a walker not only since her surgery almost seven weeks ago, but for many months before that.  And since she had both hands on the walker, she did not swing her arms.


This sounds simple but does need to be re-learned.  Since her left arm (with the cane) comes forward when she steps with her right leg (the hip replacement leg), her right arm swings forward when she advances her left leg.  Mary Ann did well at this but not perfect.  She needs more practice, but she has come far this past week. Last Friday she took her first steps with a cane, and three sessions later, she walked well with her cane on grass.  


As with all sessions, Christa guided Mary Ann through additional exercises designed to strenghten critical muscles.  I liken one of the newer ones to what a figure skater does when going down on one leg for a sit-spin.


While sitting in an arm chair with her left leg extended forward, she lifts herself up with her hands and puts all her weight on her right (hip replacement) leg.  The goal is to rise from the chair until the "bad" leg is vertical, hold for several seconds, then sit back down.  Mary Ann did well.  


The progress she has been making seems remarkable to me.  Her resolve is amazing, and it will pay off.


Meanwhile, back at my regular Ophthalmologist
In the week since  I saw Dr. Cooperman, my eyesight improved a bit.  At Dr. Cartwright's, my right eye checked out at 20-25, the best it's been since the surgery on June 29.  My left eye is 20-20. 


I had a long conversation with the doctor and saw for myself the level of concern he had.  I learned that he spoke with Dr. Cooperman after each of my visits with him, also that he could not get over the fact that nothing grew out of the culture they took, therefore, the type of  infection could not be identified. 


Because my cataract surgery in that eye was seven weeks before the infection showed up, he suspected a slow developing cause.  But since he had seen a clear vitreous in my eye two days before his partner saw a virteous full of infection several hours before the surgery, it had to be a quickly developing infection.  He was also very impressed that my family doctor took so much interest in my eye, even calling and speaking to Dr. Cartwright about what she saw. 


So we will never know what caused it, but the infection in my right eye is gone, and my vision is back.  What do I make out of all this?  I will continue pondering as I thank God, the doctors, and the surgical team! 

Cane Walking again

Here's Mary Ann yesterday, when she walked much more smoothly with the cane.  This brought about the big smile you see below, on her face as well as her physical therpaist Christa's face!!  Christa gave Mary Ann permission to practice with a cane at home now, if she wants to.  I'm off to buy a cane today!!

Mary Ann and Christa

Enter: The Cane

Last Friday at physical therapy, Christa picked up a cane, adjusted it to the right height, and gave it to Mary Ann to try.  There's a correct way to use a cane, which Christa showed her.  You hold the cane in the hand opposite the hip bring rehabbed.  In Mary Ann's case, her right hip was replaced, so she held the cane in her left hand.  You advance the cane when you advance the foot of the leg being rehabbed.  So for Mary Ann, right leg and left arm (with cane in hand) come forward at the same time. 

It seems odd at first, but not after some thought.  The cane shares the load with the affected foot.  In normal walking, there's an instant when we put full body weight on the foot being advanced.  By advancing the cane and leaning on it, the affected foot is only being asked to support half of the body weight. 

There is a rhythm required, and one learns it by counting seconds for each step and walking slowly.  Oh yes, and by practicing!  Mary Ann took a brief walk out of the gym and into the hallway, going a little distance in the hallway, and then returning to the gym.  This was shortly before the session ended, and Christa asked Mary Ann to be thinking about the internal counting and the step rhythm over the weekend.

Yesterday after 30 minutes of a pretty rigorous set of exercises, some with weights on her ankles, Mary Ann was once again given the cane.  This time the practice walks went longer, and the patient improved.  At several points along the walk, Christa lagged behind Mary Ann by maybe six feet or so in order to observe her hip aligment.  This made me very nervous, because Mary Ann was actually walking without any support except that cane. 

After observing many P.T. sessions, I have come to realize that re-learning how to walk properly is much more involved that I first thought.  Balance, muscle development, hip alignment, correct posture, coordination, and more need to be relearned and practiced.  Fortunately, Mary Ann is a motivated patient and Christa is a very good physical therapist.  They make a good team.

Ned's Final Visit with Dr. Cooperman

My final appointment with Dr. Cooperman, the specialist who operated on my right eye, was on Wednesday.  The vision in my right eye checked out at 20-30, and I was able to discern one letter on the 20-25 line.  This is nothing short of amazing to me, since four weeks earlier to the day, I could not see a thing out of my right eye, not even the large capital letter E on the eye chart.  Dr. Cooperman told me it is all right for me to resume swimming laps, to continue taking the drops he had prescribed for me, and that he was releasing me back to my regular opthamologist. 

