The door creaked open, and a tall, kind-eyed woman stepped into the room. Her name tag read Cassandra Lewis, PT. She smiled warmly as her gaze fell on Kat, who was sitting quietly in her reclined bed, absently twisting her fingers and staring at nothing in particular. A soft hum escaped Kat's lips as she drooled slightly onto her gown.

"Good morning, Kat," Cassandra said cheerfully, her voice gentle but firm. She moved closer to Kat's bedside, placing her clipboard on a nearby table. "I'm Cassandra, and I'm going to help you with something really exciting today. We're going to see if you can stand up for a little bit, okay?"

Kat's eyes flicked toward Cassandra at the sound of her voice. She caught a few words—stand and up—but they felt distant and confusing. Instead, she let out a soft moan, her lips parting as she drooled more, entirely lost in her own little world.

Cassandra crouched slightly to make eye contact with Kat. "I think you heard me, didn't you? That's okay if you're not sure yet. We're going to help you understand," she said, glancing up as the door opened again.

Laura entered the room, quickly dabbing at her nose with a tissue. "Oh, I'm so sorry I'm late," she said, slightly breathless. "I needed a moment in the hallway." She crumpled the tissue into her pocket and gave Kat a bright smile. "Hi, baby girl! Mommy's here now."

Cassandra straightened and turned to Laura. "No problem at all. I was just introducing myself to Kat, but I'm not sure she fully understands what's going to happen today."

Laura nodded, moving closer to Kat. She smoothed a hand over her daughter's hair, her touch tender. "It's okay, sweetie. Mommy's going to help explain."

The PT stepped back, giving Laura space as she crouched down beside Kat. "Okay, my love," Laura began, her voice soft and playful. She waved her hands in the air, making big gestures. "Today, we're going to try something fun. You know how you sit here or lie down all the time? Well, now we're going to help you stand up—like this!" Laura mimicked standing with exaggerated motions, holding her arms out as if balancing.

Kat's gaze shifted to her mom, her droopy eyes focusing a little more. She made a small noise, her lips twitching into a curious smile.

"That's right, baby girl!" Laura said encouragingly. "Mommy and Cassandra are going to help you. It's like playing, okay? But you'll need to wear something special to keep you safe." She mimed a harness wrapping around her body, then held Kat's hand. "We're going to make sure you're nice and snug, and then your feet will touch the ground. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Kat's brows furrowed slightly as if processing the words. She mumbled incoherently, a string of soft sounds punctuated by a giggle.

Laura beamed. "See? I think she's excited."

Cassandra smiled. "That's a good sign. She doesn't need to fully understand as long as she's comfortable. Let's take it slow and let her guide us with her reactions."

Laura gave her daughter's hand a gentle squeeze. "You're going to do great, sweetheart. Mommy's here, okay?"

Kat let out another giggle, her lips twitching as drool trickled down her chin. Laura grabbed a tissue from her pocket and gently wiped her face, murmuring soothing words as she did. "There we go, all clean. Now let's get ready to try something new, my brave girl."

Laura then pressed the call buzzer, and within moments, two female nurses entered the room, both wearing warm smiles and professional composure.

"Good morning, Mrs. Greene," one of the nurses said. "What can we do for you today?"

Laura gestured toward Kat, who was still drooling slightly, her hands resting limply on her lap. "We're getting her ready for physical therapy today, but could you check her vitals and fluids first? I want to make sure she's okay before we move her."

"Of course," the other nurse said, stepping closer to Kat. "Good morning, Kat," she cooed, gently placing a hand on Kat's arm. Kat blinked slowly at her, mumbling something unintelligible, and her lips curved into a faint smile.

As the nurses worked efficiently, one checked Kat's blood pressure and heart rate while the other monitored her IV line. They exchanged a few murmurs, making notes on Kat's chart.

"Vitals look stable," the first nurse confirmed. "Her hydration level is good too, but let's make sure she keeps sipping water throughout the day."

Laura nodded, relieved. "Thank you."

The second nurse smiled reassuringly. "All right, let's get her ready for the transfer. We'll use the hoist to lift her out of bed."

Cassandra returned just then, wheeling in the standing frame. "Perfect timing," she said with a smile. "We'll get her secured in the hoist first and then into the frame."

The nurses moved with practiced precision, adjusting the sling beneath Kat with care. Laura stood by, her hands fidgeting nervously as she watched.

"You're going to feel a little lift, sweetheart," Laura said to Kat in a soft, encouraging tone. "Mommy's right here. You're going to do great."

Kat let out a low groan, her lips parting as she drooled more, but she didn't resist as the hoist began to lift her. Her body sagged limply in the sling, her legs dangling as though they had no strength at all.

"Nice and easy," one of the nurses said, adjusting the straps to ensure Kat was secure.

Cassandra wheeled the standing frame closer, locking it in place. "Once we get her into the frame, we'll take our time getting her upright. No rush," she said, addressing Laura.

