Claudia begin the day with mom. Mom woke with a smile and seemed better than last night. Claudia stretched mom’s hands really well but didn’t want to overdo things in case mom still had the slight temp and infection. We find out the results of the urinalysis in about 3 days. Claudia also found that mom’s left hearing aid doesn’t work again. She spent a lot of time this morning cleaning it and changing battery…but to no avail. We have to send it to get fixed.
Dad arrived when mom was having physical therapy. He said that the therapist said that mom did great today!! He worked with her twice today and both times, she lifted both her left and right legs separately and then even together 4-5 times each. He wanted to bring her to the gym today but the respiratory therapist said not to because mom is back off the vent and only on the trach collar again!! Tomorrow, she will have therapy in the gym again.
Mom was in a good mood when I arrived. At one point, when I was working with her, she rolled her eyes at me!! She also told me to “Stop it” a few times too. Once dad told her not to touch the trach balloon and she wouldn’t stop so he said it sternly and she took his finger to her mouth to bite it. I found a motivating factor when working with mom---I began to tell her, “The doctor said to do this” and she would listen and do whatever I was asking!!! The social worker came in to see how the neurologist appointment went and I updated her and dad and I asked for another Team meeting after the New Year so we could update everyone. I had mom do some of the command cards with me. She read and followed the commands to: “Touch Nose” “Touch Eyes” “Wiggle toes” and “shake head no” without a visual prompt!! I made believe I forgot the last thing she did to see if she could remember but she didn’t. I encouraged her to talk more and she did. I did the calendar with her (Claudia made one) and had her repeat, “The month is December. The day is Monday. The date is December 13, 2010.” She also answered, “December” when I asked her again what month it was. Next, mom and I did the IPAD. We tried vegetable flash cards and mom did them all with coaxing. Then we played the Super Why princess game where you listen to a sound, find the correct matching letter for the sound, then trace the letter and repeat in order to spell a word. Mom seemed to have a better grasp of the whole word rather than the individual letters that spell the word. She was also able to identify the words after she looked at 2 of 3 letters. This is recognition of the part of a whole. Next, mom traced letters and then she played on the virtual piano with dad. She kissed me good-bye when I left for work.
Yesterday, one of the CNAs told me about another patient similar to mom whose family member is dedicated but doesn’t know what to do. She asked if she could give the person our name. I told her no problem. I hope we can help someone else!
Dad said mom was alert and happy and tried to talk to him by mouthing phrases and words after I left. I came back tonight to tuck mom in and found her in bed playing with her Olivia piggies and watching TV. THEY KEPT THE TRACH COLLAR ON HER TONIGHT!!! THIS IS YET ANOTHER STEP TOWARD GETTING RID OF THE TRACH AND THE VENT!!! Pray all goes well. Mom handed me her hearing aid and smiled at me. I switched her toys to her night toys and shut the lights and we prayed together. She smiled at me when I told her I loved her and would return to see her tomorrow…and she also mouthed, “OK.” When I asked if she loved me too, she nodded yes and smiled.
"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Luke 6:38
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