As usual  called Dad today, around 4 PM. Pat is making more progress. Drinking coffee out of a cup and using a spoon to eat ice cream,

Best of all, she held Dad’s cell phone, and talked to me, not much, but a definite “Love you too” and a few “ok’s” and a few kisses.

Thank for all your  support,

Scott

Today was even better than yesterday, and although Pat is not verbally communicating, other than one word answers, she is communicating via facial expressions, shrugs, shakes and the like. Pat is a quiet person to start with, so I am schooled in these. A lot are her typical mannerisms.

We had many conversations today, me talking, her communicating back non verbally, but make no mistake they were conversations. A lot were about her condition and how much more she had left (Radiation, etc), that I would be returning to Norfolk tomorrow, also about  staff, and other things.

There is also some things that Pat achieved, that due to their sensitive nature, I will not discuss in this forum, but were equally as important.

On specific bright spot was me asking if she wanted some water, and her replying “Yes , please”. That alone is great, I then asked if she wanted to hold it, and I held out the cup with the straw. She took it, and holding it correctly , drank. That made it even better.

I pushed her around in the wheelchair quite a bit, she had some ice cream (they have a little ice cream section at the facility) .

A good day 🙂

Scott

Since the last time and during my absence, Pat is awake more and sleeping better at night. My parents suggested a week ago or so, to the staff, that she should be placed in a wheel chair so that she could see more than just her room. Mom and Dad have been pushing her around the facility and outside. She still wasn’t showing much in the area of recognition, and was not responding to commands or suggestions, although she can be fed and appears to eat well. She has not said but a few words.

I arrived in Durham yesterday, Friday, and I saw Pat around 12:30 pm, she was sitting in her wheelchair, focused on the TV. When she is focused on the TV, you cannot break that attention, she will not look at you. Soon after she was put back in bed. I spent some time with her and then Dad and I went to a scheduled meeting with the facility staff. The biggest part of the meeting was that, in the judgement of the insurance, Pat has not been improving fast enough in therapy for the insurance to continue to pay for rehabilitation, which includes her stay at the facility. Although we are not happy with the insurance decision, she will stay at the facility and Pat and I will fund it.

After the meeting, I returned to see Pat in the wheelchair, physical therapy had been by to do some work with her while we had been in the meeting. I took Pat for a short spin, and to me, she looked brighter than the last time I had seen her, a week and a half ago. Although not saying anything. I brought her back to her room after a while, she was placed back in bed, and promptly fell asleep.

Today, Saturday, I went to see her in the morning , she was in her bed, about the same as yesterday. Physical therapy came by, and put her in her wheelchair. This is where it changes, she became more animated. I sat beside her, held out my my hand and she gently touched it, very new. Normally you have to take her hand.

And things kept getting better…

After a while she was fed lunch, which was a Reuben , she hates sauerkraut , and was obviously not thrilled about eating it. And when I said that out-loud she smiled. We then went for another wheel chair ride, and during the ride I asked her what she was thinking,  and she said “I don’t know”. We had a few other moments where she said a word or nodded in understanding. I know this may seem small, but it was big for me, I haven’t seen that from her in a long time.

All in all, we know Pat is making progress, however slowly.

Thanks for all your support,

Scott

Pat was released to the nursing facility this morning. She was wide awake and managed to say a few words (“good morning” , “OK”) , she was also able to nod her head in the affirmative when asked a few questions. This is marked improvement from yesterday and the day before that :). They just fed her lunch, and she ate all of it, then slowly fell asleep. Already a long day for her.

She started her radiation and chemo on Thursday, there have been no observable side effects, such a as nausea, at this point. So far so good 🙂

Thanks for your support,

Scott

I’m back in Durham, got in today.

Pat has not being doing as well as we hoped. She had real good day a week ago (a day after surgery), and now is non-responsive, basically sleeping, although she can be fed (Dad fed her today), She doesn’t open her eyes when being fed.

She starts radiation/chemo tomorrow, good news she doesn’t need to be awake. They have taken her NG tube out that was used for feeding (nasogastric) , it had been in too long. If she can’t be fed orally or eat on her own, they will have to put in a direct stomach one (hoping not).

The permanent CF shunt they put in is adjustable, they made an adjustment last night to increase the drain rate and lower pressure on her brain, and we are hoping it helps. Part of what we are hearing is she is awake at night (non verbal, but awake) and sleeping during the day.

Other news, is they are working towards getting her back to the convalescent home for rehab. That could happen as early as this weekend or early next week , depending on her condition.

Thanks for you support,

Scott