The End of the Tunnel is upon Us

It has taken some time but I have finally rationalized what has taken place since I came to the hospital in July. What I thought would be a short visit has turned out to be a three-month distraction from the activities I think are important about being alive. I understand that I contracted a pneumonia that created a sense of urgency in the BMT staff. The reaction to my condition—inability to assimilate oxygen—was to install breathing aid equipment in and around me. This installation left me unconscious. I‘m told I was unconscious for five days. This sequence of events not only took control of my situation out of my hands, it sapped my musculature-both large and small—rendering me unable to walk nor maintain my balance. It also, naturally, freaked Kathie out not knowing if I would recover or what shape I would be in.
I understand that, since I have emerged from the Intensive Care Unit, I have manifested enough symptoms to give each of the doctors and Nurse Practitioners his or her unique diagnosis of an ailment that needs attention. Fortunately the staff also has grown weary of my continuing being around. In the meantime Kathie has lobbied for the sole criterion for my exit to be my ability to climb and descend a 14-step flight of stairs. Our house separates the basement from the kitchen/tv room and, again, the kitchen/tv room from the bedrooms each with 14-step staircases. The consensus appears to be that I will be released and Kathie will actually take me back home once she is convinced I can navigate the staircases. Yesterday she upped the ante by adding that I also should be able to get my butt off the toilet by myself.
For my part, I’ve been meeting with Physical Therapy (PT) twice a day and Occupational Therapy (OP) once a day except for weekends. Yesterday, unaided, I climbed and descended 11 stairs. That is the only flight we have here that comes close to our stairs at home. I then walked a lap around the hallway without any assistance. That distance has been measured as 1/7 of a mile. I also was able to arise from the toilet on my own.
I believe there are now two remaining hurdles to my going home. Kathie is having one of her handymen install a second banister in each stairwell. These will ensure my success in stair climbing. The second condition of my release will be Kathie’s approval of my ability demonstrated here in the hospital. I am hoping to be home in a week.