Really, part deux

Good morning, everyone. Today is Day 444, and Lee is still stable. That in itself is a good thing; it can take a long time (months) for the brain to regain a stable fluid balance, and she is vulnerable to setbacks.

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping you updated; I've been trying to get away to do some work, and when I'm back here, I just forget to post. Truthfully, there is little progress to report on.. She still talks a bit here and there, squeezes hands and shows some rudimentary sign language, but she also sleeps a lot, and sometimes even when she is awake, she doesn't respond much.

But she IS improving; there are smaller, subtle signs that I see... her eyes are more clear, and focused; her legs and arms are more relaxed and she is easier to stretch. She attends better, and can move more deliberately.

Something you will all like; I stood with her for like an hour a while ago, trying to coax her into talking to me. Nothing. She was responding to yes/no questions by squeezing my hand or shaking her head, but no talking. About 90 minutes into our visit, her boss sent me a text, asking how she was. I told him, then he said "Tell her that Figure Skating has been taken out of the Olympics because it's too boring." (He is a hockey jock, and bugs her like this all the time). So I told her.

She stared at me, then worked her mouth around, and then very clearly said "Tell Steve he is Full of Shit."

Seriously? I tried to get her to talk for an hour and a half, but she talks to her boss because he slagged figure skating???

Last night, we watched the Team Skating. She saw all the men doing a splatfest and attended to the commentary, but didnt say anything; could be just a down part of her recovery, could be she has another small infection... She doesn't talk when she has those, either, but at least she was interested. So we will keep watching.

Anyway, she is still in there, still improving, and I still have hope we will go home, eventually. For the moment, we are watching another Olympics together, and that's enough for me.

Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.
 
Thank you, as ever, for the update.

I'm glad that Lee is progressing.
"Slow and steady" leads to lasting improvement.
May this continue.

Her boss sent me a text, asking how she was. I told him, then he said "Tell her that Figure Skating has been taken out of the Olympics because it's too boring." (He is a hockey jock, and bugs her like this all the time). So I told her.

She stared at me, then worked her mouth around, and then very clearly said "Tell Steve he is Full of Shit."

Wonderful!
 
Thanks Gerry. I remember in my father's case, this was the longest phase, and he was only in a coma for about 6 weeks and only 2 brain operations. Funny about the boss. My dad wouldn't talk either so I was continually prattling on, often about the same thing multiple times. First thing he finally said to me was, "You already said that!"

Olympics are a time of mixed emotions for me. I lost my mom in 2010 during the games, just like Joannie, so I'm glad you two can be together this games. Hang in there, the signs you are reporting certainly are good ones. Thanks for taking the time to update.
 
Oh my gosh, Gerry. That is the greatest story about Lee! How wonderful to know that even though she can't express herself much, the "real Lee" is in there, waiting to come out again. I hope the good signs keep coming to renew your hope and fortitude. Enjoy the Olympics. I bet she will surprise you with another observation at some point during the Games.
 
Great news Gerry. A couple of things. With a brain injury, she might be sensitive to sound. I know i was and still am. She might also be having problems with putting words together when being asked questions. They may be all jumbled up in her head and she could be embarrassed on talking or part of her brain doesn't know how to talk. You should talk to the doctors about some speech therapy. it helped me a lot. all the words were jumbled in my head. i spoke really well when i was mad, but when it was questions or just talking, everything was jumbled up. i just stopped speaking because everyone would laugh the way things came out.
I am praying for you both.
 

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