The word--WOW, is a great way to sum up today. I was back in Oswego for Friday night and Saturday, and returned to Galesburg middle of this afternoon. When I arrived, I was so happy and surprised to see Pam Edwards, our former vocal teacher from high school, at Seminary visiting mom. I had just been thinking about her, again, as I passed by the Geneseo exit while driving down I80 en route to Galesburg. After saying "hello" for a few minutes, Pam continued to visit with mom. It took a few minutes for me to realize that mom was carrying on the conversation with Pam, pretty much just as any one of us would. She was stringing sentence after sentence, answering questions, carrying on a normal conversation. It's like a light bulb went on, or a switch had been flipped. You miss some little "aha" moments or little improvements when not there for a day and so I expected to be see a little difference....but this was MAJOR!
David had done some work with mom this morning using some of the open ended questions and other exercises we have to work with her on, so she was showing signs of another really good day. Pam had come to visit then in the afternoon, and was asking mom questions that we have not even been able to ask mom because she has not been able to verbalize well enough for us to even attempt the questions. Questions such as.."did you feel anything coming on before your stroke", "how did it feel", "what do you remember"....etc.....and although I wasn't there yet when she asked those questions, mom was answering clearly about what she does and doesn't remember.
She does remember some of the things she did the day it happened. Other things she isn't real sure if she remembers from that day. She does kind of remember the helicopter....although doesn't remember when they "came to get her" to put her in the helicopter. Remembers very little about St Francis in ICU, at this point, but does remember that they came and told her (us) she was going to have to move or leave at one point. We are thinking that was the Sunday afternoon (her 4th day in ICU) when they came in and sent us all into a panic by telling us she was being discharged that night...this being 3 1/2 days before she was actually discharged and not anywhere near a state in which she could go anywhere. A Sunday afternoon on top of everything else. Mom definitely sensed the panic we were thrown into.....and we all feel very badly that she (or any of us for that matter) were put through that totally senseless scare....it obviously registered enough for her to remember it.
What a day today has been for everyone. Just incredibly encouraging.
Tomorrow is discharge day from Bounce Back and mom is ready. She said 10:30 is "her" target time....they won't release anyone until after 10 a.m. and we weren't sure if she'd want to stay around for lunch and do some therapies on her own in the afternoon....but we have our answer.....10:30 a.m. is her goal.....I think she is ready to get home! ")......and we are ready to have her home.
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