This was good news, of course, but also sad in a way.  I will miss Dr. Cooperman, the man to whom I owe the sight of my right eye.  Over the course of my 12 appointments with him, I found him to be not only highly competent, but a man of concern for his patient.  He always greeted me cordially.  He started each appointment by shaking my hand.  He never rushed; he'd sit and listen to all my questions or concerns and give me answers I could understand. 

His examinations were always thorough, so I was confident about everything he said.  When he told me he was no longer looking at an infected eye, I believed him.  When he said my eye was free of infection and inflammation cells, I believed him.  And when he said he believed my eye will continue to improve, I believed him.

He has a dry sense of humor and a quick wit, yet was always 100% a professional.  Shortly after the surgery when he saw improvement, he said I was not out of the woods yet.  When he saw more improvement on the following visit, I jokingly asked him to put it in terms of where I was relative to the woods.  He said I was close to the sidewalk!  So this became sort of a running joke.     

I like the way his office is run.  As patient, I felt I was getting individual and personal attention rather then feeling as though I was on an assembly line.  I would recommend Dr. Cooperman to anyone, and I was disappointed to learn that he doesn't do general opthamology.  His business card says:  "Diseases & Surgery of the Retina, Vitreous, and Macula."  I hope I never need his services again, this was not fun.  But if I do, I will have 100% confidence that I will be getting the best medical attention possible.

Thank you, Dr. Cooperman.  I will never  forget you.

Hip Precautions Lifted!

Late Monday afternoon, at Mary Ann's first post-op appointment with Dr. McCutchen, her surgeon, he came into the examination room and asked if she'd had any pain since being discharged.  She hadn't, which was a positive sign, so he turned to the computer screen to his right, where the x-ray she'd had taken just a few minutes earlier was being displayed.  It took only a minute or so for him to declare that her new hip looked great!! 

She'd done such a good job observing the hip precautions that she did not need to do it any more.  She may cross her legs, lean forward beyond a 90 degree lap angle, even twist.  May she drive?  Yes.  May she swim?  Yes.  She now needs to continue rehab to eventually trade the walker for a cane, then put the cane away. 

Another appointment was scheduled for ten and a half months from now.  Mary Ann gave the doctor a hug, and we said goodbye for now to our wonderful and highly skilled surgeon, who's a very nice man, too.  He even smiled for the camera!!

Mary Ann and Dr. McCutchen

Physical Therapy
At our scheduled PT session earlier on Monday, once again, the therapist we expected was not available.  After about a ten minute wait, Cheryn came over and volunteered to work with Mary Ann.  Much of the focus was on muscles that help with hip alignment while walking.  Some of the exercises were difficult, but Mary Ann gave her all and did them to the best of her ability.  We won't be seeing Cheryn any more, because she is moving to South Florida, so she walked us out to the car.  There is something special about this young lady; she is super nice and very good at her profession.  I had to take a good-bye photo.  We like her a lot and will miss her.  Bye Cheryn!  Thanks for everything, and the best of luck to you!

     

Finally, a haircut
Anyone who gets a haircut every three weeks, as Mary Ann does, can probably relate to how she felt after going more than five weeks since her last one.  On Tuesday, she took care of that by going to see Nancy.  They were happy to see each other after her long absence, and Nancy did her usual good job.

It's amazing how great a good haircut can make you feel!!

Happy Lady!

PT on Friday and Mass on Saturday

Physical Therapy on Friday
We didn't know which physical therapist to expect on Friday.  Christa was away in Tennessee, and Cheryn was attending a class.  We were told that someone would be assigned, but shortly after we arrived, it appeared that wouldn't happen.  The staff was four people short, and we were asked if we could come back in the afternoon.  After we said we couldn't, a voice from behind spoke.  "I can help her," she said, "if she can wait a few minutes."

Her name is Catalina, a name I love.  I thought it was beautiful even before I realized it's the Spanish version of Katherine, Catherine, or Kathleen.  We'd noticed her before.  She's tall and stands erect, and on Friday she wore a white jacket and white slacks, clean and neatly pressed, that complimented her jet black hair.  

Under her able guidance, Mary Ann worked for 20 minutes on a recumbent cross-trainer, being careful not to violate her hip precautions.  Then came a series of leg exercises with a three pound weight bound to each ankle.  The most challenging exercise was the one in which she had to lift one leg and the opposite hand, then the do the same with the other leg and hand.  She did two sets of 20 reps each, and she did them well.  

