So before we dive into Donna specifics, this past month Donna saw her rehabilitation physician for her 3 month check up. Donna is a picture of physical health so the appointment was as you would like, uneventful. The interesting part of it was when Donna told her that she just wants to get better faster, her Doctor smiled and explained to us that there is a distribution of potential progress that a person with Donna's injury can expect at this 10 month stage. She told us that Donna's actual progress did not fit that distribution at all, she was beyond it. This was one of those double edged sword comments that immediately made us feel good but then when you think about disappoints because apparently expectations were lower and Donna's own expectations are not yet satisfied. The good news is we don't give any of that progress back and it only gets better from here. Also she is so healthy that we don't go back to her doctor for 5 months.
So specific Donna updates:
Speech
A great story. Donna's new voice specialist really knows how to help Donna and she is continuously improving. This is such a joy to us both as it is really important to Donna. The approach is not complicated but we are using some great technology tools on Donna's iPad to assist as well as some other devices. The change is noticeable and consistent. This is all especially sweet as we have worked so hard to find the right help and we have. All the talking practice she gets now, more and more, is also a big help.
Walking
Still Donna's greatest struggle. Donna has done some awesome things in the past month but balance is still her issue. It continues to improve but slowly. Her great physical therapy in the pool and out is really helping but it takes a lot to rebuild lost core and leg muscle strength and we can't rush the healing pace of the brain. Darn cause we so would like to have more influence but this is in God's hands. On the positive side Donna walks better with her walker (with support) and she constantly extends her prior personal bests in most areas. The highlight for us this month was when after much preparatory discussion we decided last Saturday to go out front to the street and do an endurance walk. The intent was to walk (with me as her walker) as far as she could safely. She walked forward and I looked back. Well we walked and walked and there is no quit in this girl. The plan was when we stopped I would set her on the curb and retrieve the chair. After I used my golf pace-off skills to pace off the distance it tallied to 127 Yards (381 feet). We were really thrilled as this was such a great start and look forward to another attempt in the future.
Donna wants to walk independently so badly and we are so grateful for the help of a knowledgable and driven, good friend in working with her on strength between therapies. Rarely do you see such a willing participant as Donna. She knows the prize. We will be going at this issue even harder in the next few months. God willing, we will get there as determination and effort abound.
Eyesight
Not much has changed here. It looks likely that we will see the doctor again the first of June and if no change is seen (what we expect) surgery to fix the double vision will be next.
Attempts at regaining normalcy rule our efforts. Donna is doing well in all things that don't require independent walking. She stays at home alone for very short stints, she tries new things daily. One of the things that are great to see is her reading in bed at night. She so used to enjoy this and it is great to see her back to it. We spend more time in the garden (which is back in top shape with some help we solicited). Donna so enjoys it.
With normalcy has come my return to work this month. Ms Ruby (Donna's daytime caregiver) makes this possible and it has worked pretty well. The first week was rough and my appreciation for single working mom's (while always large) has grown by leaps and bounds. Sleep is hard to come by in large quantity but thank goodness I am old and my needs have been practiced down over these last 10 months. When asked at the end of the first week how she felt me going back to work was going Donna said "well for me it is probably an 8 or 9 out of 10, for Bob I think it is probably a 3 or 4". It has gotten much better since, so all good.
May and Mothers Day give us great reasons to celebrate. John and Sarah will both be here and it will be joyous. If you want to see Donna beam, just mention the subject. We have seen the kids in person (facetime is great) very little over these last 3 months so we are all looking forward to the fun.
The other day Donna and I were talking about time as she finished fully reading this blog. It amazed us both that she has been home for 4.5 months of the 10.5 total journey. That just seems mind boggling. Donna so loves being home and we try to do everything to fully live our lives. After much discussion we decided two out-of-town weddings in May (that we really wanted to attend) were just a little too much for us but I think there won't be much in the future we will say no to. I told someone in the last few weeks that we have transitioned from a family with extraordinary challenges to one with ordinary challenges. I talk to so many with challenges of their own and I think we aren't that far anymore from mainstream. A far cry still from the charmed life we led before all this but while we would love to get back there, realize life is pretty sweet in the mainstream too.
It is with this perspective of mainstream that we have decided that the June 1 update of this blog will be the last. Sorry but if you want more (and we hope you do) you will have to call or come see us. or maybe we'll come to you. Who knows, we may even be able to conjure up something special for that last update.
All good here. thanks for all the support, love and prayers.
Bob
