Baby steps

Ohhhh, where to start...

Lisa is doing well. She is human and she is getting frustrated with herself and she wants so much to go home. Karen was making phone calls and making contact with people to help us, help Lisa. Karen had a good talk with Lisa after the PT said that she has plateaued. She explained to her that she is doing really good...and that she can do better. Lisa didn't come right out and say it, but she really isn't feeling too great about the therapists...I have noticed it too. The therapists are great at what they do, they work with the elderly. They really don't know how to work with people who have mental disabilities. I never really understood how people can't...but then again, I have never known what it is like to not have a "normal" family.

I went to see Lisa today after being absent for 9 days. She was sitting in her wheelchair and was so happy to see me and the kids. She hugged us and talked about everything. While I was there the PT came in and asked me if Karen had kept me abreast about Lisa. I told her that she had, but I wanted to know more about the in home assessment....So here goes:

• Lisa will be taken to her apt and Karen and I will be there to help
• Linda and another PT/OT will assist
• therapists will evaluate what Lisa can do by herself
• they will simulate her apt as best they can so she can practice at the nursing home 
•             things such as moving her bed so she gets out on the right side, instead of the left

Lisa needs to be able to:

• get dressed by herself
• get out of bed
• go to the bathroom by herself
• get around her apt
• get out of her apt in case of a fire

Safety is the number 1 goal. I believe that Lisa will be able to do all of this, but it will take more time. Lisa got very frustrated today at not being able to put her splint on. (the OT does not want her to have it on during the day, only at night) I had her work her hand and move it and twist her wrist. She asked me for how long and I told her that she should do it 10 times. She did it for about a minute and it started really hurting her. The PT was in there with Lisa's roommate, Jo. She went ahead and put it on Lisa because Lisa started to cry...no tears fell but she was in pain. It wasn't until the PT left that a tear fell down. I felt so bad for her. I came over and hugged her and she just rested her head on my shoulder and stayed there until I stood up. The kids were so good. They just watched. They have compassion for her and I don't ever want them to not see emotions...they know she is handicapped, but they also see in her; happiness, silliness, frustration, sadness and most of all the same as them...

Gayle, and Emily, the awesome ladies (who love Lisa) came to the nursing home to cut her hair. Gayle is the only one who has cut Lisa's hair for the past 16 or 17 years. Lisa loves her and the feeling is mutual. Gayle has seen Lisa at her best and her worst. Lisa was grumpy today. Sorry Gayle. I left before she started cutting, but Karen said it looks really good. She evened it up and was careful around her shunt. I bet Lisa feels better about herself too. That is what matters.

Karen told me that she had about an hour talk last week with Carmen (she works with the people at the apts on the Housing Authority side) about our options for Lisa...Karen, correct me if I am wrong...Lisa was approved for state funding that went into effect July 1st. This is a huge deal because it takes years and many waiting lists to get this type of funding. Once you have it, it is for life. Lisa never needed it, but the process started over a year ago. Funny how God works.
Lisa will be able to get the extra help she needs to be independent. Carmen wants to make this work, she believes in Lisa, she believes in her family, and she knows that we support her 110%. It will not be easy, those days are gone. But we are fighting for her freedom here. The supervisor over the complex has been a friend of the family since we lived on Olive street 40 years ago. He told Carmen that whatever the Taminger's need, is what they will get. Lisa will need to move down to the 1st floor. He told Carmen, that the 1 that is open will be hers. Thank you Bill, and thank you Lord.

I know I am skipping around here, bear with me. Lisa has a neuro appt with the Dr in Bloomington, the one who did her shunt, on Monday morning. Karen and I will take her and tell him what is going on with her situation. We hope that he will approve that she can be independent, to some extent. We just want him to say that she will be fine. The PT has been in contact with Carmen and did not realize that Lisa will get the support she needs to get back to her apt. That is the reason for the home assessment. She made the assumption that Lisa will never be able to go back to living life as she knew before, so we needed to find a place like a nursing home for people who are developmentally delayed. I guess we are like my Mom, we are not listening to the professionals opinions and we are trying to do what we think is best for Lisa, and being Lisa's advocates. We hope it all lines up with the plans of the One upstairs!

We think, we know, that getting Lisa into her apt (for a visit:)) will be a HUGE motivator for her. The PT is worried about getting her up the steps...I told her that Karen and I did it all the time for my mom, and we can handle it. She is all about safety though. I know that once Lisa gets into her home, that she has not seen since May 16th, that she will try so hard to get back there. Please pray that everything works out for her. Lisa only wanted to keep her memory. We only wanted to stop her seizures...which, by the way...she has yet to have one!!!!!!! Thank you God!

 This picture was taken the day before we left for vacation. I called Lisa and asked her if it would be OK if we ordered pizza for lunch since we wouldn't see her for a week. Her answer? "Sound's Delicious!!!!" It was!