Last night was a very good night for Clare. When I arrived at the hospital, Bethany and Clare were doing crafts making a Thanksgiving Turkey centerpiece out in the group eating area. Clare traced her own hand on paper and we cut out the "tail feathers." During therapy Clare was very responsive and we had fun playing catch with a ball and kicking the ball.. she was trying to hit me in the head. She laughed many times. At dinner, another couple joined us. He was bucked off a horse and is working through short term memory loss much like Clare but not as severe as hers is. We had an interactive dinner and he asked Clare questions and she answered. It was probably the most natural I have seen Clare talk with people in a long time. After dinner we sat and talked for another 4 hours. We had the TV on and our conversations went in and out but not having a TV on creates a lot of empty pauses between times when we talk. Football was a good background distraction because neither of us were really interested in the game but it was good to watch a play and then talk and then watch a play. We also went through all of her pictures and talked over many many memories.
When Clare was getting back from a potty break I said to Clare, "You do remember, you just have a hard time remembering that you remember." Clare then said, "Is it my meta-memory?" I was dumbfounded! The first time I heard that term was earlier that day in speech therapy. Clare remembered this medical term that her speech therapist used to describe her trouble with short term memory. Clare became quite pleased with herself and that she remembered. Then she began saying, "I remember, I remember everything, ask me questions, I remember." The nurse was still in the room and I asked her all the standard questions that she gets mostly right. This time she got them all right and not just kind of answered them, but used very complete descriptions. "I am in Provo at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center." "I was married at the River Oaks Golf Course." Stuff like that.
I was going to leave around 8:30pm, but Clare became alert and wanted her memory tested more. We sat and talked for another hour and a half. She asked me to write all of this in her memory book so she would remember tomorrow. We called Kris and Clare talked to him and excitedly told him she was remembering. It was a fun night. I hope she can have more and more good days like this. I believe part of the solution is getting her up and around and active for long periods of time. Tomorrow they are suppose to start letting her put weight on her right leg and we hope this added mobility will also improve her mental progress. It is too bad the weather has turned. Taking walks would probably do her a world of good. Maybe she can get a key to their church and walk circles with the sisters in her ward.
Kris was able to talk with the social worker and get a day pass for Clare on Thanksgiving. We will be going to Bethany and Jed's apartment just a couple of blocks from the hospital. It will be a small and crowded Thanksgiving, but we would not have it any other way. Clare is very excited to be able to leave the hospital for a day.
As I was getting ready to leave, I asked the PCT to come in. I told her Clare was in a talkative mood and to talk with her. The PCT said "Ok Clare tell me your life story." Clare said, "I don't know where to begin." I said, "Where were you born" and Clare said, "Bountiful." The PCT said "I was born in Kaysville," to which Clare said, "I have a friend from Kaysville. Do you know Austin _____?" and the assistant said he was a very good friend of hers and they went to high school together, he just got off his mission and how did Clare know him. They were talking about high school and boys when I left.
The timetable for Clare's next move may be November 30th, that will give them one week to work on walking with her (less Thanksgiving and Sunday.) The doctors and insurance can make a change to this at any time so it could be earlier than this or later if she is making progress and they think staying longer will make a significant difference. As we have learned from past experience, we should get at least a few hours notice. Kris has been working hard getting their home ready for Clare's return.
When Clare was getting back from a potty break I said to Clare, "You do remember, you just have a hard time remembering that you remember." Clare then said, "Is it my meta-memory?" I was dumbfounded! The first time I heard that term was earlier that day in speech therapy. Clare remembered this medical term that her speech therapist used to describe her trouble with short term memory. Clare became quite pleased with herself and that she remembered. Then she began saying, "I remember, I remember everything, ask me questions, I remember." The nurse was still in the room and I asked her all the standard questions that she gets mostly right. This time she got them all right and not just kind of answered them, but used very complete descriptions. "I am in Provo at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center." "I was married at the River Oaks Golf Course." Stuff like that.
I was going to leave around 8:30pm, but Clare became alert and wanted her memory tested more. We sat and talked for another hour and a half. She asked me to write all of this in her memory book so she would remember tomorrow. We called Kris and Clare talked to him and excitedly told him she was remembering. It was a fun night. I hope she can have more and more good days like this. I believe part of the solution is getting her up and around and active for long periods of time. Tomorrow they are suppose to start letting her put weight on her right leg and we hope this added mobility will also improve her mental progress. It is too bad the weather has turned. Taking walks would probably do her a world of good. Maybe she can get a key to their church and walk circles with the sisters in her ward.
Kris was able to talk with the social worker and get a day pass for Clare on Thanksgiving. We will be going to Bethany and Jed's apartment just a couple of blocks from the hospital. It will be a small and crowded Thanksgiving, but we would not have it any other way. Clare is very excited to be able to leave the hospital for a day.
As I was getting ready to leave, I asked the PCT to come in. I told her Clare was in a talkative mood and to talk with her. The PCT said "Ok Clare tell me your life story." Clare said, "I don't know where to begin." I said, "Where were you born" and Clare said, "Bountiful." The PCT said "I was born in Kaysville," to which Clare said, "I have a friend from Kaysville. Do you know Austin _____?" and the assistant said he was a very good friend of hers and they went to high school together, he just got off his mission and how did Clare know him. They were talking about high school and boys when I left.
The timetable for Clare's next move may be November 30th, that will give them one week to work on walking with her (less Thanksgiving and Sunday.) The doctors and insurance can make a change to this at any time so it could be earlier than this or later if she is making progress and they think staying longer will make a significant difference. As we have learned from past experience, we should get at least a few hours notice. Kris has been working hard getting their home ready for Clare's return.
Incredible, this is soo exciting. You and yours are truly blessed.
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