Hospital - Day Thirteen

Lucky thirteen!

The new day began as the last one had ended. Not in our wildest hopes had we suspected that he was about to give us a surprise!

When the physiotherapists arrived, assisted mainly by Sunil, he tentatively began to stand up. All the signs pointed to the repetition of the old script - a tense, reluctance-filled and anxiety-laden effort that invariably ended in heartbreaking failure. Not this time! He began to stand (with a little help) and then move one foot after another, slowly (and somewhat imperfectly).....and then, for the next 15 minutes (and nearly 40 metres) he did not stop! We applauded him from his bedroom through the door to the corridor outside and then back. In the corridor, a number of people stood and admired while we clicked pictures and made a video (you can see these below). As Mummy later put it, "Sara mohalla bahar aa gaya" ("the entire street came out").

Having achieved this first, he ate a hearty meal, wiping every morsel off the plate. And then he slept like a baby.

In the evening, another effort was made, successfully. A shorter distance was covered and the effort needed was greater; clearly the morning exercise had left him exhausted.

All in all a great day, one that almost qualifies to be a 'miracle'. And for me, a great - perhaps the best - birthday gift on my 54th!

More tomorrow...