Kat's head lolled slightly to one side, and Laura quickly stepped forward to steady it, brushing her daughter's hair back from her face. "You're doing amazing, baby girl. Just a little more."

Kat mumbled something that sounded like "uhhh... up," and Laura smiled. "Yes, we're going up soon. Just hang tight."

The nurses carefully maneuvered Kat over the frame, gently lowering her into place. Cassandra adjusted the harness, ensuring it supported Kat's weight fully.

"Okay," Cassandra said, looking at Laura. "We're ready to start."

With Kat securely positioned in the standing frame, Cassandra, the physical therapist, knelt to adjust the straps and the base. She tested the stability of the harness one final time, then stood back up, glancing at Laura.

"All right, everything is set. We'll start lifting her slowly so her feet can touch the ground. This is going to be a big moment for her," Cassandra explained, keeping her voice calm and encouraging.

Kat, meanwhile, giggled softly as her legs dangled in the harness, the crinkling of her diaper audible with each small movement. "Uhhh... uppp... uppp!" Kat mumbled, her voice high-pitched and drawn out like a child's.

Laura placed a hand on Kat's shoulder. "Shhh, baby girl, let Mommy and Cassandra talk, okay?"

Kat giggled again, wiggling slightly in the harness as if playing a game. "Mommmyyy... uppy!"

Laura shook her head with a small laugh. "Yes, sweetie, we're going up soon. But let us talk, okay? Be quiet for just a minute."

Cassandra smiled at Kat's reaction but maintained her professional demeanor. "It's great to see her so engaged, even if she doesn't fully understand. That's actually a good sign," she said to Laura, stepping over to the controls.

"Ready to give it a try?" Cassandra asked, her hand hovering over the button to adjust the harness.

Laura nodded, her eyes focused on Kat. "Absolutely. Let's see how she does."

Slowly, Cassandra pressed the control, and the harness began to lower Kat until her feet lightly touched the floor.

"Okay, Kat, here we go," Cassandra said warmly. "Feel the floor under your feet? We're going to let you stand for a little bit now. I'm right here if you need me."

Kat's feet wobbled slightly as they made contact with the ground. Her legs, supported fully by the harness, trembled as though they were jelly.

"Good girl," Laura cooed. "Look at you, baby girl, standing up! Mommy is so proud of you."

Kat mumbled again, this time with a wide grin. "Uhh... up-py! Me... stannn... uh."

Cassandra adjusted the sling slightly to allow Kat to bear a tiny bit of weight on her legs. "That's it, Kat. Just a little pressure on your feet. You're doing amazing. Even if your legs are weak, just having them in this position is progress."

Kat let out a series of babyish coos and giggles, clearly enjoying the attention and the sensation of standing. She flopped her head to one side, looking at her mom. "Mommyyyy... stannn!"

"Yes, baby girl, you're standing," Laura said, her voice soft and affectionate. She glanced at Cassandra. "How long should we let her stay like this?"

"Not too long for now," Cassandra replied. "We're mostly letting her legs get used to the sensation of bearing weight again. Even if she can't fully support herself, it's important for circulation, muscle stimulation, and preventing stiffness."

Cassandra jotted notes on a clipboard as she watched Kat's movements. "Her legs are responding a little, but there's no active muscle control yet. That's okay, though—it's very normal at this stage."



Kat suddenly giggled and swung her legs slightly, the harness creaking under her movements. "Funnnnn... uh... uppyyy!" she babbled, saliva dribbling down her chin.

Laura quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped Kat's face. "Shhh, baby girl, be still for Mommy, okay? Don't wiggle too much."

Cassandra chuckled lightly. "She's got a lot of spirit, I'll give her that. That will help keep her engaged during therapy sessions."

Laura nodded, brushing a strand of Kat's hair back. "She's always been a little firecracker, even like this."

Kat's legs began to buckle slightly, and she let out a whimper. Cassandra immediately pressed the controls to raise the harness slightly, taking the weight off her feet.

"There we go, Kat. All safe," Cassandra said soothingly. "We'll let you rest now. You did great for your first attempt."

Kat mumbled something incomprehensible, drooling more as she slumped in the harness. Laura kissed her forehead. "You did amazing, sweetheart. Mommy's so proud of you."

Cassandra then gently raised Kat higher in the sling, giving her a moment to rest before running some simple tests. "Okay, Laura, now that we've had her standing for a bit, I'd like to check her reactions and movements across the rest of her body. This will give us a better idea of what she's working with."

Laura nodded. "Of course. What kind of tests do you have in mind?"

Cassandra adjusted the sling so Kat's upper body was slightly more upright, offering her more support while leaving her arms free to move. She stepped in front of Kat and held out a brightly colored rattle. "Kat, can you reach out and grab this for me, sweetheart?"

Kat blinked at the rattle, her eyes tracking its movement. She let out a soft giggle and reached forward with one hand, but her movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. Her hand hovered near the rattle before jerking back toward her chest, her fingers curling inward.

"Good try, Kat!" Cassandra praised warmly. "I saw you trying to reach. Let's try again, okay?"

