Thursday, May 28

Dad Continues to Improve

I got to see Dad and Mom this past weekend for the first time in several weeks. Dad continues to surprise me with his progress. He is much stronger in his ability to get himself up and off his bed, chair, etc. He is able to get around Matt's house almost totally without cues to remember to stand up straight, bring his left hand up with his right when holding the railing going down the stairs and not bring his walker out too far in front of him when he walks. He is now completing sudoku puzzles like a "fiend" doing everything he can to make the most progress possible in the area of cognition. He told me how to check his blood sugar, blood pressure, and perform all of the other tasks needed to keep him going on a day to day basis. His long term memory continues to be wonderful and his concentration has improved tremendously.

On the down side Dad continues to be shaky and unsteady. While he can tell me how to do daily tasks he is too shaky to complete them himself. We are all fearful that Dad will fall because the "steadiness" is just not there. Most importantly we are all coming to the understanding of how much the right and left side of a person's brain works together to define who we are. With the massive damage to the right hemisphere of Dad's brain we are getting to know a father who is so much the same but at the same time so different.

At this point Dad and Mom plan to return to Millboro on June 13, 2009. This will give us just enough time to get them settled at home before Mom goes in for hernia surgery on the 15th. Hannah and I plan to spend the summer in Millboro and with everyone's help hope to keep them at home during summer vacation. Mom and Dad are working hard on looking at options for their care on a more permanent basis when summer break is over.

Dad wants everyone to know how much he has enjoyed their cards, letters, telephone calls, and prayers during this time. He is working on sending cards to as many people as possible but we haven't been able to get a lot of them completed. We will get through them all slowly but surely. In the meantime please remember how much you all are appreciated.