Friday August 24

Whew... Better than yesterday.  The doctor cut out all Donna's neurostimulants (she was getting 3) and she was much calmer, clearer but pretty sleepy.  The doctor considered that a success so we will continue on this way for several days.  Sleepy is fine for the weekend.  The feeling is she may catch her wind on this method and be so much better without the medicine.  I am always in favor of the less medicine scenario.  With all that medicine Donna was doing some things in frustration that were out of character for her.  Great to see our tired, true girl.

Despite the fatigue, armed with her new lightweight chair, Laura her physical therapist challenged Donna to walk in her chair moving her feet from the front lobby of TIRR to the patient elevators.  Now for those who have never been here, that is about 100 yards.  Donna with just a little practice yesterday and a right foot that often acts more like a brake than an accelerator, painfully made it.  I probably had the bigger learning here which is that the time has come for me to be silent and out of sight during these sessions.  The therapist can challenge and be tough.  Donna was proud and we were quick to tell her that this was only a start.  Much discussion today about some efforts we will take next week to relax some of her stiff leg muscles.  It may make things harder in the short term but should pave the way to real normal walking over time.  It is so fun to see people who haven't seen her in at least a week.  They help us recognize the progress.

Well one of the life lessons I mentioned a few days ago was reaffirmed today.  I ran into a young lady here about Sarah's age and she is here with her brother.  She and her father have been staying with her brother around the clock due to some respiratory concerns that could occur during the night and they want the insurance.  Her brother was in an accident 8 months ago.  Her mother was killed in the accident.  In the now nearly 4 weeks Donna has been awake, she exceeds his ability by many times.  It reminded me how small our challenges can be perceived and it showed me what people of great faith and commitment really look like.  Their concern was that they were moving to a facility that may not allow them to stay 24/7.  That is commitment.  I was in awe.  It was not lost on me that instead of this young man and his mother, it could very well have been Donna and I.

The life lesson it reaffirmed for me was:

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back..

On a funny note, Donna's frustrated behavior didn't rattle the roommate (amazingly) but did rattle the staff enough.  As of last night we are in a private room.  I'm not sure if this wasn't all part of a Donna master plan.

Good Night
Bob