Kat babbled incoherently, her mouth hanging open as drool dribbled onto her chin. "Mmmm... rahh... uhhh," she murmured, her lips smacking as she tried to form words.

Laura quickly grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her daughter's chin. "There we go, sweetie. Keep going. Mommy's here."

Cassandra leaned closer, observing Kat's arm movements carefully. "She's able to initiate the movement, but there's very little control. It's like the message is getting lost halfway from her brain to her hand." She jotted notes on her clipboard.

"Now let's test her legs a bit more," Cassandra said. She gently tapped Kat's right knee with a reflex hammer, watching for any response. Kat's leg twitched slightly, but the movement was faint.

"Hmm," Cassandra murmured thoughtfully. "She has some reflexive response, but it's weak. That's consistent with her paralysis."

Cassandra turned to Laura. "Have you noticed any voluntary movements in her legs at all? Even small ones?"

Laura shook her head. "No, not really. Her legs have been completely limp since the accident."

"That's what I suspected," Cassandra said. "It's still worth continuing these sessions. Even if she doesn't regain full function, stimulating her muscles can prevent atrophy and improve circulation."

As Cassandra worked through her checklist, she noticed Kat's ongoing drooling. Her lips were glossy with saliva, and Laura had to wipe her chin several times during the session.

"Laura," Cassandra said gently, "has anyone looked into Kat's drooling? It seems a bit excessive, even for her condition."

Laura looked down at Kat, who was now giggling softly, her head lolling to one side as more saliva dripped down her chin. "Not recently," Laura admitted. "She's been drooling a lot more lately, but I thought it was just part of her brain damage."

"It could be," Cassandra said, "but sometimes excessive drooling can indicate an issue with swallowing or oral motor control. If she's struggling to manage her saliva, it might also affect her ability to eat safely."

Laura frowned, worry flashing across her face. "Should I bring it up with her doctor?"

"I think it's worth mentioning," Cassandra said. "They might want to do a swallowing evaluation to see if she needs additional support, like therapy or medication to manage it. It could also impact her nutrition if she's having trouble eating."

Kat interrupted their conversation with a loud, playful babble. "Mammm... uh... uppyyy!" she cooed, her voice rising with excitement as she swung slightly in the sling.

Laura chuckled softly, her worry momentarily easing. "Yes, baby girl, you're up high. Mommy's proud of you."

Cassandra smiled. "She's got a great spirit. That's going to help her so much in therapy."

"Thank you," Laura said, brushing a strand of hair from Kat's face. "She's always been my little fighter."

Cassandra set her clipboard down and adjusted Kat's position slightly in the sling, giving her a gentle smile before turning back to Laura. "You'll definitely want to bring up the drooling issue with her primary doctor or a speech and swallowing specialist. It's something they can evaluate further."

Laura, still dabbing at Kat's chin with a tissue, furrowed her brow. "I didn't realize it could be such a big deal. It's just... drooling, right? I mean, it's messy, sure, but..."

Cassandra nodded understandingly. "It might seem minor, but excessive drooling can sometimes cause problems. If she's having trouble swallowing or managing saliva, it can increase her risk of aspiration—where liquid gets into her lungs instead of her stomach. That can lead to infections or pneumonia."

Laura's face paled. "Oh my God. I didn't know that."

"That's why it's worth addressing sooner rather than later," Cassandra continued. "There are medications they can try first to reduce saliva production. They work well for many patients."

Laura glanced down at Kat, who was happily babbling and giggling, seemingly oblivious to their serious conversation. "And if the medications don't work?"

Cassandra hesitated for a moment, then said gently, "In cases where medication doesn't help enough, there's a surgical option. They can remove or modify her salivary glands to reduce how much saliva she produces."

Laura's eyes widened, her voice trembling slightly. "Surgery? Really? That seems so extreme... I mean, is that even safe?"

"It's a common procedure for people with severe drooling," Cassandra reassured her. "And it's usually very effective. Of course, it's only considered after other options have been tried. Her doctors would guide you through everything if it came to that."

Laura took a deep breath, her mind racing. "I just... I wasn't expecting something like this. It's already so much to manage, and now surgery might be on the table?"

"I completely understand," Cassandra said softly. "It's a lot to take in, but you're not alone in this. The specialists will work with you to figure out what's best for Kat. For now, just keep an eye on her drooling, and bring it up with her care team as soon as possible."

Laura nodded slowly, brushing away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. "Thank you for explaining it. I'll talk to her doctor."

Kat, sensing her mother's distress, made a loud, playful noise. "Mmmommmaa!" she babbled, her lips smacking as more drool dripped down her chin.

Laura laughed softly, her heart swelling despite her worries. "Oh, baby girl, you always know how to cheer me up."

Cassandra smiled warmly. "She's got such a strong personality. That's going to take her far, Laura."

"I hope so," Laura said, kissing Kat's forehead. "We've got a long road ahead, but I'll do whatever it takes to make sure she's okay."

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