The brain improvements are most noticeable in her
conversation and awareness. In our
evening time, we talk about all the things we used to discuss pre-injury. It seems to help us both as she gets more
engaged with the management of our lives and her own issues and I’m just
thrilled to have her perspective and involvement. It makes me realize how much I didn’t like
making family decisions or considering options without her and it is such a joy
to have those alone days behind us. Also in
her conversations she has been pretty “unfiltered” since the accident. In other words she tells it like it is. At times it has been a bit awkward, as she
wasn’t shy about saying she didn’t like something or somebody directly in front
of them. For a while I thought we were
going to have to put her back to work as a drilling engineer! This has all pretty much disappeared and the
more diplomatic, kind Donna has resurfaced.
She is as sweet as ever. I guess
we won’t be having access to all that good drilling department food.
Another reappearing component of her personality is her social skills. At first
she was a bit reserved and more conscious of her limitations. Well that is gone and the old Donna is
back. I walked into a group session with
her this past week where I wasn’t able to stay with her but before I walked out
the door I watched her greet half the people by name and the other half she
proceeded to quiz what their names were.
She wanted to know. Now she wheels around the campus greeting the patients and staff by name. Sometimes her short-term memory fails her a
bit but she is a bit like the politician who has an assistant nearby so she can
ask for the name reminders. I’m that
assistant.
Another area of growth for Donna is appetite. For those who know Donna there is no surprise
here. For a good while, the swallow
issues really tapered her appetite and it was a concern as weight is closely
watched in patients like Donna. Well the
last three weeks with less physical activity and a significantly improved
appetite has seen her weight rise each week.
It is noticeable in her face and demeanor which are both looking great. As her physical activity takes off, this new
and expanded appetite will be important to keep her weight neutral.
So here in Galveston she is past the evaluation phase and
well into the “lets get it done" phase, the next weeks will be busy but hopefully
fruitful. There seems to be little doubt
that the next stop from here will be home (combined with outpatient therapy). The big question everyone wants to know is when.
It’s in Donna’s and God’s hands.
My best estimate is that it could be as soon as later this month and
could be as late as Thanksgiving. Who
knows, maybe even a bit later. One of
the issues we continue to work is the ability to bring her home for an
overnight visit on the weekend. It
remains an unresolved, uphill battle but we do what we can. I think it would help her so much and would
let us go to our own church on Sunday am.
For now we just have to wait and be patient…. Yuk…..
Currently, I work in the morning and travel to Galveston
every day during the week and spend dinner and a few evening hours with her,
then travel back to Houston. On Friday
nights I stay in Galveston and pick her up in the am and bring her to the Med
Center apartment getting her back to Galveston around 8 pm and spend the night
again in Galveston. Sunday is a day in
Galveston where we do things in the town; church, lunch, dinner shopping etc… We long for that journey that takes us home,
me as much as Donna. I’ve spent so
little time there also. The good news is
that we know it is coming and we know that when we get there it will be a
positive milestone like so many other steps we have experienced.
Over the next 10 days we have 4 doctor appointments that
will take us away from Galveston and hopefully frame for us the next
significant steps in the journey. We
move in a good direction and we thank God.
Donna told me yesterday that she and another patient had been talking
and they had decided that they weren’t unlucky but that they were actually
“blessed”. It was a joy to hear because,
like us, if she can feel the blessing in the midst of her challenge, we’re
doing ok.
Good Night
Bob
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