The hospital made it tough for visitors today. The only parking was on the top two floors of the ramp garage thus making parking spaces scarce. The rest was closed off for maintenance. Once inside the hospital there were 20+ people in the elevator lobby waiting for the single elevator that someone said was operating. I skipped the elevator after about 5 minutes and walked up the 7 floors to Walt's room. He was in his reclining mobile chair looking relatively quiet and comfortable even though he was wearing a helmet and his mitts. The orderly told me that Walt had come close to slipping the helmet earlier--that's good to the extent that it reflects that his coordination is improving. I also had the best conversation with him since he has been in the hospital. Walt spoke much more clearly--I understood everything he said and he demonstrated that he understood me and the orderly. Here's a sample.
Walt: "I'm cold. I want a cover."
The orderly put a cover over him. "Is that better?"
Walt: "Yes.".
Me: "Hi Walt. It's Gino." (Walt gave a friendly nod.)
Walt: "I smell coffee."
Me: "Yes, I have coffee--I bought it downstairs. I bet a coffee would taste good."
Walt: Nods his head "I'm thirsty."
The orderly soaked a mouth sponge with water several times and put it to Walt's mouth. He could swallow the water that he got from it without any problems.
Me: "Walt, would you like to see some pictures?"
Walt: "Sure." (Walt showed friendly curiosity.)
After confirming that he didn't want his glasses I showed Walt the same pictures I had brought up earlier in the week when Patty was there. The previous time Walt didn't show any interest. This time he was very attentive and smiled pleasantly as I showed pictures of family and friends from about 20 years ago.
Walt: "When were these taken?"
Me: About 25 years ago. (Walt smiled)
Me: "Walt, do you know this person (pointing at a picture of Patty from about 1980).
Walt: With a slight frown, "I'm not sure I remember."
Me: "It's Patty." (Walt nodded. I showed about a dozen more pictures and then he nodded off to sleep).
After a few minutes of sleep Walt got the shivers and the orderly asked him if he was okay. He woke up and said, "Thirsty." The orderly gave him more water from the sponge. I asked Walt to open his eyes. He did so then spotted the glass in the orderly's hand.
Walt: "Just give me the glass."
Orderly: "I can't Walter. I am not supposed to because you might get water in your lungs."
Walt: "Says who?"
Orderly: "The doctor says so."
Walt: Somewhat surprised, "Oh. Really."
Shortly thereafter he went to sleep again on that very pleasant Mother's Day afternoon.
gino
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5 comments:
I spoke with my dad on the phone today and I have to second what Gino said in his post - it was the most I have understood my dad since the accident. He responded appropriately to everything I said and wished me good luck on my exam tomorrow. I was VERY pleased with his speech and I really felt like we were conversing (except a little slower and more deliberate of course). I know there will be many more bad days but the good days make the bad ones easier to take.
Good luck on exams Lindsay, Bless you Patty, we read every day and pray for you all. Sounds like Walt is really working hard as are all of you.
Gino's post was excellent.
Tell Brian we'd like to have him over this summer.
Love to all,
Wisconsin group
Thank you Gino,
That is a great post. I will race you up the stairs next time. i am using them as my daily exercise. Of course it takes me about 10 minutes to get my breath back and in the meantime I look like a fish out of water.
good luck Lindsay with the exam.
Joanne said...
I arrived up at Strong about 1:00 Sunday afternoon and found Walter sitting up in his chair, helmet on, aide beside him. My mother and sister were also with me. As we shared our greetings Walter gave us a big, friendly smile and then he looked right into my eyes and asked, "WHERE'S PATTY?" I told him about Saturday's visit with her and that Pat would be up later this afternoon. He shook his head as if to say, "OK!" Walt then said, "When will I be going home?"
I asked him if he could walk yet? His response, "NO!" I asked if he was able to eat on his own? Response, "NO!" So I reminded him that these were things he had to do before he could go home. That seemed to satisfy him for awhile. My mother talked to him about the Yankees and he told us that after the game he and Brian were going home! HOME IS DEFINITELY WHERE HE WANTS TO BE! He then spoke to us softly and my sister was able to make sense of what he was trying to communicate. The medication began to take affect (given to him before we arrived) and he started to doze off. He asked for water and told us that it would taste BETTER than beer right now! That gave us all a good chuckle.
Spoke with both his nurse and the aide - and they are impressed with his progress. I have been on vacation and haven't seen Walter in 14 days! I am awed by his progress. His eyes are alert and it is obvious that he is making connections. As we left, I told the aide how much I enjoyed the visit. She said he needs to visit with people, as it will help in his recovery. Patty, Lindsay, Brian, and all the family and friends who continue to visit and support Walter are doing so much to speed his recovery. Walter has made TREMENDOUS gains and more are sure to come!!!!!
Joanne
PATTY SAYS;CALLING ALL VISITORS-WALTER NEEDS VISITORS ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY FOR YOU TRICK WORKERS. HE IS TALKING LIKE CRAZY AND NEEDS YOU ALL FOR THERAPY. EVERYONE BRING AN EVERYDAY OBJECT AND ASK HIM TO IDENTIFY THE OBJECT. IF HE LIES THERE WITH NO INTERACTION, IT WILL TAKE HIM MUCH LONGER TO RECOVER. THERE ARE MAGAZINES IN HIS ROOM. TODAY HE ACTUALLY LOOKED THROUGH 8 PAGES AND WE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE PAGES. HE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE AIRPLANES. YES COUSIN BRIAN, HE WILL BE READY TO GO UP WITH YOUR SON. TODAY, HE ALSO WROTE HIS NAME!! YES WROTE WALTER RABITZ. WOW! WHAT A DAY. HE CALLED ME AT 6:00 A.M. TO TELL ME HE WANTED TO COME HOME. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS QUICK KIDNEY RECOVERY SO WE CAN GO TO ST. MARY'S. AND PLEASE PRAY THAT HE WILL EVENTUALLY GET BACK HIS SHORT AND LONG TERM MEMORY. TODAY, HE THOUGHT I WAS JOE. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW TO LOOK FORWARD TO-I MIGHT BE PAT TOMORROW. YAHOO!!!
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