Saturday, October 8, 2022 10:35 PM

Hello. Welcome to our day!

  It's another long weekend, which means a shortage of staff, especially for any therapies. Larry's nurse today at times was taking care of 8 patients, many of whom require much care. She calls me by name (I 1st met her yesterday). She is so attentive & loving to every patient. I mentioned that Larry's personal care at times, may be uncomfortable for the 3 women in his room. Five minutes later, she said "Let's go! Larry is leaving the dudettes for a room of dudes!" He's 2 rooms over, in 509. His bed is again by the window. A couple of his room-mates seem to be very ill, reminiscent of where Larry was, a while back.

  Because Larry wasn't having therapy today, we did some arm exercises & speech. He slept a lot today, which was for me, not like the last few days. I don't think of the delirium as much, since he has been more alert, but its still there. When I ask him to open his eyes, he really has to stretch his forehead & eyelids to get them open. He read my blog from yesterday. I could see him struggle to find the position to hold his head, to line up the script to his tunnel vision. I asked if I could read from a blog about a week after his surgery. There was little response from him at that time, & as much as I knew what was coming, I really choked, realizing how very far he has come, from when he was barely surviving. He didn't have any expression or say anything. I don't really know why I decided to read it to him, it just felt like the thing to do today., to help him realize how hard he has worked in coming so far. He's got the next 2 days without therapy, so I encouraged him to take the initiative to do what he can.

  He watched a couple of short documentaries with David Attenbury: grizzlies catching spawning salmon & puffin birds. That was enough for him today. He can hear well with the earphones plugged into the tablet. His hearing aids haven't shown up, so I put a call out to friends, whose family member recently passed away. I thought he had hearing aids & asked if they were available for Larry to borrow for now. I know it's not a case of one size fits all, but it would be better than trying to hear without any.

  After leaving the hospital, I dropped in at friends (who are like family) who had invited me to come for turkey dinner leftovers. Well I did, followed by a crazy word game with their family. It's the first time I've played a game & enjoyed silly competitiveness, for quite a while.

  My brother Tim will spend time with Larry before noon tomorrow (Sunday), so I won't be rushed to get to Mass & head out right away. This is the first Thanksgiving that I'm not doing any cooking! There will be a time again, but certainly not for now.

  Whenever you are turkeying this weekend, I hope that thoughts of the many things you have to be thankful for, will wash over you, giving you much joy & peace.  God bless you.