AWESOME

Karen and I met at the nursing home this morning about 7:30. We got Lisa loaded up and went to see Dr Summerlin for an 8:00 appt. We were greeted in the waiting room by Carmen, the wonderful lady who is helping us get Lisa back into her apt. Lisa was in a mood again. I think she is just so frustrated and so depressed about her situation and she can't express herself. She cried before she left the nursing home. She was quiet the whole way there. Karen was trying to get her motivated, to be happy, to just try to act happy at least. This was going to be an important Dr appt. It was going to determine her fate, as it were.
Well, we get in the room and Karen is asking Lisa what her name was, and all her information...Lisa just looked at her with this huge smile and hit her...telling her she should know! It worked! Lisa was coming out her of slump.

Dr Summerlin came in and was so happy to see Lisa. She normally, or rarely, if ever, does not see her patients after they have been in Acute Rehab. She is not their doctor, she is just there to make sure that they are getting the right Rehab for their situation. She is helping us to determine how much Lisa has progressed. She is giving us hope...giving Lisa hope.

After a physical exam and some strength assessments, the Dr touched Lisa's right side of her body and asked if she could feel it, she rubbed her calf, her ankle, her arm and her shoulder. Nothing. Lisa told her she could not feel it. Sigh...Lisa was less than enthusiastic about the whole thing. Like we were wasting her time. Ha! She is her own person! 

I did not realize how much she studied and  knew about Lisa. She knew all about her previous accomplishments, about all the odds she has beaten and about the determination that she has. Lisa was clearly DONE...as in, spent, irritated, and she verbally said so...done.

Dr looked at Lisa and said, "Lisa, all your life you have done what you have been told, you have always been told what to do...and you have gotten so far because of that." Lisa just looked down. She then said, "Lisa, I want to watch you walk." So we went out to the hallway and Lisa got to show her how she walks with the hemi walker. The dr was thrilled, told her how excited she was to watch her come so far since the last time she saw her! We could not have scripted this entire conversation better!!!! We told her about the plateau issue and she kinda had words for those people. She agreed with us, and she supported our mission, as it were, for more therapy. She rambled off many reasons and facts about a study about continuing therapy, and commented that Lisa is not even part of that study group, because Lisa continues to improve after everyone else has stopped (improving), it is who Lisa is, it is part of her history, it is impossible to make such a statement(about Lisa)! We have found someone who gets her! She understands Lisa! She wants Lisa to get back to her life, without being limited! Thank you!

Dr Summerlin saw Lisa 5 days after her stroke. She saw her nearly die. She saw how Lisa couldn't even open her eyes, much less respond to anything! She saw Lisa. She was absolutely thrilled to see how far she has come since the day she left the hospital!

Lisa did not want to go to see the therapists on 2nd floor. Too many memories??? I don't know. She gets teary eyed when we talk about her stroke, about her shunt. She is so brave! But we went up there and she was welcomed by many of her therapists, and one of her nurses. They were so happy to see her! Lisa was glad to see them...she was happy to leave too:) LOL!

Dr S gave Lisa her blessing to move back to the apartments, but she needs to continue working on getting out of bed and to work on her every day tasks. Carmen helped to explain all that she can do and to explain the supports needed. Dr S made some wonderful suggestions and she is in full support of Lisa getting back to the apts. One was to have OT and PT come to Lisa, for the first few weeks to figure out adaptions for real life inside her home! That is way better than what we came up with. If she prescribes it, they have to follow it...and she will prescribe it...for Lisa.

From my point of view, Lisa has some work ahead of her. But I believe that the only way that Lisa will recover to the best of her ability is to not hinder her. She needs to do for herself. She needs to have NO ONE do anything for her, things that she can do. No one needs to hold her bowl of ice cream because it slides...we can make an adaption and Lisa can figure it out. If you give in, an inch, the girl will take a mile! Anyone would! She is manipulative, but who isn't??? Really!

It is not going to be easy. Life has never been easy for Lisa. We all got comfortable with what Lisa accomplished and with what Lisa was able to do. That is not true anymore. Lisa has always needed us, and yes, we knew that. But now it is crucial for us to always be there for her. It took a stroke for us to figure it out. We're learning...more than we ever thought.

Lisa, you keep up the hard work! You are awesome, and everytime, Every. Single. Time. you ask us, "How'd I do?" the answer is, and always will be, "Awesome!"

Lisa will be much happier. She asked the Dr. "What date?" to move back...She looked at Lisa and smiled and told her by the end of Sept. We hope that the endless paperwork and the endless advocating will soon pay off. Lisa deserves it...we might even throw a party for her! Wanna come?