Lisa is doing better. I went in today and yesterday. Progress is slow, but she is making progress. Sydney, Michele and I came in when it was about time for speech. I noticed how old, (1985) the cards are for her speech therapy...not at all up to date, so we will fix that one! We are going to take pictures of simple, ordinary objects, like a chair, fan, microwave, people she knows...so the ST can talk about it with her. That will help her with thinking things through. She has lost some cognitive skills that she once had. Hopefully she will get it back. Joe walked into the room and started talking to her. He said something smart alec to her, he was standing in front of her and she kicked him a good one with her good leg...had a smile on her face for about 3 minutes afterward. Funny.
She stood up for over 6 minutes yesterday and eight today. We got her to not think about it by giving each of us a standing hug. She hugged, me, Joe, Sydney and Michele. She had a huge smile. She wheeled herself with one hand half way down the hall. She really is doing more than some people would. It is just not to where I hoped she would be at this point. She will though, in her own time.
Today I came in and found her laying down. She was not in a good mood. I suppose she just hadn't been up and was tired from not doing much. I sat beside her for a long time while she slept. She is peaceful. She is not angry or upset. When I talked to her about her stroke, she said "it stinks...it sucks" Yes, I agree with her on that one 100%!
She had PT before lunch today, she bore weight on both her right and left feet, shifting weight from one foot to the other. She did very well. She likes to stand, is just fearful that she will fall, I think. The PT did say that she is able to position her body well and is encouraged by her muscles and wanting to learn.
Lisa's vision is another story. We don't know what she can see. Her left eye is completely shut. I see eye lid movement, but she is not able to keep it open herself. She tears up in that eye. I have asked her if she is crying, she doesn't say anything. She did tell me that her eye hurts. When I asked her if it was the eye that tears up, she pointed to her open eye...so I don't know. I had an eye dr appt and just asked my Dr if she knew anything about vision in stroke patients. She does. I told her alittle about Lisa and she told me that Lisa needs to be evaluated by Tuesday. I didn't think to ask why? Helllllooooo? I don't know why. But she told me that if noone will do it, to call her. It must be important. I talked to the nurses about it today, while Lisa was snoozing...they had never heard of it before, but her nurse got right on it and went through the proper protcol and phone calls. Hopefully they can do an eval. Lisa's eyes are not really looking at you, but she knows what colors you are wearing and knows who you are, but that may be by your voice. I wish I knew.
Lisa is still in there, she is more mellow and less opinionated than she was...Her expletives are not voiced, but she probably thinks them more than ever...but then again, maybe not. If it were me...I can't say I would be the same way.
She reminds me of mom. Mom was so sweet and was so appreciative when someone did something for her. Especially when she could not do something for herself. I called Karen while I was there to help with lunch. Karen told me to ask Lisa if she missed her and her answer? "I always do!" Sweet.
She has received room spray for her room...smells heavenly! Lisa loves different smells, she is loving her cards and expressed how many she has, Michele counted...158 so far. We really do read each and every one of them to her, and she has touched them and looked at them. Tomorrow night, Lisa will eat Tobin's pizza...she is looking forward to it. I told her we, Joe, the kids and I, will bring it and will eat somewhere other than her room...she suggested the cafeteria...I think if the weather is nice, we will find someplace outside. She replied, "that would be nice" She hasn't seen the outside for a month now...it is hard to believe and it is sometimes hard to swallow.
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