Monday August 15, 2005

Monday August 15, 2005 Zack was upset when I arrived this morning, sitting in his chair at the nurse’s station. He calmed down once breakfast arrived and ate the whole meal using his right hand. At 8:30 he was scheduled for ADL (activities daily living) in his room with Mary Beth (O.T.). He completely dressed himself including putting on high top tennis shoes (which I have trouble with) and tying them. He used both hands and tied them and only got frustrated with the right foot. Rebecca, our Dietician, came by to check his calorie count and is adding a supplement (Boost) with every meal. Her goal is to eliminate the tube feeding, including at night, sometime this week. 9:00 Dr. Mook and Dr. Miller came by to check his head out and ask a few questions. They asked him who I was…did he know me or was I a stranger. He laughed and said I was a stranger. He thought it was very funny. They will schedule an appointment to have Neuro surgery look at his head. The swelling has gone down a lot but still not completely gone. We are still looking at a month before they put his bone flap back on. Donna (my good friend) arrived for instructions. I have to wean myself back into work and she is stepping in for me during therapy. Zack took Donna for a walk to the conference room and sat on the couch. He told her the bracelet he was wearing said ball player. He talked a lot and got upset when Donna tried to write things down in my notebook. 11:00 P.T./O.T. He put screws in holes and bolted them using both hands. He figured out the sizes but got mad and threw them down. Mary Beth (O.T.) thinks he may be seeing double at times. He had to carry a large box down the hall. They have a mini grocery store here used as part of therapy and they threw boxes and cans on the floor and he had to pick them up and put them in the basket. He got very frustrated and didn’t want to do it but after a while he got much better at scanning the floor and looking for boxes. Amy (P.T.) asked him what he wanted to do next and he said, “I wish I could tell you”. She asked him if he knew where he was and told him he was in the hospital and he had been in a bad car accident. He cried. She explained that we should ask him if he knows where he is and them tell him, but no need to go over the accident. 11:00 speech therapy with Kathy and she gave him more lemon ice (helps with slow swallow). She also went over orientation…tell him who you are, date, time, weather, where he is and why very simply. I arrive at 12:00 and get Zack up for lunch. Scott comes by as well and when Zack checks out his lunch and we all go mmmmm. He thinks that is funny and before long he is laughing out loud. The simplest things he can find very humorous. 1:30 I walk them back down to speech therapy. He realizes I am leaving and starts to cry. He won’t let go of my hand and hugs me. Finally he gets settled down and I leave. At least my body leaves but my heart was on the floor in that room. It is so hard for both of us. Kathy (speech therapist) shows him flash cards with pictures and words and asked him what they are. He is unhappy and tired and doesn’t want to play Kathy’s games. Afternoon in P.T./O.T. Mary Beth and Amy decide that they need to take him into a private therapy room to help him concentrate. They take different color pegs and a pegboard and he has to color coordinate them. He did it by himself and Amy (P.T.) said he did very well this afternoon. I return at 4:30 to find that Scott has Zack downstairs in his wheelchair and they are looking at food in the cafeteria. Scott asked him if he knew he had been in a car accident and he nodded “yes”. He is looking out the door and can see me talking with Donna and Rosemare (my sister) in the hall. When I go to meet him he seems happy to see me. Back up in the room he takes a nap until dinner arrives at 5:30.
I have to drag him out of bed to eat and he is really tired. He usually enjoys dinner but tonight he is emotional because he is so tired. He keeps trying to get up and walk to his bed. As soon as the last bite is done he falls in bed and is asleep within a few minutes. Several of his friends arrive and he enjoys their company. They take him for a walk and he is laughing and they said he tried to trip one of the nurses. Sounds like the old Zack we knew. He is quite entertaining in the room and even shows them how he can tie his own shoes. Once everyone leaves I ask if Zack can have a shower instead of a bath. He seems to enjoy it and for the first time in 39 days I can be sure he is really clean. Of course he can’t take his helmet off or get water in the Trach hold but he is still much cleaner than the sponge baths. He sits in his recliner and we watch T.V. together. At times he gets emotional and tries to tell me what is wrong but it is mumbled and in a whisper so it is hard to hear him. I’m sure it frustrates him more when you have to keep asking him what he is saying. I will be so glad when he can communicate better so we will understand what he needs. Isn’t it the same for every parent of teenager’s…lack of communication and trying to figure out what they need? It is comforting to know that our heavenly Father always understands us and knows exactly what we need, even when we don’t. He answers prayers not even uttered and provides comfort even as we push him away. I ask for prayers tonight that Zack will sleep well and tomorrow start talking much clearer. I ask for prayers that I will be able to adjust being away while he is in therapy. Pray that our family can adjust to the routine of school again. Thank you for all the encouragement and prayers offered in your postings.