I began the day with mom this morning at 6:20…she was supposed to be leaving for her doctor’s appointments at 6:30. I was running late…but so was the ambulance transport. They still weren’t here at 7:25—then we found out that the ambulance got into a car accident! God watches out for us. PTL! Mom had her CAT Scan of her sinuses, and head and the modified barium swallow test. Dad came next and we did mom’s physical therapy/range of motion exercises. I asked mom if she was ready to exercise and she said, “Now?” with an annoyed look! She counted with us randomly not consistently. She wouldn’t talk to me this morning. But she said, “Good morning” to dad, the respiratory therapist and 2 of her nurses and her 2 CNAs. She also mouthed that she was “good” or “fine” as well. Dad and I tried to get mom to lift her leg on the 10 inch ball but she only wiggled her foot a few times. At one point mom touched her knee and then licked her finger and when I asked, “What are you eating?” She said, “I’m not eating!” she also mouthed something else but I didn’t catch it---she repeated whatever it was and then ended the sentence with…”I said!” in an annoyed manner. We did a crossword puzzle while we waited for the ambulance (which arrived at 7:40). When I asked the clue, “Stormy Flash…thunder and….” Mom said, “Lightning.”
I rode in the ambulance to the hospital with mom. Dad met us there. After mom was all checked in, I left for work. Dad and Anthony (he came to be with mom and dad at the hospital) reported that mom passed her swallow test!!!! Yippeee!!! Now, we need to find out when and how the G-Tube comes out, along with the plan for mom to resume oral feeding. The nurse who was there said that mom’s CAT Scans appeared to be OK as well…but we will need to see what both the doctor at the facility and mom’s neurologist have to say about them.
Anthony visited with mom after the hospital. He said that mom basically slept the whole day or most of it. The speech therapist came in to feed mom her first real full meal in 9 months = bratwurst, carrots, sauerkraut and potatoes and looked like she enjoyed it. (While I am thrilled for mom, I can't help but question the choice of food---for a first solid meal in 9 months, it just seems a little gassy and also not the mildest of choices...I just thought it would be a process similar to introducing a baby to food??). The physical therapist came in to assess mom a few times and told Anthony that she wasn't doing enough in order to qualify for physical therapy again.... Dad stayed with mom after Anthony left.
When Claudia got to mom tonight, mom was out like a light in a deep, deep sleep. Claudia used the white board to see if mom knew her name (Claudia) and mom wouldn't read but was very interested in looking at the white board, so Claudia drew on the board and made silly pictures and mom laughed. Claudia said mom drew little circles free hand alone. They drew eyes and noses on the faces Claudia drew hand over hand. They did "Sounds around the House" and "Sounds Outside" and then Claudia did the "Doodle Cards" (these are wipe off cards of pictures that you draw on like spots on a cow, stripes on a zebra...) hand over hand. Mom was very intent on watching what she and Claudia were doing and watching her hand and Claudia's but wouldn't talk at all. Claudia did all this to a classical music CD. Mom liked the music. Claudia played "Color and Shape UNO" memory match. Claudia had 5 cards and mom had 5 cards and Claudia would pull a card out and make mom put it down and make mom look at whether the color or shape matched. If Claudia pulled a card out then mom would grab it all the way out hand over hand. Claudia fixed the deck so mom would win and not get frustrated. She left the Food Network on with the timer set. Mom moved her left arm almost up to her face!! That was great. Claudia and mom prayed and then she left.
"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens" Psalm 150:1
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