We've been a bit quiet on the blog lately, but Mike has continued to make really good progress. Each day his walking is getting a bit stronger and his general posture is better. He can now sit in a regular chair to eat his meals, without needing the side and head support of a wheel chair. So with support he can walk out to the dining area at Cavit then just sit and eat. The sheer move to normality of this is a great joy to us all.
The cognitive testing proceeds when he is not too tired. He is doing pretty well, but as each level gets more complex he has to concentrate really hard. The therapists keep saying it is not pass/fail; that it is an indicator of where they need to focus the therapy interventions. However, I can see that as far as Mike is concerned every single question is definitely pass/fail. The difference in his mental reasoning between alert and fatigued is very marked and the switch is really sudden, but they say his stamina will increase.
We are gradually increasing Mike's visitors,now that the OE exodus seems to have stopped and we have a better idea of the rehab schedule each day. We don't have many slots because the day time during the week is taken up with rehab and resting most days. If you can find time to go out and see Mike, could you make sure you phone me (Lee) first and we'll arrange when to fit it in. As we've said before, the fatigue thing is so crucial we just have to be really careful about how we manage it. Generally, the evening or weekends will work the best. Mike can only cope with one person at a time and he needs to rest after each visitor, so it needs a bit of organising.
Regards
Lee
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Hi, Mike, and team,
It was great to see you the other day, I'm back now. I was impressed by your ability to seize the bottle of blueberry sauce, and your working knowledge of clockwise and anticlockwise! By the way, people getting this cw stuff wrong has cost millions. The satellite antenna communitity see cw polarization in the direction of transmission. The radiowave propagation gang see it from the receiving direction. (Think about it..), the result has included incompatibly polarized satellite links. Yes, well, you can see why I didnt try to suggest books for you to read!
From the blog, it sounds like you are now developing a routine of identifying and developing the skills you need. It must be tough going having to discover what needs to be re-acquired. But you a case of "when the going gets tough the tough get going", so our thoughts and wishes are being sent to push you along this path.
I was caught short when the suggestions for books was called for - who could possibly out-suggest the Wilkinson book knowledge? Still, the array of suggestions from your friends was just amazing. If you feel up to some puzzle books, there are quite a few fun ones around, and I don't know how you feel about crosswords, but you might enjoy jointly trying the Dompost ones.
Keep on track, Mike, especially with your forcing a schedule for your rest times - a truly new skill for you to learn!
Cheers,
Rodney, for the Vancouver Vaughans.
Hi Mike
Hope you are enjoying musing over the 2004 Harvard Business Review article "Managing Yourself: Success that Lasts", by Laura Nash and Howard Stevenson, that Rob drew to our attention.
I almost lost a laptop going through security at LA airport yesterday. First they check your passport and boarding pass. Then they get you to take your laptop out of its bag and put it in a separate tray. Then they get you to take your jacket off and put it in a separate tray. To do that you have to put down your passport and boarding pass. Then your belt has to come off because of its metal buckle -- another tray. Then there is an issue of whether you need to take off your shoes. Not in my case apparently. Then you empty your pockets of change etc -- another tray. Only then you are you forced through the detector yourself. The bloke at the detector demands to see your boarding pass. You explain that you dropped it into the tray with your coat. Consternation. Shouts to those who are coming after you to remember their boarding passes. You have to walk over to that tray, retrieve your boarding pass, bring it back to the bloke and get his OK. By that time the area around all the trays is congested and the trays are out of order. If you remember to pick up the tray with the laptop, you do better than me. I was left thinking, how the hell do brain damaged people manage it?
I guess that one answer is not to carry a laptop through LA.
Dad
Dear Mike,
We were in awe on Sat to see how much you've achieved since I was in Wgtn about a month ago. To see you sitting unaided, eating independently, talking & smiling your great smile was really special.
We had a slow trip home after 4 detours... Mothers' Day kisses for Gran, a quick hello to Jack & Lee, Kay & Hallam (Lions' game tickets... very important). Then finally a phone request from Jo & Grant to get plants for the new house quick garden cleanup before the tenants move in! We took lunch & inspected the first house purchase & pregnant daughter... both looking great. Much love, Jane & Gerald
Dear Mike, There are times when I wonder if Bryce should be let out by himself! I still think that the only time we felt relaxed about him tackling life in other countries was when you were his personal guide ... aged 10? 12? Lovely to hear of you sitting up like a gentleman to eat your dinner! Yours ever, Gran.
Hi Mike and family, wonderful to catch up on the latest progress.
We are slowly getting more settled and hopefully this week will have the computer set up. This shifting is hard work.
Might just have to make a trip up to catch that wonderful smile Mike.
gilda
Hey Mike,
Was great to catch up with you on Saturday to have a chat and to see how much better you are.
I know its tough when you want to push yourself to the limit to make progress, but that rest is just as important if not more so. It used to drive me nuts lying in bed sometimes, but I know the rest did me good.
I'll look forward to following your progress and catching up with you again hopefully sometime soom.
Take care buddy,
Dave C
Post a Comment