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Description
Chapter 71

Gail was scheduled to be released after one week of occupational therapy to learn how to take care of herself in the Risser double shoulder spica to the best of her ability. After six days, the staff overseeing her punishment developed a checklist of things that she should be able to do if she were to live alone. If she was able to do each thing, they would send her back to the apartment. After the initial shock of being in such a large and immobilizing cast, she became less dependent on the nurse aides, even if they offered her help when she struggled. Although she would have preferred to have them help, she knew that she had to learn to be independent if she was going to be left by herself for the duration. Life in the cast was extremely challenging. Moving any part if her body was more difficult, even if it wasn't contained by the cast. Everything she wanted or needed to do took longer and was frustrating. The cast itself was extremely thick and heavy. It felt soft against her skin, but held her upper body very firmly. As it became worn, there was more room for her to shift the cast a fraction of an inch to adjust its position. The bleach white of the exposed stockinette was beginning to show age as well, getting dirty from the oil of her skin and making contact with other surfaces. The padded edge at her chin was especially dirty from spills when she ate or drank through a straw. The areas around her fingers were slightly dirty from touching and holding things. It could be uncomfortable, and she woke up sore most days, but without any actual injury, Gail was never in any real pain.

On the day before the test, her seventh at the center, they reviewed each of the tasks with her and instructed her to spend the day practicing alone. She worked on moving around with the cast and doing other tasks that would be encountered daily and she may be instructed to perform. That night, she was instructed to set an alarm for herself and wake up the next morning. When she did, she was instructed to complete a hygiene routine, dress herself, prepare meals for herself and simulate a day in her life at home while they observed and made notes.

Just as it had been described to her, from the time she woke up until after dinner, Gail was followed by employees with clipboards observing her without any interaction whatsoever. She felt like an animal at a zoo while undergoing the test. She saw that they made notes on clipboards and yearned to know what they thought or were writing down. That night before bed, the nurse on duty and the woman in charge of implementing her punishment met with her to review the results. She had completed each task, but they were concerned about the idea of her living alone. She would be taken to her apartment the next morning and the arrangements would be assessed, with the visitation plan to be scheduled and an outline services that could be provided and those that would not be. Gail was happy that she would be going home, but still scared as she laid in her hospital bed for hopefully the last time, trying to fall asleep but hindered by worry. In the morning, she awoke and began her day as she had the day before, but after using the bathroom, putting on shorts, making and eating a smoothie and sliding on a pair of sandals, she was instructed to pack her things. After the difficult task of using her rigid upper body to put any of her belongings into the bag they had provided (mainly the clothes that she came to the center in and some toiletries) she was handed her purse. This contained her phone, wallet and keys- which were confiscated upon arrival to prevent any rule breaking. Gail grasped the purse straps with the fingers of her right hand and closed them around the leather, curling her fingers into a fist that grazed the hard fiberglass that enclosed her hand.

The hallways between her room and the back parking lot were closed off for privacy and she was escorted off the premises by the two women, who gestured to a waiting van that had its sliding door open. With both accompanying her and each holding one of her casted arms to remain balanced, Gail stepped in and sat down to be buckled, then they drove to Gail's apartment. The address had been provided from her employee record and they arrived to her building just a few minutes later. Located in a busy area just outside of the city center, Gail lived alone in a very modest two bedroom apartment. Hers was on the tenth floor of about forty and the aide had to park her van more than a block away at the first metered spot she could find. As they helped Gail out of the van, each holding one of her outstretched forearms again, the woman in charge reminded Gail that no transportation would be provided, except to and from the Ortho Wing.

This was the first time that Gail had gone out in public with this cast on and she immediately drew the attention of passerby for the enormous cast she was wearing and the effort it took for her to be able to do even the most simple things. When the first set of eyes reached her, to Gail it was as though she could feel the stare. She could feel the blood rushing to her face, turning her pale skin a bright pink in embarrassment. She could do nothing to cover her face or hide her identity. She felt very warm as they passed stores and businesses located on the first floor of the high rises they passed. It was a hot spring day, but Gail was sure that it was from the anxiety she was feeling from being pointed or stared at as she walked with two nurses at her sides. They arrived at her building and entered the double doors to be greeted by the man working at the desk. He recognized Gail after a few moments and made the observation that the cast was probably her reason for not being seen around the building a week.

