Wednesday Was a Better Day

Joyce sent an update yesterday afternoon (1 PM) that was great!  See below (with some minor edits here and there):

When dad had left mom yesterday afternoon [Tuesday], she was sleeping deep, after a morning sleeping pretty deep through just about everything.
Well, we got to dad's about 5 PM and he wanted to go to the store, so Andrei and I went over to the rehab.

Mom was awake in bed looking sort of up at the TV.  She responded well when we got there, and was immediately talkative. She was very bright eyed, very lucid and clear. Her face had no droop, and she in fact looked fabulous.

I asked her some questions about the day, and she didn't remember much, but was very aware that she is out for periods of time.  She called it "off the map".  She talked on and on about how amazing it all is, that she is alive, that she can do what she can, but also how it is that she can tune out like that, and then come back and understand everything. She explained this very clearly. She was able to say that she is very much in the now. I asked her questions we have asked before- date, place, where she lives, kind of car she has, who is Lizzy's fiance, where does John live, etc etc. She got everything right. She seemed in awe as though she feels herself coming out of a deep sleep. That's the way she sounded and the things she said were so coherant. I brought in some lace with some French writing on it, and she read it and translated it. Overall, just very remarkable for me, but it seemed as though she realized this too.  I mean it.  She did mention in the beginning that she didn't really like it there though, because she said often she was alone and no one ever came to see her. She said she couldn't do anything about it, if she was cold or wanted to contact someone. That part she still couldn't get a handle on.

Anyway, dad showed up and she was sooooo happy- really excited to see him. Very cute. Throughout the evening, we reminded her that people had come to see her such as the doc and the pastor, and she did not remember. She is aware of the fact that she cannot remember this tho- and when I ask if that concerns her, she says yes.  I remind her that its going to get better, and to keep in her head that we are all, visiting all the time. After awhile, she was tired and decided to go- the nurses tuck her in.

We came back this morning [Wednesday].  She was awake. A little subdued, but still really with it. Almost like she is playing a game with us- like she knows the answers. Anyway, she had on some electrodes- they were doing muscle stimulation with her- a treatment that sends currents to her muscles - helping the brain to make new pathways to her muscles, to them moving. This was on her right upper arm.   Anyway, the nurses cleaned her up and and PTs come to the room.

Together, the two girls got her up in a wheelchair- she did well- now drooping and falling over.  Then a session of almost an hour I bet, of leg exercises, arm and feet exercises, neck and shoulder. And sit up straight. She was unbelievable attentive and successfull. The PTs were thrilled and complementary.  We thought she was pooped, but then the speech therapist (ST) came by quickly to do come swallowing with her. We got her apple juice and yougart.  You would not believe how enjoyable this was to watch. She was totally awake and cooperative. She laughed at our cheers and her progress. She had about 8 spoonfulls of yogurt and 6 sips of juice, of which she held the cup at the end. The ST asked about her food preferences and said in the end, that by the end of the week, she thinks she might be able to get a tray!  She is coming by tomorrow to eat a watery lunch with her. We were able to share the info about how she eats very slow, and her issues with that. Nevertheless, the ST was impressed. After all of that, she was tired, but not that zoned-out tired.

The nurse aid came in, and mom was put to bed for a nap. We have left to have lunch at home.  So far, so good!

So yeah, very good news all around.   So glad to have this great update from Joyce. :)