Sunday December 16

Well there are weeks when it feels like little or nothing happens in Donna's growth and then there are weeks like this one.  It wasn't physical or a skill being rediscovered, Donna redefined clarity of her mind this week.  Her memory, her verbal engagement and her forward thinking just flew forward where we thought she had already made great strides, and then it was so much better.  I have laughed with her so much this week.  Awesome.  There are still improvement spots and who knows she may redefine it again but even she has had to admit the amazing change.

Other things show that step improvement in awareness also, a couple times this week I spotted her fixing her hair in front of a mirror as we passed.  This awareness of her appearance and a desire to fix it is great to see.  It may even get her out of "guy-prepared" hair.  Clearly a fate worse than death.

The other news of the week is that finally a surreal situation with Donna's shoes has been resolved.  First we had a complete miss-fire of the planned shoes, then we couldn't find any that fit the brace foot,  then style two started to create a red spot on her foot as she walked, then finally victory.  It took ten pairs to get her two shoes that fit well.  Despite hating to shop, I got it done with reasonable patience although I had a moment or two (right mom?). I really respect people who live with that challenge all the time.  Donna's is temporary (we hope).   With the shoes sorted we are off to walking more aggressively both in therapy and at home now.  We brought her walker home to try out and, with some stewardship, Donna walked from the car to her living room chair.  Awesome.  Much more walking to follow when we get home.  Our goal will be to render the wheel chair obsolete.  It will take a while but we'll get there.

As we get close to leaving Galveston, Donna's impact on that community is becoming more clear.  She will be very missed.  In the midst of her own challenge she has charmed everyone there, served maternally to many and demonstrated such grace.  Her roommates mother summarized it best to me when she said that Donna is such a fine person.  That even with her challenges it shines through brightly.  No complaints, hard work, camaraderie and encouragement to others.  It really is amazing to see.  Donna's old roommate (who is now in an apartment at the facility) calls Donna "mom" and invited her for coffee one evening this past week.  The photos show much smiling and fun.

This weekend at home Donna started back to one of her favorite pastimes, reading.  There has been no time for it in Galveston as her days are filled with therapy and fatigue but she really enjoyed herself and so looks forward to the peace and relaxation of reading at home.  I have considered that she is searching for that escape from too much time with Bob, but she assures me not :-)   It also is an indication that she is managing her eye issues well.  We see the eye doctor again in early January, hopefully to have much further improvement confirmed.

Over the last 6 months, we have received so many cards and notes.  Those that came since Donna is able to digest them have all been read to her but even many of them are not remembered due to her previously spotty memory.  Recently she remembers all.  You will be happy to know that all of those cards went into a basket beside her bed and she and I will go through all of them again after we get her home.  I browsed them this past week and there are so many amazing messages.  Thank you.  There was one that Donna and I both felt was worth sharing as it hit home.  I also remember that it came in the month of August which, aside from coma, was the toughest time of Donna's rehabilitation.  I remember well the value of the message to me at the time.  It is shared here:

The Oak Tree

A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the oak tree's leaves away,
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark.
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,
"How can you still be standing, Oak?"
The oak tree said, "I know that you
can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You'll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure.
But now I've found, with thanks to you,
I'm stronger than I ever knew."


Our plans with Donna are firm now.  Donna made her last trip back to Galveston tonight.  She'll be home this Wednesday, hopefully followed by a great Christmas at home, starting out-patient therapy on December 31st and living our lives from there.  I will cease work for several months on Wednesday also and I'll do all I can to get Donna well down the road. She and I are both really looking forward to it.

We will take a break from this blog for the next few weeks as we savor the holidays with our family.  The last blog entry will follow the holidays on January 6.   Till then we ready ourselves for all the "last time" activities of the coming week.  We are very blessed and grateful.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Enjoy your families and see you on Jan 6.

Regards
Bob