{Karlton Bontrager}

Tuesday, September 10th started out on a slow note. The cranial-sacral treatment must have really relaxed Karlton, for he was able to sleep till about 9:00 am. After his shower routine and breakfast, he was ready for the physios.

He walked to the gym and got on a stationary bike. This time he was able to maintain the 65rpm better and rode 3km in about 9 minutes. Karlton said he could continue but the physios said they did not want him to be worn out. They had other things for him to do. He stood in front of a mirror and had to correct his posture and make sure he was standing straight with his weight distributed equally on both legs. Karlton tends to put all his weight on his right leg and lately has been complaining of pain in his right foot.

The next exercise was climbing up and down some steps. Then he went up the steps and he had go down a small slope. It was a little difficult to stay balanced so he started with hesitation but was able to get down. Once he was down, he had to turn around and come up the incline and then down the steps. All in all he did a great job in deciding which foot to use.

Later in the day, the doctor in charge of ISIS Center stopped in his room. Karlton had wanted to make a quick trip to Queenstown for the weekend but the doctor thinks he should wait a few weeks yet. He thought a four hour drive one way would be too exhausting for Karlton at the moment.

Helen popped in a wee bit later and this time Karlton asked her to massage his back. Helen started working on him and by golly! he went out like a little kitten. She asked me to massage his foot and toes while she worked on his hand and fingers. Both of us felt the energy flowing … and Karlton was out like a babe.

A nurse woke him up after an hour and a half because she was afraid he would not be able to sleep later. He ate his dinner and shortly after announced he wanted to get ready to go to sleep. He asked me to raise the top of the bed to an almost vertical position and get the nurse for his meds. After he had his medication, I asked him if he was ready for me to put him down – meaning the bed. Karlton said: “Please don’t put me down. I might look like poor Sounder, but I’m not a dog and I’m not ready to go down yet.” The nurse burst out laughing and said, “Where does he come up with all this?!”