Making the best of a challenging situation, we revived our usual Sunday dinner at the rehab facility where Dad continued to convalesce. Mom made mac and cheese, greens, and deviled eggs. My sister picked up fried chicken and bought plates, utensils, cups and lemonade. For my part, I made naturally-dyed red velvet cupcakes, using a recipe I’d made once before, using a large beet as a natural source of the red dye.
Dad’s Only Smile while Eating His Cupcake
Dad had longed to break free of rehab and return home for weeks. We told him the same thing: he cannot return home until he can walk.
Too Busy Chewing to Smile
Although he’d made progress, we celebrated at rehab where the architecture accommodated the wheelchair with caregivers who helped transition him between the wheelchair and bed. Mom has said for years that she wanted a “ranch-style” house with everything all on one level.
Now there may be a solution. Mom has looked into military housing that will accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility supports. That would get Dad out of the rehab sooner because he’d have to walk as he was doing before to return to their actual home. I’d like to think of that military housing as a halfway house for Dad. At the same time, Dad may not like going to strange place that still isn’t home.
Then again, home may be where Mom is.