New room. 166B.
When Claudia began the day with mom early this morning, mom was awake and alert (the aides told us she was awake all night last night!!!...Mom slept the entire day after Claudia's visit!!). Claudia did the calendar with mom. Claudia asked mom what day it is today and mom said, "Friday." Claudia said, "Well, that's at least the name of a day! You didn't say a color or animal as your response, but it isn't Friday. It's Tuesday." Mom wanted to circle the day and year and number independently but she couldn't and needed hand over hand assistance. Next, they did the oral motor apps on the IPAD. Mom was able to imitate all that Claudia presented so Claudia encouraged mom to practice the facial positions alone in order to help move her mouth better. Claudia explained to mom that, when mom talks now, mom uses a small mouth that doesn't move much and therefore, makes it harder to understand what she is saying or to lipread.
We had to move mom's room for the 5th time!!! Ugh...but wherever God wants us, that's where we go as willingly as possible. Ava, Anthony Michael and Lenny all met Pop (Dad) at mom's room and the kids packed up mom's room all alone!! They also helped to set up mom's room again. Mom saw them when they tried to wake her and said, "Hi Sweetheart" then went back to sleep.
Ava and Lenny reported that mom still has a slow swallow according to the speech therapist, so mom will just be eating snack foods like applesauce and pudding but no liquids yet. Eating will be a slow reintroduction. I want to speak to the dietician about introducing healthier choice foods---low carb, not too sugary...because the last time mom began to eat, some of the foods seemed to affect her energy level greatly in a negative way.
The CNAs and nurses were all upset and angry that the facility made us and mom leave the private room she was in and move yet again. They all advocated for us and mom...saying that our family is large and active and the private room is the best one for us. Some of the CNAs were even scolded for advocating and talking to us about how they felt we were being treated. They all told us to fight harder to stay in the private room (even though we did all we could already). They are very protective of mom and us. So many of the CNAs (especially) and some of the nurses really love mom so much.
Mom does not appear to have any recollection that she missed a year of her life. Exactly a year ago on June 1 (2010), she had the burst aneurysm and stroke and now, a full year later, she had the shunt put in and had an "awakening." So for mom, the sequence in time is exactly the same with the exception that a whole year has passed. Sequentially, she went away upstate the last weekend in May (2010) and then all this happened, but now (2011), she wakes up to what she must think is only a week or two later--but it is actually a year later. We are planning to gradually follow her lead but also introduce the idea to her that time has passed and that she is so much better than she was. This will hopefully help her to fight or continue to fight to get well. With every celebration of progress, mom doesn't understand what the hype is all about.
Also, any visitors can now be NORMAL around mom. Don't talk around her, talk to her. She is fully present and able, albeit slower to process at times. Don't talk baby talk or in an exaggerated fashion. Speak normally...talk about normal topics just like before.
Mom speaks a lot when she is awake and is very aware of what is going on around her. She hasn't asked us what happened to her yet or why she is in the facility. She hasn't asked to go home yet either...but I feel that is soon coming.
After we set up her room, Anthony Michael and I sat with mom alone. Anthony Michael held her in a hug and rested his head on her shoulder. When mom finally woke up, she called him her "Sweetheart" (her special nickname for Anthony Michael) and kissed him. Dad had left for dinner and when he returned, he and Anthony sat and watched TV with mom until John came to see her. Dad said that mom was very talkative and correcting their incorrect history facts as they all watched the History Channel together!! Mom always wanted to become a teacher and never did...but she was our teacher, certainly.
One of mom's nurses, who we love, is an EMT and was a first responder at the shooting at that drug store on Long Island. Please pray for this nurse because it was an awful experience.
When John and Ava came to see mom tonight, she was awake and ready for action!!
love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22
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