Today is the one week anniversary. While it's hard to see the gains when you are living it so closely, taking a step back to where we were one week ago and I can see how far she has come in just this first week.
I went back to the Deep Creek house for the first time today. Between one week of hospital living and I was finding myself becoming frustrated with Laura's constant repetition of the same refrain of questions, and I just needed to get away for a bit. My parents (Carol and Jim) arrived yesterday which takes a little of the load off Tom and Judy with shuttling Megan back and forth. Carol and Judy brought Megan to Morgantown today, and Judy sat through therapy sessions with Laura while Carol took Megan and I headed back to DCL. Thank God for Reese's house in Morgantown as a place to take Megan during the day for naps and downtime.
It was nice to get away from the hospital setting, but I didn't like being at the lake house. It didn't feel right with Laura in the hospital and no Riley running around. Chris and I took the circular saw to one of the old, homemade bunkbeds in the smallest bunk room to take off the upper bunk and make the room more habitable for adults. Using power tools felt good. Then I packed up fresh clothes, inspected Laura's crushed bike and helmet in the garage, took a sneak peek at her PowerTap still on the bike (avg 186 watts, avg 22.0 mph, 33 minutes, 12.1 miles at time of crash - so she was working hard to start that ride), and headed back to Morgantown.
But who cares about me. Laura is coming around. The therapy tires her out, but her short-term memory is oh-so-slowly improving. She knows she has asked the questions before, so I am making her talk through the answers for herself and either validating them or elaborating on them for her. I think she's starting to believe that everyone thinks she will get back to her old self and I'm not just making that up. Still no activity out of that lower left leg, but I asked the doctor tonight about that and he is not surprised by it. To me, if it's brain related and the memory is starting to heal, shouldn't we be getting glimmers of activity there as well? Nonetheless she appears more stable afoot and the transfers to/from bed and wheelchair and wheelchair/toilet are much easier.
We've been moved into a new room in the pediatric section. Previously we were surrounded by some patients with brain injuries who were loud screamers (and one violent who slept in a cage) and I think having Megan around so much made it easy to get us moved to a quieter room. The therapists and nurses who work there are truly impressive people. We have found a manageable routine where Megan arrives around 8am and gets nursed 3x throughout the day and Laura pumps 1-2x otherwise and Megan gets 2 bottles (one early am, one bedtime) from milk Laura has frozen in past months. So, we're close to breaking even. It's important to Laura that Megan continues on breast milk and it looks like we will be able to pull that off.
I told SAIS that Laura would not attend this fall and they were very understanding and seemed legitimately concerned about someone they had never met. "SAIS will be ready for Laura when Laura is ready for SAIS". That was very encouraging.
Here's to a good 2nd week!
- Kyle
I went back to the Deep Creek house for the first time today. Between one week of hospital living and I was finding myself becoming frustrated with Laura's constant repetition of the same refrain of questions, and I just needed to get away for a bit. My parents (Carol and Jim) arrived yesterday which takes a little of the load off Tom and Judy with shuttling Megan back and forth. Carol and Judy brought Megan to Morgantown today, and Judy sat through therapy sessions with Laura while Carol took Megan and I headed back to DCL. Thank God for Reese's house in Morgantown as a place to take Megan during the day for naps and downtime.
It was nice to get away from the hospital setting, but I didn't like being at the lake house. It didn't feel right with Laura in the hospital and no Riley running around. Chris and I took the circular saw to one of the old, homemade bunkbeds in the smallest bunk room to take off the upper bunk and make the room more habitable for adults. Using power tools felt good. Then I packed up fresh clothes, inspected Laura's crushed bike and helmet in the garage, took a sneak peek at her PowerTap still on the bike (avg 186 watts, avg 22.0 mph, 33 minutes, 12.1 miles at time of crash - so she was working hard to start that ride), and headed back to Morgantown.
But who cares about me. Laura is coming around. The therapy tires her out, but her short-term memory is oh-so-slowly improving. She knows she has asked the questions before, so I am making her talk through the answers for herself and either validating them or elaborating on them for her. I think she's starting to believe that everyone thinks she will get back to her old self and I'm not just making that up. Still no activity out of that lower left leg, but I asked the doctor tonight about that and he is not surprised by it. To me, if it's brain related and the memory is starting to heal, shouldn't we be getting glimmers of activity there as well? Nonetheless she appears more stable afoot and the transfers to/from bed and wheelchair and wheelchair/toilet are much easier.
We've been moved into a new room in the pediatric section. Previously we were surrounded by some patients with brain injuries who were loud screamers (and one violent who slept in a cage) and I think having Megan around so much made it easy to get us moved to a quieter room. The therapists and nurses who work there are truly impressive people. We have found a manageable routine where Megan arrives around 8am and gets nursed 3x throughout the day and Laura pumps 1-2x otherwise and Megan gets 2 bottles (one early am, one bedtime) from milk Laura has frozen in past months. So, we're close to breaking even. It's important to Laura that Megan continues on breast milk and it looks like we will be able to pull that off.
I told SAIS that Laura would not attend this fall and they were very understanding and seemed legitimately concerned about someone they had never met. "SAIS will be ready for Laura when Laura is ready for SAIS". That was very encouraging.
Here's to a good 2nd week!
- Kyle
Glad to hear you're getting some extra help, Kyle. The improvement she's made in the last week is very, very impressive and bodes very well for the future.
ReplyDeleteObviously I'm not a brain expert but I told you my experiences with my dad and it can definitely take some time after a brain hemorrhage for everything to start returning to normal. But her improvements already have been remarkable and they'll start coming faster and faster. There's no doubt in my mind that she'll make a full recovery, because I've seen it firsthand from a really dire situation.
Please tell Laura that everyone at work is praying for her and checking the blog.
Also, you might talk to the therapists and doctors, but some puzzles might be a good outlet for her energy - sudoku, crosswords, etc.
Kyle..I care about you b/c I've been there... As the number one support person, you are carrying around more than you know at the moment. Good for you for getting away for an occasional break. That is what will make you a much more effective care giver in the long run. Laura seems to be making great progress...you are both strong competitors, so I have no doubt you will finish strong down the line if you maintain an appropriate pace...Thanks for keeping us all updated. Thinking of you often each day.
ReplyDeleteYou've made it through the first week and seen some improvement. The next milestone will be at month's end...more improvement will come, narrowing down the areas that will be lingering challenges.
ReplyDeleteThe good news story here is that you and Laura are being tested and forced to adapt...an experience that will help you the next time you are faced with an unexpected major life challenge. You both are learning new skills...skills that you'll need to successfully get through life and be good parents. Example...when Megan starts walking six months from now, Mommy and Daddy will have more empathy and insights into the challenges of good parenting than they would have without this experience.
This experience will teach you to have greater patience and gain perspective, affect your views on goal setting, and bring you closer to family and friends. It will also take your lives in a different direction; it will be up to you make it work. Out of adversity comes opportunity. If you can harness this, you and Laura will come out better people, increase your chances of being successful parents, and be better prepared for the unexpected down the road.
Hey Kyle - Mike and I are thinking of you guys and cheering Laura on from Colorado. We're so proud of the progress she's made and honestly DO believe she will be back to normal -- if anyone can do it, we know she can.
ReplyDelete