Saturday August 18

We plow forward.  

At the end of week 9, we feel the medical clearances of the last few days will hopefully lead to material change in the next week.   Donna's head continues to heal and it exhausts her quickly.  Her right arm is still only now beginning to move but very small additional improvements seem to happen every day.  Her quick mind finds the frustration of the painfully methodical speech therapy, difficult to endure.   Truth is though she needs the work and the therapists are extremely patient.   We've seen many but I have to say that her assigned therapist, Emily, we like the best.  

The brain is an amazing thing.  Donna's is working hard to bring her functionality back.  It takes a lot of rest and a lot of frustrating engagement to reestablish it.  She gets through the work routine here everyday but it is a bit of a crash and burn thing.  Food by mouth for her has not really taken off.  Limited mobility creates some issues that make the process of eating pretty unappealing.  Add to that the bland fare she gets at this stage, and I can't blame her.  I tend to taste it all to try and select better choices for her and I have to say that her taste assessments are generally pretty spot on.

On this Saturday of week 9, I find myself thinking of the really simple things I long for.  Top of my list is a quiet day at home with my wife and children.  Ironically I asked Donna the same question today and she said the same thing.  Easy to understand.  She just wants to be home.

A funny but true comment came from Donna's mouth yesterday.  We were sitting outside with her mother and telling a few stories.  I asked her if she was enjoying sitting there talking and she said "would be fun if I had some stories to tell".  We all know how much she likes to sit, visit and tell a good story.  She realized all the stories belonged to other people right now.  Well, add to that list of simple wishes Donna armed with a good story and enjoying the telling fully.

It will come.  We can feel it now.  We just don't know how long the journey.

Thanks to all from here at TIRR.

Bob