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