My sister wrote to me again yesterday – she is a nurse and like you is following Wai’s recovery closely. She trained to be a nurse in a period before modern computer based diagnostics and many of their procedures were based on common sense coupled with sound medical knowledge learned in the lecture hall and on the floor. This way of nursing was very tactile – using fingers to take the pulse and visually looking for signs of health and recovery, making beds with nursing corners and cleaning and reusing things like bedpans and towels. So this down to earth nursing knowledge is very useful to a little farmer working with a wounded pig in the corner of her barn.
And as my sister explained it often these good nursing practices are common sense. We all have a good helping of this knowledge if we listen to our instincts. This, coupled with listening to the more knowledgeable, allows us to trust our instincts. But yesterday I was feeling quite at sea.
With this new stage of the pig ripping off his skin by scratching along the walls revealing swathes of naked bubbling flesh I am running way past my confidence level. The risk of infection is much higher now. John’s words have made me afraid. They felt like a curse. Yet Wai continues to heal very slowly inside his wreck of a body. 
Yesterday my sister wrote something very interesting. Real healing comes from below – the blood. Blood moving through tissue is imperative to health. After all people who take a walk every day are generally healthier and fitter – stands to reason you should add walking when you are sick or injured to get that blood moving. Many burns victims are kept prone in their beds. Often slightly or wholly sedated. They lie there quite still while the nurses work diligently to keep them alive and sterile. Often they struggle with some pretty evil infections. And this is exacerbated by their lack of movement. Some cannot move of course but she believed that getting them moving as soon as possible (like they do with knee replacements) would actually help their recover. (I am paraphrasing of course).
Wai walks every day. Since he got here exercise went straight to the top of the list. My gut feeling right from the beginning was that he needed movement from his body to move his bowels, develop an appetite and kick start his metabolism again. He had not moved in almost three weeks that I know of by the time he arrived. So we began to walk. First he needed encouragement with a broom but now he comes when I call him. (He thinks about it for a minute but he does come). And often leads me on his walks – usually over to see Poppy and Sheila. (They just stare at him – he really does not smell like a pig – he smells like a rank rubbish bin that needs emptying). 
Gradually over the course of his short time here our evening walks have become further and longer and his health has become better. He talks as he moves about now, a very pig-like attribute. So she is right – exercise is helping enormously.
Of course a diet of raw vegetables and fruit is another important factor. Diet is another huge component in recovery. Ignore a good diet at your peril really. Just imagine if all the burns units were supplied with tons of raw fruits and vegetables and some tread mills.
However as Alissa said yesterday he looks way worse but he sounds much better.
I have added an early morning brisk walk and yesterday and today was and is cloudy, so we are able to go out in the day time too, yesterday he increased the speed of the blood running through his body four times.
So, even more exercise is in his future. I am not set up to do many of the procedures a person with this pigs injuries would receive in my sisters burns unit, but we can walk. I have all the antiseptic cream, the bag balm and the veterycin, my home made saline wipes and good nursing scissors. And so we proceed. 
My sister said that burnt bodies take a long time to recover. So although there are daily physical changes (often for the worse) I should judge his recovery changes in weeks not days. This will literally take months. But his eyes are there. And he is lying out in the corner of his field at this very moment, under heavy storm clouds, covered in a sack.
The internet was down this morning so this page is up late.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The wild flower field. 
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
48 responses to “Fitness for wounded bodies”
I too believe he is recuperating and getting better= so lucky to be in your TLC!
His expression is quite sweet and his whole demeanour is a lot less distressed for sure. His skin is healing, although those raw patches must be upsetting for you. Laura
The greatest thing you have given this pig is saying Yes, when asked to help him. He now has the will to forge ahead and help himself, and the determination the pair of you show is more than enough, I’d say. He’s woken up to his surroundings again, you’re giving him TLC, tasty food, somewhere lovely to take his walks, and piggy ladies to go and sniff and converse with. In a well pig, that would be heaven, in a sick pig, that’s perfect getting-well conditions…
I felt the scabs where shrinking til I saw that massive ulcer on his rump. *shudders*
And the third picture of Wai made me cry…I just want to hug him. That picture could make him a poster pig for animal abuse… the look on his face says so much.
I am so glad for an update.
I think writing about this must be a kind of release for you. It’s a very stressful time. I’m glad that you have your sister to talk and listen to. But keep writing also. It does us good too.
Yes it is good to share these kinds of things for a number of reasons really and it IS stressful – sometimes i feel sick when cleaning the nastiness out of the wounds and redressing them. i know it has to be done but it is painful for him now. Though the pain is a good thing too – however! .. c
Besides what you do locally for him, you have brought positive energy, prayers and a fan club from around the world to him. That in itself is meaningful for this dear pig’s recovery.
I hope so – I hope it all starts to get better soon – he really does deserve to get well.. c
I echo what everyone else has said. Looking back from here to day one, I see tons of improvement. Miles to go, sure, but he’s already come so very far. Burn unit work is not for the faint of heart – plenty of nurses cannot cut it there. I don’t discount how very tough taking care of our armadillo friend is on you. You’re doing well. You really are. So is he.
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ah wise words from sister… if Wai survives it will be a credit to you and if it all collapses then you will have done your utmost..you cannot do more than your best and this you are doing now.Bless you Miss C you are in my prayers xxx
Amen
I am enthralled by every word describing this little pig’s tenacious march toward health.
I’m no vet but Wai looks better. I’m studying Natural Medicine and believe in holistic care. You are not just providing medical care; you’re giving him security and a loving environment. All this, along with the medical care will help heal this pig.
Lovely Wai! I think you we are all agreed he is so much better and that’s due to the care he’s receiving at your hand. Bravo!
Can’t help but think that All of the lovely Wild Things he’s finding to eat while taking the air with you are healing him from the inside out and the very best kinds of self-medication. Hang in there, things are definitely looking better overall (from this distance; )
It’s wonderful that your sister is able to offer her experience and advice. I think Wai looks much better, credit to you ♡
He’s starting to look more like a pig now : )
Hello Cecilia,
I found your blog today while reading through the comments in Lois Roelofs Write Along With Me. I’ve spent the better part of this rainy summer afternoon reading about your farm, your animals, Wai and, of course, YOU! I love your writing and your love of life. I’ve needed some inspiration these last few days and I think I’ve found it. I have been trying too hard to understand the big picture of my writing project. I need to look more closely at some simple words and how they can grow into one and then two and finally three good sentences!
Greetings from New Hampshire…
How wonderful Nancy and thank you so much for your kind words. I do tend to focus down on the little stuff – after all – every one of our big projects are compiled of little ones. Have a lovely evening.. c