Next came a long walk in the hallway, during which Catalina observed and coached Mary Ann about her hip positioning.  Then, after a rest and drink of water, they did it again.    Catalina complimented Mary Ann on how well she was doing and predicted that her hip precautions would soon be lifted.

There was time for conversation during our hour together.  We learned that Catalina would be traveling to her native country, Colombia, with her twin daughters the following day, and that we share the same wedding anniversary date, but not the same year!  The session ended with warm hugs and warm feelings, a nice way to end.  


Mass on Saturday
On Saturday, the 4:00 Mass at the Cathedral was very special, not only because it was the closing Mass for the 125th anniversary year, but also because of all our friends and co-workers there who knew about Mary Ann's hip replacement and my eye surgery.  It was humbling to see and hear so many expressing genuine concern, saying they'd been praying for us, and wanting to hear how we were doing.  

At Mass we gather as a community to worship God.  We listen to His Word, we receive Him in Holy Communion, and we also experience His presence in those around us.  On Saturday, I felt an especially stong sense of God's presence in the people, because of those whose actions showed how much they care.       
  

Catching up II

Mary Ann

It's now been four weeks and three days since Mary Ann's surgery, and we feel her recovery has been going well.  She's been pain-free since the post-op pain left a few days after surgery, and she now realizes how bad her hip must have been.  We are looking forward to next Monday when she has an appointment with the surgeon to see how her hip is coming along.  I imagine an x-ray will be taken, but am not sure.  It's challenging to try to remember and observe all the hip precautions, such as not twisting your torso, not leaning forward while sitting such that the angle between chest and knee becomes less than ninety degrees, not crossing your legs even at the ankles, and so forth.  I believe these will be relaxed or removed after healing is complete, which should be in four to six weeks.  We will find out on Monday.

On the days since the last post, Mary Ann has had two more physical therapy sessions; she's had blood tests done, and she saw our family doctor today.  She's getting around better at home and becoming more independent, although she still needs the walker.

Mary Ann's PT sessions  this week have been with Cheryn, the therapist who was helping her when she was a resident at the rehab place.  Cheryn is very good and we like her very much.  Here's a photo of her with Mary Ann that I took yesterday while Mary Ann was strengthening her legs on the recumbent cross trainer.

Notice the smiles!!

Last Saturday, I was able to drive for the first time since turning the keys over to the valet parking attendant at Florida Hospital prior to surgery on June 29.  It was a neat feeling to get behind the wheel again, but it was neater still because because Mary Ann was with me, and we were on our way to 4:00 Mass at the cathedral.  It was the first time she was able to attend Mass since her surgery.  Barbara, Lauren, and Ally came along with us, and Mary Ann was greeted warmly by many friends.  This was a happy and special event.

While were out, our good friend and neighbor Sheri Cuff brought a box of pastries to the house for us to enjoy.  This was a wonderful and welcome surprise.  We sampled them right after dinner, and they were yummy!!

On Sunday afternoon, Nancy Lewis, a long time friend from the cathedral came to visit.  She brought a CD by Jackie Evancho for us.  She's an 11 year-old girl who sings like an adult.  She has a beautiful voice.  Thanks Nancy!

Ned

"What a difference," Dr. Cooperman, the eye surgeon, said to me yesterday morning as he peered into my eye with his instrument.  My vision remained at 20-40, but he feels it will improve even more after the YAG laser he thinks I need because of the thickened "capsule" he's been telling me about.  The capsule is the hammock-like place that holds the lens.  Apparently, it it not uncommon after cataract surgery for this capsule to thicken and/or become cloudy.  A treatment with a YAG laser clears this up, said the doctor.

     

He said he wants to see me one more time and then he will release me to the care of my regular opthamologist.  I consider myself to be a very, very lucky man, to have had this fast-developing condition diagnosed so quickly and to be placed in the hands of such a skilled surgeon.  I will never be able to thank God enough for his kindness. 



I can see!

Yesterday at Dr. Cooperman the eye surgeon’s office, I was able to read all the letters on the 20–40 line and one letter on the 20–30 line with my right eye!  On Tuesday, my previous visit, my right eye was 20-80. 

He also said yesterday that although my cornea was still slightly swollen, the swelling was greatly reduced.  He then lowered the frequency of eye drops I need to 4X per day, and for the first time since the morning after surgery, none during the sleeping hours! 

On June 30, I needed drops every waking hour and every two hours during the night.  The doctor also felt it would be safe for me to drive but recommended a little off-road practice to make sure my depth perception is all right.