Description
Chapter 71

Gail was scheduled to be released after one week of occupational therapy to learn how to take care of herself in the Risser double shoulder spica to the best of her ability. After six days, the staff overseeing her punishment developed a checklist of things that she should be able to do if she were to live alone. If she was able to do each thing, they would send her back to the apartment. After the initial shock of being in such a large and immobilizing cast, she became less dependent on the nurse aides, even if they offered her help when she struggled. Although she would have preferred to have them help, she knew that she had to learn to be independent if she was going to be left by herself for the duration. Life in the cast was extremely challenging. Moving any part if her body was more difficult, even if it wasn't contained by the cast. Everything she wanted or needed to do took longer and was frustrating. The cast itself was extremely thick and heavy. It felt soft against her skin, but held her upper body very firmly. As it became worn, there was more room for her to shift the cast a fraction of an inch to adjust its position. The bleach white of the exposed stockinette was beginning to show age as well, getting dirty from the oil of her skin and making contact with other surfaces. The padded edge at her chin was especially dirty from spills when she ate or drank through a straw. The areas around her fingers were slightly dirty from touching and holding things. It could be uncomfortable, and she woke up sore most days, but without any actual injury, Gail was never in any real pain.

On the day before the test, her seventh at the center, they reviewed each of the tasks with her and instructed her to spend the day practicing alone. She worked on moving around with the cast and doing other tasks that would be encountered daily and she may be instructed to perform. That night, she was instructed to set an alarm for herself and wake up the next morning. When she did, she was instructed to complete a hygiene routine, dress herself, prepare meals for herself and simulate a day in her life at home while they observed and made notes.

Just as it had been described to her, from the time she woke up until after dinner, Gail was followed by employees with clipboards observing her without any interaction whatsoever. She felt like an animal at a zoo while undergoing the test. She saw that they made notes on clipboards and yearned to know what they thought or were writing down. That night before bed, the nurse on duty and the woman in charge of implementing her punishment met with her to review the results. She had completed each task, but they were concerned about the idea of her living alone. She would be taken to her apartment the next morning and the arrangements would be assessed, with the visitation plan to be scheduled and an outline services that could be provided and those that would not be. Gail was happy that she would be going home, but still scared as she laid in her hospital bed for hopefully the last time, trying to fall asleep but hindered by worry. In the morning, she awoke and began her day as she had the day before, but after using the bathroom, putting on shorts, making and eating a smoothie and sliding on a pair of sandals, she was instructed to pack her things. After the difficult task of using her rigid upper body to put any of her belongings into the bag they had provided (mainly the clothes that she came to the center in and some toiletries) she was handed her purse. This contained her phone, wallet and keys- which were confiscated upon arrival to prevent any rule breaking. Gail grasped the purse straps with the fingers of her right hand and closed them around the leather, curling her fingers into a fist that grazed the hard fiberglass that enclosed her hand.

The hallways between her room and the back parking lot were closed off for privacy and she was escorted off the premises by the two women, who gestured to a waiting van that had its sliding door open. With both accompanying her and each holding one of her casted arms to remain balanced, Gail stepped in and sat down to be buckled, then they drove to Gail's apartment. The address had been provided from her employee record and they arrived to her building just a few minutes later. Located in a busy area just outside of the city center, Gail lived alone in a very modest two bedroom apartment. Hers was on the tenth floor of about forty and the aide had to park her van more than a block away at the first metered spot she could find. As they helped Gail out of the van, each holding one of her outstretched forearms again, the woman in charge reminded Gail that no transportation would be provided, except to and from the Ortho Wing.

This was the first time that Gail had gone out in public with this cast on and she immediately drew the attention of passerby for the enormous cast she was wearing and the effort it took for her to be able to do even the most simple things. When the first set of eyes reached her, to Gail it was as though she could feel the stare. She could feel the blood rushing to her face, turning her pale skin a bright pink in embarrassment. She could do nothing to cover her face or hide her identity. She felt very warm as they passed stores and businesses located on the first floor of the high rises they passed. It was a hot spring day, but Gail was sure that it was from the anxiety she was feeling from being pointed or stared at as she walked with two nurses at her sides. They arrived at her building and entered the double doors to be greeted by the man working at the desk. He recognized Gail after a few moments and made the observation that the cast was probably her reason for not being seen around the building a week.