Closer To Going Home - March 11-14, 2016

Lilit keeps working through her rehabilitation without any problems.  She is moving around quite well, getting stronger, eating better, and learning English.

Siranoush has returned to Yerevan for a well-deserved break and SOAR's Associate Director from Armenia, Hripsime, has arrived to take her place with Lilit.  Lilit is slated to go home in about three weeks when Siranoush will return to pick her up.  SOAR is working hard to coordinate continued PT for Lilit in Armenia as well as to purchase any equipment necessary for her therapy there.

If you would like to financially support SOAR in its efforts to help Lilit, please follow the Go Fund Me link on the right hand side of this blog.  Thank you.

Continuing Progress - March 9 & 10, 2016

Lilit is making remarkable progress and feeling upbeat, despite being quite tired from all of her hard work in therapy.  She is very aware now of how her body has changed through the surgery, learning more English daily, and gladly venturing to the facility's play room when her schedule allows.

While Lilit's legs are now of exactly the same length, it appears that her hips are not properly aligned which may require orthopedic intervention at a later date.  PT has fitted her with a boot for now that allows both feet to make contact more easily with the ground.

Lilit is expected to return to Armenia in about four weeks.

Good Night - March 8, 2016

Lilit is in excellent spirits and working diligently in her therapy sessions.

And here she is saying good-night to Uncle George:

Doing Great - March 5, 6, 7, 2016

Lilit is doing fantastic. She enjoys her therapy and complies with everything the therapists ask.  Today, she had so much fun painting with her feet.

For  those of you wondering, Lilit still has a tube in for medication since she refuses to take her meds by mouth.  She also receives a little additional nutrition via the tube during the night.

Over the weekend, Lilit's story was featured at the gala event of the SOAR Philadelphia Metro Chapter.  The video shown to the guests can be seen here:

http://soar-us.org/sponsor_highlights.html#february2016

Working Away - March 4 , 2016

Lilit is doing very well and enjoys all of her therapies.  Today she tried her best to walk using both legs.  She no longer complains of pain in her left leg when she has to bear weight on it.

Lilit asks about her friend Ella every single day and is proud to be learning some English, so that she can communicate more easily with her Ella when they see each other again later this month.  Lilit is motivated to get stronger and more mobile before the visit, so that playing with her friend will be even more fun.

Hopefully we will get some new pictures over the weekend.

Settling Into Rehab - March 2 & 3, 2016

Lilit feels much better these days and her mood is great.

The therapists at the rehab facility are checking with Dr. Caridi and his team to make sure that everyone is aligned on how to accomplish Lilit's physical goals.  Lilit wears a compression device on her left leg at night to prevent blood clots.

Moving On Up - March 1, 2016

Today Lilit moved from Mt. Sinai to the rehab facility in another part of Manhattan.  She had the day to rest and get settled in her new environment and will begin a regimen of three hours of therapy as well as mandatory schooling tomorrow.