On Tuesday, Steve drove us up to Mount Vernon to see Stephanie and Bernadette. Stephanie had been at the rehab hospital for two weeks, and we were not able to get up to see them. It was good to see both of them.
Stephanie is still in the isolation ward. This a special area where people are placed as they become more and more 'awake' and active -- emphasis on active. You know how you can be a little disoriented after you wake from a deep sleep? Imagine that sleep being a month long, and the waking up/disoriented time lasting a couple of weeks or more. That is the stage Stephanie finds herself at now. There is no memory of the accident, yet, aside from what people tell her -- and believe me, they tell her over and over. It is part of speech therapy. She is still foggy on where she is and why she is there. Patients at this stage have been known to wander off and end up in dangerous situations without any awareness of what the consequences are. So they are placed on a special ward where it is nearly impossible to go anywhere else.
Visitors call in on a special phone to be escorted in (and are also escorted out). So I picked up the red phone and asked for Stephanie. She was in the lounge at the end of the ward with several of the other patients. She is still in a wheel chair. This one reclines, but it is adjustable. Bernadette adjusted it several times while I was there. Stephanie told me her back hurt, as her legs moved in every imaginable direction. She sat up and lay back down several times. She is at the 'perpetual motion' stage I mentioned above. Of course she wants out of the chair, but is not steady enough on her feet . She has several walking sessions each day to build up her coordination and endurance.
We talked a little bit. She is using short sentences, which can sometimes be rather inappropriate -- again, normal for this stage. At times, I was told, she is rather combative. Mostly, we had a pleasant conversation. I told her that we follow her progress and that we are all so proud of how well she is doing and how hard she is working on her recovery. All too soon, it was time for us to go. The boys were all waiting in the van, because we did not want to overwhelm her. It is still easy to overstimulate her.
I brought Bernadette a new cell phone. (I have mine back!!!) So I took time to show her how it worked and put all the pertinent phone numbers in it that I had on mine. Then Steve called wondering where we were. one thing I noted was how tired and worn Bernadette looked. She has been with Stephanie as constantly as she can be for five weeks. We figured she needed a diversion. it is so difficult. One wants to be involved with the therapy and consultations. But it is like riding a roller coaster which has no 'off' ramp. She takes two steps forward and one step back, at times. There is cause for hope as she progresses, but many distressing characteristics: like calling her nurses and therapists every name in the book, and insisting on removing her clothing at odd times. Bernadette really needed a break. And a break for Bernadette was one of missions for the day....
Next stop: Wallie World. Since she just moved into her apartment on Monday, Bernadette was sorely in need of a shopping trip. Mount Vernon has very little shopping available (it is mostly the rehab hospital, the veterans home, as well as some farms), so we drove to the next large town to find the Big W. After about an hour there, we were all hungry (I know -- never go shopping when one is hungry). One of Steve's friends joined in the shopping escapade. Since he lives in that town, we took his advice on dining choices. We found ourselves at a cute little diner/truck stop. The food was edible, and of sufficient variety that everyone was happy. We took our time over dinner and did a good bit of visiting and goofing around.
As we left the diner, we drove past the park. They had their Christmas light display, so we decided to take
the tour. Steve kept us chuckling with his narration. Bernadette laughed and laughed. It seemed to help her relax a bit. She sounded a lot less stressed, even on Thursday when I talked with her.
Matthew had to get home. Then we drove back to Mount Vernon to try and find Bernadette's apartment. She was only there for a day, so was not sure how to get to the street. We stopped and asked directions, but the gas station attendant did not have a clue. Since she did have a map of Mount Vernon on the wall, Steve surveyed and got an approximate idea of where she lived. We circled until we finally found the street. From there it was easy for Bernadette to identify the house, even in the dark.
As we started up the stairs with her groceries and the stuff we brought for her, Bernadette found out she had lost her key. So Steve went on Thursday to put in a new doorknob. We figured it would be cheaper and easier than calling in a locksmith. While he was there, he fixed her commode and installed a shower filter (busy guy). Tuesday, Jose and Steve also installed a water filter on her kitchen sink. All the comforts of home. :)
On Thursday, Bernadette was given a report from the treatment team. They are pleased with Stephanie's progress. Her projected release date is January 17, but that is subject to change, if she is still progressing in her therapy (and insurance holds out). They discovered -- now this is rocket science -- that Stephanie was really uncomfortable in the reclining wheelchair. She is sitting up in a 'regular' chair and much more comfortable and less combative. She got time in her bed without the alarm on, too. She did well while Bernadette was talking with her. Bernadette says that Stephanie is talking better and better every day. She is more understandable and more coherent. She laughs at the therapists' jokes. Bernadette says it is good to hear her laugh. Both Monday and Wednesday nights, Stephanie was reported to be singing!!! She has a very nice singing voice. We were hoping that would be something she would retain and enjoy.
One of the intriguing things about recovery from traumatic brain injury is watching the person retrace developmental steps both physically and cognitively. Bernadette says it is like having a toddler in a 33 year old's body. Another phenomenon is making up things that she 'remembers.' Arif does that a bunch, too. Stephanie told about a visitor she had Wednesday night that no one else had any recollection of. But she went into great detail about what they talked about.
Well, now that I have filled you in on the latest and greatest: all the news that is news: Keep praying. Stephaine still has a looooong way to go. Bernadette has so many difficult decisions to make on Stephanie's behalf. Please pray for wisdom for Bernadette, as well as for the doctors, nurses, and therapists. The question of where will Stephanie go from here is next on the list....
Comments (1)