Monday, October 24, 2022

6:51 PM

Hello, welcome to our day, today!

   Larry was pleased to tell me that he'd already had O.T./Swallowing therapy. He said the therapist was very pleased with his eye - hand coordination & that he swallowed 20 times. It wasn't long before physio arrived to get him into the wheelchair. Seeing him easily move himself to the edge of the bed & dangle his legs seemed so natural (as before July 1). He stood 3 times, so strait, tall & very strong/in control. Every move he made, the therapists enthusiastically expressed how pleased they were. Once in the chair, Larry wheeled himself out of the room & down the hall & back, wheeling forward, backward & turning, including parking in a tight spot by his bed. Again "Whoo-hoo!" all around. There was some cute banter when Larry put his therapist hat on, using jargon, specific to the exercises. The therapists, the nurse, Larry & I were all delighted with the fruits of his labour.

   I left Larry sitting at the window, when I went to move my car from the 2 hr free parking at the end of the park. He spotted our car & said he'd watch me. I couldn't tell which window was his for sure, but I'd stop, turn around & wave madly in his direction, a few times before I got to the car. I sat & ate my lunch, before I drove to the parade, which had been full when I first arrived. I didn't think Larry'd stay awake while I was gone, but the first words he said to me were, "Why did you stay in the car for so long, before you drove off?" Our interaction has come such a long way from the days & weeks, when there was little to none! From the window, we enjoyed watching very happy dogs playing in the park together.

 We had 2 surprise visits. One was from our friend from church who took such good care of us during Larry's first 3 weeks in ICU & HAU. Even when she wasn't assigned to Larry as her patient, she was always checking on us with great love & encouragement. We were so shocked when Larry's first ICU Neurosurgeon came to say "Hi!" He lives in another province & we didn't expect to see him again. He made the world of difference, by the way he cares for his patients & their families. He was very up front & explained things so clearly, all the while with hope as the bottom line. Larry's face lit up when he saw him, & I didn't think that he would remember seeing him, for the very few times that he only partially opened his eyes. I asked about the hang-over of sleep from delirium, which in the first 2 weeks, we wondered if Larry would every stay awake for any length of time, because he had to be forced to awaken, actually more like being stirred. As mentioned almost every day, Larry nods off several times a day for up to 2 hours, unless awoken. The doctor said "Poke him, he's got to get out of that habit during the day & sleep through the night." OK Larry, you heard the doctor! It opened up discussion between us about how well he's progressing & building on that momentum. I taped, where Larry could easily see, the commitment list of his therapies to do, each day, with his signature on the bottom.

 Larry received a phone call from a lovely client that he has worked with, & that I have also met. We have a special bond together & hearing her voice boosted Larry's heart with so much joy. I read Larry the beautiful messages of encouragement that have come in & the positive effects are heartwarming to witness. Encouragement all around today! My cup runneth over! 

  Larry can hear again! We received 2 responses to the request for hearing aids that were not being used any longer. One set came last evening & one came today. No, Larry doesn't have 3 ears, but we are happy to have the back-up if needed. He was so happy to hear, especially when our friend phoned. It will make a huge difference to Larry's interaction with the therapists & nurses. When it's so much work to try & hear on his own, if he's tired, he doesn't even try, because it's been futile much of the time.

 Because of Larry not struggling to hear me today, we were so blessed with a beautiful, meaningful conversation. Me telling him how inspired I am by him & how he's been a champion all along, through the terrible war he's had to fight. He was very emotional as he expressed most beautifully, how he felt toward me.

 This was the day that we've been praying for, in the hope of moving forward, gaining strength & mobility. Today, it felt like we are free of the horrible weight of the many obstacles that interfered with Larry just trying to survive each day, let alone get on with therapy, for the stroke, the original reason to need hospital care. We credit the many positive changes, to your supportive love & prayers. We never feel alone! We appreciate the important role you have played & continue to play as companions on this journey! God bless you! We thank God for you! xoxo