In this photo taken yesterday, the eye (my right) that just two weeks ago was almost completely closed and redder than any eye I’d ever seen, appears almost normal.  On June 29^th I was told I needed immediate surgery that had a 70% success rate or lose my eye.  Now, sixteen days and ten post-op doctor visits later, it appears my sight will be completely restored. 

As the surgeon, who has a subtle and dry wit expressed it, I was at the edge of the cliff but now am almost completely out of the woods.  My prayers now are mostly prayers of thanksgiving.  God is good.

There's more news...

Mary Ann and Christa, her physical therapist, in a triumphal moment yesterday.

After Mary Ann worked hard with Christa at various exercises, it was time to move to the couch-like surface they're sitting on (above).  Mary Ann told Christa that she wanted to try to walk there without the walker.  With Christa barely touching her hand, Mary Ann then took about four steps without support!  This was the highlight of the session for all of us, and a major milestone.  We are all very encouraged.

A taste of Philadelphia, a welcome and thoughtful gift sent by Nancy Moist of the Cathedral staff!!

We don't receive many packages from UPS, so it was a surprise when the brown truck pulled up to our house in the late afternoon.  The Philadelphia return address and the words "pretzelsdirect" on the box, gave us a clue.  Philadelphia soft pretzels were inside, but so also were Tastykakes, Herr's potato chips, and a bottle of Keller's mustard.  They are all made in Phildelphia, our home area, and are part of the lore of the city.  This is a very thoughtful gift sent by our friend and co-worker Nancy Moist, a Philadelphia native who still loves the area as much as we do. 

THANKS NANCY!!

Catching up

This is Ned writing now.  I think Ally did a great job in making blog posts, so I'm giving her a break.  We’ve been really busy, so I’ve been lax in keeping the blog up to date.  Here’s a summary of major events since then:

Last Friday, Mary Ann started physical therapy as an outpatient at the rehab facility where she had been receiving in-patient care for 13 days.  It was a slower start than we’d hoped for, because it was with a different physical therapist, and she had to do an evaluation.  This morning, Mary Ann had her third PT session, and we are all very pleased with her progress.  The sessions have been productive but tiring. 

Yesterday in a previously scheduled visit with our family doctor, Mary Ann’s swollen leg prompted the doctor to proscribe a Doppler ultrasonic scan.  This was out of concern for possible blood clots.  It was after 4:00 PM, so the best option was to go to the Emergency Room at a nearby hospital.  It took a long five hours, but we finally learned that the test did not find any clots.  This was good news, because if a clot or clots were found, she would have been admitted for treatment.

On Friday, we received a very nice Edible fruit arrangement sent by Fr. John and the Cathedral staff.  The fruit was delicious, especially the pineapple slices dipped in chocolate! The fruit and the thoughtfulness behind it really lifted our spirits; we enjoyed it for several days.

Family members continued to arrive and depart since last Wednesday.  Mary flew home on Wednesday after helping Jean cook some dinners that we’ll be able to defrost and eat without much work.  We’ve already eaten some, and it’s great!  Tonight, we’ll be eating chicken tetrazzini! 

Jean, Jacob, and Norah flew home very early Friday morning after almost two weeks with us.  Jean helped in every way possible while here.  Tom’s children arrived on Friday to spend the weekend with us, and we enjoyed seeing them again.  

There’s good news about Ned’s eye, but that will come next.

Photos from our family gathering on Thursday, Jean's last night here:

Ned (with eye patch) & Mary Ann with Lauren, Ally, and Ryan

Ned (without eye patch!) & Mary Ann with Jean, Jacob,and Norah

Lynda with Norah

Ned & Mary Ann with four of our five children

Barbara, Lynda, Jean, and Tom



Grandchildren Lauren, Norah, Ally, Jacob, and Ryan

Mary Ann: Home Again

       After sixteen days, Mary Ann is back in the comfort of her own home. She was so excited to walk inside and settle into her house once again. She was able to maneuver around very well. We are so anxious to see her continue with her daily life at home. Mary Ann will keep going to theapy until her next appointment with Dr. McCutchen at the end of July.

Mary Ann filling out the discharge forms at the rehab center

A welcome sign that greeted Mary Ann as she walked into her house

Mary Ann and Ally with the beautiful flowers from Mary

Welcome home Mary Ann!!

       We are very thankful for your prayers, and I know Mary Ann and Ned are also extremely grateful for your thoughts. Before Mary left Florida today, we were able to prepare a few different meals that they can easily cook and eat. This should make things easier for them as they recover. Keep praying for a speedy recovery; your prayers are greatly appreciated.





  

Great news!

