Day 49

Vader sent in the 501st to fight cancer.

On Sunday, the Rebellion helped a stroke victim with a personalized greeting from Jedi Master Yoda himself!

I am SO geeking out on this one.  She did too.  I brought home her ipod Sunday night so I could load it up with the first round of everyone’s greetings.

And wouldn’t you know…

Monday…

After hearing Yoda speak to her directly (including her name!)…

She felt temperature differences AND random pokes on her right side.

Coincidence?

Well, yeah, probably.  It IS just a character in a movie and tv show after all.

It’s still cool to get my geek on once in a while and enjoy things.

So the past few days have been relatively rough, and we think we’ve figured out why.

We think she may be ready for the next step in this juncture…MAY…POTENTIALLY…but understand….that’s the last stop before home!

Got a TON of questions to get answered first, but from what I’m seeing, the non-compliant times I mentioned before are either boredom, she’s frustrated at the pace, or they don’t offer that at this facility.

Until we leave this place, we need to focus on her endurance.

Which means, we need her to do her therapies.

Which means, we need to keep her occupied so the nursing staff doesn’t feel the need to “medicate her” into oblivion.  Yes, I’ve spoken with them on that topic.

Which means, I need good people, whom I know and trust to volunteer to visit and continue to work on her cognitive therapies with her.

I’m really soul-searching on this one, but even on day one, I knew it would come down to this.

This is why, when everyone wanted to come and visit when they first heard what had happened to my wife, I asked them not to.

Because I didn’t need you then, and I said that your time to help would come.

I’m thinking this is that time to start lining up volunteers.

Until we get her to the new facility, we’ll need a little coverage.

After she’s done at the new facility, depending on what level she at when she leaves, we’ll need a fair amount of coverage at home for the first couple of weeks.

I have 2 definites.  Beyond that, it gets fuzzy as to who’s available to help.

I’ve set up a site at www.lotsahelpinghands.com and will be sending invites to folks I know.  Even if you can help for an hour here or there, it’s beneficial.  That would give others a break.  If you are out of town, we’ve got spare beds here.  So, can you help?  Would you offer up your spare time?  Or maybe a week’s worth of vacation?  I know it’s a tall order I’m requesting, but I’ve got to ask.

If you haven’t gotten an invite just yet, I apologize.  I’ve had a lot on my mind.  Either email me or request one by leaving a comment.

Oh wow, almost forgot the update on Anissa!

Let’s see, I’ve had her standing, which came along with an enthusiastic, “Ta-daa!” from the Mrs.  I’ve been feeding her applesauce and pudding.  She got a pulverized breakfast Tuesday morning and said it was delicious.  We’re trying to strengthen the swallowing muscles before anything other than pulverized.  Still, it’s the first “real” food she’s gotten since November 17.  I reminded her that there are easier ways to go on a diet.

We’ve been working on her fine motor skills on the left side, and the feeling is coming back in her right!  I came in from outside and put my cold hands on her right leg.  She responded with a “brrr cold”.  I asked if she could feel that, and she said yes.  Last week, I put ice cubes randomly around her leg while she wasn’t looking, thinking I’d get some sort of reaction.  I didn’t.

Monday, she did react though.  Whoo-hoo!

Of course she didn’t want to do the ice-cube test again.

There are times she’s extremely aware of her surroundings.  There are times she gets too tired to speak.  There are times she repeats things randomly.

Like I said before, it’s a roller coaster.

Then came Tuesday.

Why was Tuesday so awesome?

Because it was pure Anissa all day.

She had been falling asleep during her therapies at times because they were wearing her out.  Today, she went a full 90 minutes.  Then out of shear stubbornness, she decided to stay awake and have detailed conversation the rest of the day.  Pretty much all day.  We worked on a few things in her room.  She went through some of the mail and got a handful of surprises.  Many thanks to everyone who sent stuff!  The variety of what came in was absolutely perfect.

It also included a very special, very personalized package from a Mr. R. Macchio.

Ralph, many thanks for that.  She lit up like a light when we opened it.

She also actually posted to facebook.

She’s missing everyone badly.