Walt humbled at air hockey

I saw Walt this Saturday morning, August 25th. He was in the dining hall looking rather grumpy but very alert. He was in a bigger, unwieldly wheelchair that is made to be pushed from behind rather than being rolled by the user. I moved him down the hall where we could talk without the blare of the dining room television. We had a decent exchange. Walt is still having problems finding the right words, but he got them right sometimes. I think he understood pretty well. He said he didn't recognize me but he said Lindsey was in Buffalo. I have to admit that I generally did not understand his questions, but when I asked him if he wanted to play air hockey he plainly said, "absolutely not". I asked him why, because we have played a few times and he enjoyed it. He shrugged his shoulders and said "why" as in why bother. I rolled him down to the PT room anyway and fired up the table. His bigger wheelchair doesn't fit at the end of the table so he had to play from the side--that gave me a huge advantage. I think the score was about 57 to 1 after about 20 minutes of play.

Walt seemed to mellow out after the air hockey thrashing and after we spent some time together. He would do an interesting thing to exercise his right arm (the weak one.) He would grab his right wrist with his left hand and move the right hand up to his face to scratch. I thought that was pretty smart and that it also showed he was making an effort to do a little physical therapy on his own. I also asked him to shake my hand with his right one--I had to place my hand in his but nevertheless, his grip was better than the last time I checked.

Shortly before lunch we went back to his room and I set him up so that he could look through one of his illustrated military history books. I noticed that Walt's Posey bed is gone, the one with the zip-up canopy that confines him to the bed at night. Before leaving the hospital I told Walt that I would be in California this week and would check out the girls at the beach for him. He raised his eyebrows appropriately.

I think Walt may have been a bit contrary when I first got there but that seemed to pass.
I thought that Tom Wahl had a great comment yesterday that I have reprinted here. Tom said,
"Walter is my friend, and I can't stand by and watch him give up. Walt may have issues that will be with him for some time to come, but one of them should not be giving up.

When anyone stops by to visit Walter, please ask Walt to show you something physical he can do, or did in therapy recently. He needs to know everybody is watching and cares about his recovery. Don't take no for an answer. Insist on seeing or hearing something."

Most people, including Walt, respond positively to compassion like that.

Patty says: This week has been about the same for Walter. He is trying to get rid of the CDif infection and the UTI. Therapy is still not going that well. He is still struggling to walk and to get his words out in English.

My plea is to those people reading the blog to visit Walter. He needs brain stimulation!! Thanks to his dedicated friends for their lunchtime visits during the week. We still could use some guys to come for lunch!!! It is so very important for his well being that he has visitors. He loves to visit with his buddies. I know some of you guys are uncomfortable about visiting but we all are uncomfortable. Like I said before, life is not just fun and games. Someday we might need visitors to visit us. I could use some visits from his friends on weekends for lunch. I try to be there for dinner. I hate to think of him eating alone up there. Can anyone volunteer? You do not have to let me know. Just go up around 12:00. Just keep him company. People are always asking me "What can I do" There is only one thing. PLEASE VISIT! It DOES NOT have to be for hours. Just to keep him company.

Thank you again to Tim for your visits and support. Walter is lucky to have such a great and dedicated friend. Thanks to Tom and Ron for their dedication to Walter. Keep playing ball with Walter!! I have started reading to Walter to to stimulate his brain. There are many books in his room. Please read to him and show him the pictures in the book. He really enjoys that!!

Keep praying for my Walter!! I need him to come back home to us!! YOUR VISITS CAN HELP!!!

Patty says: Walter is hopefully going back up the roller coaster. He is more alert (after I had the doctor take him off of 2 drugs) and not having any more hallucinations!! He is reading the paper again (as best that you can with double vision and staying awake past dinner. As Tom said, he is playing baseball in his room with very good coordination. When I got there last night, they were going to give him a chest x-ray to make sure he does not have pneumonia. Keep your fingers and toes crossed. Every day is a new adventure (one that no one should have to experience in a lifetime).

Thanks to all that visited Walter last week. We really appreciate your visit. It will be a very very long road and your support is valued and appreciated by myself, Tip, Lindsay and Brian. Enjoy every day with a smile and a hug!! Luv ya-Patty

A new week

Hi all,

I have finally been able to log on to the watch after a veeeery busy few weeks moving. Better still I was able to spend the morning and early afternoon with Walt.
When I arrived he had just finished therapy and was hanging out in the hall. actually i think he was inching his way to the exit for an escape!!

it was good to see him awake and looking more alert. He was not talking well and did not know who i was but was quite happy to hang with me anyway. I took a peek at his therapy book and was very pleased to see that he had put in some great sessions. Aaron his physical therapist was particularly pleased with how he went this morning.

We went off for a second session just before lunch and Walt demonstrated a marked improvement in getting from the chair to the couch and back.

Elvira the speech therapist had ordered a regular meal for him at lunch to see how he handled it. i can tell you he made short work of the Buffalo chicken leg. Elvira has now Oked regular meals so if any of Walt's lunch companions can just cut the meat into manageable pieces that would be great.

Little by little Walt seems to be inching himself back from the latest setback. I have everything crossed that it continues in this direction. (No wonder I have such difficulty typing).

I will be in again on Wednesday to spend some time with our friend so will report in again. In the meantime it is great to read others experiences.
Cheers to Gino and Kathy and all the rest of our little community

Love
corinne

Patty says: My sweetie needs lots of prayers, love and support!! He cannot walk or talk. He is eating well though and he is definitely in there.

Thanks to all of his friends for their visits. Particularly Timmy (Barry) and Gary. Thanks for doing lunch for me. He really needs his male friends!! If any of his other friends can join him for lunch at 12:00 that would be great and Wally would really appreciate the visit.

Thanks to my nephew, Joe, for building a wheelchair ramp for Walter. We are lucky to have such a wonderful, caring nephew.

Thanks again to Lindsay, Bennett, and Brian for all that they have done around the house!!

Go Walter!!!!!!