Today at swallowing therapy, Natalie took her whole meal by mouth! I had done this one other time, a couple weeks ago, but it was at home where I couldn't give her any liquids. Today she drank and ate a whole meal (while on the e-stim therapy).
Since I forgot my wallet, I couldn't buy a bottle of milk for her therapy at the hospital cafeteria. (BTW, I discovered the bottles of milk in the vending machine are MUCH fresher than the cartons on the shelf, and they're also organic, always a plus). So Sarah pulled out a carton of grape juice, thickened it with a corn starch thickening agent made for the purpose of thickening drinks, and put it in her honey-bear-with-a-straw cup. Of course, Natalie loved the grape juice and drank at least two ounces, and ate about three ounces, so that's a full meal. I always ask Sarah at the end of the session how much she took, and then I give her the remainder in the tube to make five ounces total. Today when we added up the ounces, I didn't have to give her anything in the tube!
Go Natalie! Now we just need for her to take thickened liquids off therapy, so we can give her drinks at home.
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