Wow, so much has happened with Dad since the last update! He spent a month at the rehab facility in Indianapolis and made great, great progress! It is hard to believe that it has only been 2 months today that he had the stroke and the wreck. Many of the doctors and nurses have been shocked that Dad didn't get the 'stroke miracle drug' that if given within a 3 hour window can dramatically help stroke victims (see the first post of this blog for more on why he didn't receive that) because Dad has progressed so well!
First of all, his speech and communication have improved by leaps and bounds and continue to every day. His short term memory is still healing (he spilled a cup of water on Sunday in the bathroom and then directly forgot about it until his roomate discovered the water on the floor an hour later for example) but he is getting his long term memory back. He seems more and more comfortable with the current year being 2010 and, after seeing his roomate talking a lot on his cell phone, has requested to have his cell phone back which my Mom is taking to him this Sunday.
We are still worried about his right arm and hand. He continues to want to keep clinching his right hand into a fist and whenever reminded to open his hand, it seems to cause him great pain to do so. His right leg, however, seems to be responding very well to the electro therapy they have been giving it. He feels whenever my Mom tickles his foot and his toes move when she does so. This is great news because it shows with more therapy, he can get the use of his right leg back. We are hopeful that his right arm and hand will start responding soon also!
Dad was moved today to a new longer term rehab facility in Greentown, Indiana. This is only a few miles from his home so he will be able to get lots more visitors and Mom, my sister and my neice and nephew will get to visit him much more often. Unfortunately with living in Terre Haute and trying very hard to keep my one vehicle from having any mechanical problems, I am still only going to be able to visit Dad every 2 weeks :( In the new facility, Dad has a private room, lots more closet space and a much bigger TV (the TV at the Indy facility was a tiny 13 incher that hung from the ceiling!) This new facility's goal is to get Dad to a place where he can walk with a walker and return home. We are very hopeful that in a few months, that home is where he will be!
I will of course keep you all posted as things progress! Thanks to everyone who reads this blog and continues to offer their well wishes and support!
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