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Show Nursing home/? me to head her out the door so she could find another friend. Two hours later I heard the physical therapist asking for Sophie. "I!ye been in there ten times today trying to find her," he called to the head nurse. "She's never in her room. How can I help her, if I can't find her?" I chuckled at that conversation. Sophie's a rare one. She's bound to get better with an attitude like that, I thought, grateful that all nursing home residents aren't doomed to dying there. When he did lasso Sophie some time later, I listened to their conversation in the hall. Brad, the physical therapist, was helping her walk, protecting her broken elbow, "You've got to look up, Sophie. You have to try and see where you're going." Her bent body, struggling to stand erect, creaked. It took a lot of effort, but she cooperated with Brad. He loved working with her. Rest homes aren't always defeating. Near supper hour Sophie rode back into mother's room, this time carrying a cottage cheese carton. "Would you help me?" she asked as she handed me the carton. "Surely. What do you need?" I responded. "My teeth are in this box. I need them so I can go to supper. Will you rinse them? I can't get to the sink alone." I was complimented that Sophie's pride didn't stop her from asking for help. My next visit to the nursing home showed an improved Rachel. The food tube was still in her nose because she couldn't yet swallow. She was trying to talk. She was being readied for physical therapy, too. A nurse's aide came to take Rachel to "PT" in her wheelchair. |