Jul. 13, 2022
WOW, WOW, WOW!
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 6:43 PM
Best news so far. Thank you for checking in with your positive & hopeful concern & support.
I know that yesterday I tried hard to make it clear that 'progress' was so very minimal. Like watching a new baby (as Shane said to me) saying "Oh, oh, look he opened is eyes, yawned, or... just about any little thing." That changed today. (but he's still not ready to grab his guitar & sing.) The lights went on for Larry today! He was comfortably sitting in a recliner as I arrived. He opened his eyes a bit. I have to remember to be on his left, as he has no right peripheral vision.
So here are the spontaneous things he said, beyond answering a few questions.
- When I played a recording of him singing, he said "Talbot" the artist's name.
- I told him of an avalanche of emails from his colleagues in the Driver Educators for the Disabled (whom he sees once a yr at conferences) As I read their first name, he would quickly respond with their sir name.
- I shared that our young 13 yr old friend Carson was mowing the church grass. He said "Carson, wow, awesome!" & said "Yes he is!" when I said what a lovely boy he is. (So Carson, you made our day today, thank you!)
- Our friend Paul came in to pick me up. Larry looked at him & said his name & "how's your wife?" He also said "It would be nice to do a part of the trip!" meaning the Camino de Santiago which Paul is going on, but only 100 km.
- He asked me why he was there (in hosp). He said 'Wow!' rocking his head sideways in a 'can't believe it' gesture. He said "Yup!" when I told him it would be a long road, but he's up to the challenge & knows what to do.
- We said our "I love you's!" After telling him many things I liked/loved about him, I asked him what he liked about me "I like you because you're you!" Ohhhh!
I thought I heard the Dr. say yesterday that Larry would be in ICU for some time. Today, he said they're waiting for a bed on a ward, to move him out of ICU when one is available.
He's moving his head around, which makes me nervous, as it slides off the sponge donut take stress off of the herniated brain, bulging out of the space where the bone was removed from the lower back of the skull. His coughing of course is the dominant 'annoyance', making it hard to relax completely. He's still on the feeding tube. He hates his hands being restrained, but hopefully he'll be free of them, when he realizes he has to leave his tubes/iv's alone.
So, I'm done reporting in! My heart is overflowing with gratitude & joy at (first of all) so many beautiful loving greetings & prayers and then, Larry's response to hearing how very much he has inspired, mentored & befriended others over the last 3 decades, throughout the States, Canada & farther. Every day the number of well-wishes overflow from many parts of his life. How very wonderful to hear words that affirm the beautiful person that he is. And still making a difference, just because he's Larry!
God bless you. Nighty night! xoxo