Wednesday August 24, 2005

Wednesday August 23, 2005 Zack was sound asleep when I arrived and there was no waking him up. Melissa (his nurse last night) came in to talk with me. She said that Zack had figured out how to unzip his tent bed and she found him climbing out the back. That scares the staff to death because he doesn’t sleep in his helmet so he could fall and hurt his head again. They had to put a ring around the zippers so he couldn’t open them and she taught him how to use the nurse call button. He then proceeded to call them about 20 times but he always had a question. One time he asked her “Am I O.K.?” Later he told her, “That killed my life”. She asked “the accident?” and he responded “yes”. She told him his life was just different now and that when he was better he could talk to people about what happened to him, just like his Mom. He said, “yeah I can talk to people”. They talked a lot and she took him for walks in his wheelchair. He stayed up from 4 AM to 6:30, which is why I couldn’t get him up. We had to hurry and get ready for speech after breakfast. At 9:00 Kathy arrived but he was still tired. He got a little confused on the sentence completion (On Saturday I_____________) and then she moved to yes/no “trick” questions (Do clocks have hands?). In the morning P.T./O.T. session they tried some new activities. They had him sit on a big ball, bounce and balance himself. He had to lay on the ball and walk with his hands, which really made him work that right arm. Mary Beth (O.T.) had him write his name and once she wrote it he could copy it successfully. He walked an obstical course and when he was done he had to put away all the obsticals. He got to golf again, made it in the hole 4 times and raised his hand in triumph each time. He had proper form, bent his knees and looked good putting. He really enjoys therapy when it is something he can do even if it is hard.
Mary Beth came and had lunch with us again today so she could encourage him to eat using his right hand. Lunch was questionable…it was had to tell what some of the food was, especially the dumpling. Zack didn’t finish everything because he wanted to get back in bed and take a nap. It was time for us to go to our Family Meeting. Scott, Rita, Donna and I were brought to the 5th floor board room where we met with Mary Beth (O.T.), Amy (P.T.), Kathy (speech) Dr. Calvery (psychologist), Sarah (case manager)
Judy (pediatric coordinator) and Dr, Miller (Physiatrist). We were infomed that Zack had progressed to a Rancho Level 5. Each one reported on Zack’s progress and what they would focus on in the coming weeks. Mary Beth will work on writing and personal skills (feeding, dressing…). She informed us it was important that the environment be quiet when he was on task (like brushing his teeth on eating) so that he could focus. Amy will work on strength and endurance. She explained that the right shoulder was coming out of socket because the muscles supporting it were weak (the brain is not sending a message to contract that shoulder muscle). She wanted us to start making Zack put the brakes on his wheelchair and move the footrest himself before getting out. They will do E-stem (electronically stimulate) on his right shoulder every other day. Kathy will keep working on sentence completion and language comprehension. Hers is probably the toughest job. She told us that we need to repeat words to Zack that he uses improperly by telling him that doesn’t make sense and letting him hear someone else say it. Ask him to explain what he means and help him search for the right words. Judy is responsible for coordinating efforts with Christian Academy. When he is ready she will be contacting the school for his records so they will know how much he will have to relearn. She also told us that he had come along way and she was very impressed with his progress. Dr Calvery told us that when he leaves Frazier he will have a complete Neuro Psych evaluation. She warned us that he will be moody and more emotional. She also noted that Zack gets a lot of young visitors (teenagers) and although the support is great we need to be careful. She is concerned that inappropriate behavior and things that Zack might say now will embarrass him when he returns to school. She warned us that his friends may carry negative opinions back with them or they may make an innocent comment about a behavior (like picking his nose) once he is back at school, that will upset him or make him mad. Things that he says or does now that they may think is funny, won’t be funny to Zack. He will be sensitive to their comments. Dr Calvery explained that his injury is very difficult to understand and teenagers can be cruel in there ignorance. She also explained that people with brain injuries that have a clear understanding of who they were before their accident are more likely to suffer from depression afterwards because they will be conscience of being different. Dr Miller told us that visitors must leave when Zack is tired because he needs to get rest. He also said the best way to change negative behavior is to redirect Zack. If we laugh at a particular behavior or comment then Zack will be encouraged to repeat it. His team of doctors and therapist have to generalize and compare him to other patients with the same injury. But our situation is different. We don’t have a bunch of teenagers coming here that don’t know what is going on. They read the website, ask questions and have followed his progress from the beginning. They are informed, they understand some behavior is out of Zack’s control and will stop as he moves into a different phase of recovery. God is in control. He has been since the beginning and will continue when Zack leaves here. I know that Zack has good friends that will protect him from ignorant comments and we have a school that is supportive and already sensitive to our needs. He is loved. By God, by his family, by his friends and now by many people who continue to pray for him.
Before the meeting was over Scott was lightening the mood with humor. He was making comments that caused his mother to tell him he was not a doctor. He responded with “but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night” (if you haven’t seen the commercial you won’t understand). Zack had several friends visit him tonight. He knew Tiffany’s name. He seemed somewhat depressed before his friends visited but when they are here he usually comes out of it and is laughing. Brice, a therapy dog, came to visit also. Zack pet him for a while and then got very upset. He told me “I had a dog too”. When they asked him his dogs name he couldn’t remember but then I showed him a picture and said that was his dog Toby. He was sad and said, “Please don’t talk about Toby anymore”. He is more aware now of what is going on. He is beginning to see the significance of his injury. He is sad when his friends leave. Andrew and Taylor were the last to leave and we walked them all the way outside. It seemed easier for him to say goodbye to them on the sidewalk. I need to remind them not to leave Zack thinking that he was missing out on something by not going with them. I kept telling him everyone had to go do homework (surely he will feel grateful to be left out of that activity). Zack’s accident has affected him but it has also impacted a lot of other people, many who have never met him. I continue to receive cards and postings from people who are praying more and have a deeper appreciation of the many blessings God so lovingly gives his children. Marissa (a previous girlfriend of Zacks) told me tonight that she has gotten involved with SADD (students against destructive decisions) at Eastern High School. I can imagine Zack heading up a similar program at CAL when he returns. He is so determined and strong. We know the road ahead will not be easy. Zack will have tough times. He will get depressed, disappointed, angry and may get his feeling hurt. But he will never be alone. There has always been someone with him, who cries with him and understands exactly what he is feeling or trying to say. He has Gods promise in scripture, “For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”. Jeremiah 29: 11-13 Please pray that God will be glorified through Zack’s victories and his struggles. That his friends will be examples to others of how Christians handle difficult situations. That our teenagers will be exceptional and Zack’s recovery will be complete!