Monday, January 7, 2008

Brain Therapy

Looks like I will be discharged from inpatient tomorrow but will stay here for rehab for the next 2 1/2 weeks for the quality of rehab here at Craig. I am so happy though not to have to spend my days as an inpatient but I still have a great deal of recovering to do on the outside. I am looking forward to getting back to Dolores and recovering at my own pace.
Melissa, a college friend, just visited during the exams my therapists administered to evaluate my progress and to make recommendations for my future therapists, and thank God she was here to verify the difficulty of the speech therapy I am taking to keep my brain sharp. I am thankful to have that quality of brain sharpening and hope it can keep the brain continuing to rehabilitate as the left side of my body is.
Looks like I will comtinue the neuro-psych counseling at home too as the psych stuff grabs me and the frustration is difficult for me to figure out but essential to my getting through this difficult situation and an important part of my recovery. Thank God Melissa and Gareth confirm that my personality is still fully present since I feel the smartass in me is still fully present and as charming as ever!!
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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mar,
Yes, I can certainly vouch for the difficulty of the cognitive tasks you were administered in speech therapy. My brain was twisting and turning at pretty much the same points as yours.

It was so great to see you this past week. The same Mar I've always known and loved is still completely there! You have made incredible progress since I saw you in early November. I know that the extent of the progress you have made is not always apparent to you. You, and only you, know the disparity between how you feel inside, today, and how you felt inside, before your injury. I kept reminding myself of that when I was visiting. No matter how much progress all of us on the outside see, the most important perception of growth is yours.

Yes, you do still have a ways to go and the journey is far from over. However...all signs continue to point towards more and more progress. Hang onto the interim steps of your recovery. Continue to add up the new things you are able to do each day that you couldn't do the day before (i.e. snap with your left hand, carry coffee in your left hand while walking, more control and legibility in your writing). Trust the objective projections of your various specialists who continue to foretell future growth.

You are strong. You are focused. You will continue to heal.

Well, Mar, better sign off. Again, it was great spending time with you and Gareth at the start of this new year and the close of this part of your journey. I look forward to getting out there again soon, but, next time, on your own turf in Dolores!

Much love,
Melissa

January 8, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Sujan said...

Hi, Marilyn--

It's so clear that none of us can know the many facets of your recovery, and the many little things that make a difference, and the many little-big things that we all take for granted every day. I'm going to pick up the book Gareth mentioned and try to get a little closer feel for it all between it and your posts.

You'll be home so soon, before you know it. Can't wait to visit with you!

Sending you lots of love and peaceful days,

Sujan

January 8, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Anonymous said...

Hey Mar,

Just writing to say Hi. I hope that your outpatient is going well and thinking of you every day!

Love nic

January 10, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Anonymous said...

Marilyn-
I am continually impressed with your perspective on your recovery- and of course, your sense of humor!!
Keep up the good healing work. We all look forward to your return to Dolores!
See you soon---Pam H
P.S.Ella looks fab in the collar!

January 11, 2008 at 8:40 AM

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