       I am glad to announce that Mary Ann is leaving the rehab facility and coming home tomorrow. She will be moved tomorrow morning. Mary Ann will continue rehab at the Life Care Center as an out patient. She will receive physical therapy for another couple weeks until she is fully recovered. We are all very excited for Mary Ann to come home, and I know she can't wait to be back. She will have to remember all of the techniques she has learned in therapy, and with much time and supervision, Mary Ann will be back to her old self. Hooray!

       Ned had an eye doctor appointment today.  The doctor said that the infection was gone and Ned's cornea was looking good; the swelling had gone down. Ned still has to put eye drops in every three hours during the day and every four hours at night. Let's hope he will continue recovering quickly.

       Ned sent an email to some people at St. James, and he would like me to post this message for those of you who did not receive the email today:

Dear EMs and lectors,

I am dictating this to my daughter Mary; it’s the only way I could possibly send a decent e-mail to you. 

I saw the e-mails about prayers and about possibly donating meals.  I don’t know that I could adequately express my gratefulness to you all for these kind thoughts, but Mary Ann and I appreciate it very very much.

Our situation here is that we have a daughter who lives five minutes away from us who has been very very helpful to us during these past few weeks.  In addition, our two daughters who live out of town are now here visiting and spending time with us, and our son who must go out for work lives with us and has been a very good helper as well.

At this point, we have been doing fine in the meals department thanks to the generosity of these fine children of ours.  We are hoping that Mary Ann can come home from the rehab center within a few days, and after this morning’s visit with the eye doctor who did my surgery, there’s a good chance that the patch now covering my right eye will be removed within a few days. 

All of this is to say that I do believe we’ll be able to take care of meals for the foreseeable future.  However, if this changes – and it might, you never know – I will let everybody know. 

In the meantime, thanks to our granddaughter Ally, the blog I set up initially for Mary Ann’s surgery is being kept up and now includes news about Ned, too.  So I encourage you to check this site at any time for the latest news. 

Here is the url for the blog:    http://www.maksurg.blogspot.com/. 

Once again, on behalf of Mary Ann and myself I want to express our sincere appreciation for all your kind wishes and thoughts, but most of all your prayers.  Prayer has the power to move mountains, and we can feel the positive actions that are coming as a result of them. 

May God send his abundant blessings upon all of you and may you receive spiritual rewards for yourselves and your loved ones as a result of the prayer you offer for us. 

God bless you all,

Ned

Mary Ann Takes a Ride

       Today was yet another fantastic day for Mary Ann. Mary flew in from Kentucky yesterday evening, so Barb, Mary, Lauren, Ally, and Ryan visited Mary Ann around noon today. During that time, she had a short physical therapy session that we were able to watch.

       Mary Ann was able to keep her balance on the foam balance board while playing a game for a good fifteen minutes. At the same time, the physical therapist was challenging her by moving her around, testing her balance. Mary Ann only had to grab the walker once! We were so proud of the progress she has made during therapy. She is really coming along; we are so encouraged by her enthusiasm.

       Also today, Ned, Jean, Jacob, and Norah were able to take Mary Ann out of the rehab center for about an hour and a half. They went to Jeramiah's and had delicious gelatis. After that, they drove around Winter Park. It was great for Mary Ann to get out of the facility and get some fresh air. She had a great time with them and is looking forward to come home.

       Once they got back to the rehab center, Lynda and Bill came to visit. They stayed for a little while and then went to Bill's birthday dinner with Jean and her kids.

       Ned has been doing well also. He has another eye doctor appointment tomorrow, so I will keep you informed of his progress. Happy 4th of July!! :)

Another Great Day

          Today was a great day for both Mary Ann and Ned. Ned had an eye doctor appointment which went great. Not only was he able to make out the big E on the eye chart, but Ned was able to read the next four lines! He was overjoyed; this was a huge improvement. The doctor was very optimistic and feels that Ned should hopefully be back to his old self in a few weeks. Keep praying for a full recovery.

          Around 1:30, Mary Ann got a nice surprise; Ned came to visit her. It was so exciting, and Mary Ann was so happy. This was the first time they have seen each other since Ned's emergency eye surgery. They have both been worried about each other, and it was so nice to see them together, both doing well in recovery.

Mary Ann and Ned during the visit at the rehab center

Lauren lounging in the chair

           Also, Mary Ann was cleared to leave the rehab facility for a few hours at a time, however, she cannot leave the car. This is really exciting because Mary Ann has not been on the road for about 10 days. We are all so excited to take her out and spend some time with her. I know she is excited too; she has been looking forward to this all week. Tomorrow we will take her out and drive around town. This was another great day.