Hi dear friends and family. We have accomplished many things this week! Chuck walks every day, he receives physical therapy on his shoulder, he went to the dentist and got a good report (with not flossing – I was concerned), and he gave blood this morning for our blood thirsty trusty general practice doctor who wants to be sure all systems are "go." I’m telling you the Peabody/Goethe genes are hardy! I I don’t floss I bleed and then the dentist yells at me. Chuck is amazing. FYI if you know anyone who has trouble with the little flossing thread, use the stick with built in floss…
On the weekend we have nothing but walking and resting. He has passed all my little tests (I write questions and have him answer them in writing, and I also have him connect numbers that I’ve written all over the page). His handwriting is a little off, and his signature looks like it did in the Navy! He knows everything and all he has to get back is the high level cerebral things like decision making, organizing, taking notes… maybe these are things I’m good at and he never did…. Last night when I asked him if he wanted a glass of water or milk, he snarled, and I said, "Honey you should answer, ‘yes sweetie I would like a glass of milk,’ and he said, "I never said that before!!!" and I just laughed. I think the brain shoves the high level analytical and social stuff to the back burner in order to use all resources to survive and then recover physically. Scary as all get out isn’t it? but the good part is most brain injury patients are able to recover. I remember I went crashing out of ICU and into the arms of a "social worker" who makes people sign in and gives out pillows and blankets to families… and she just gave me kleenex and told me "most people recover, and he’s strong." She probably says that to everyone, and so I turned and said it to God. Thank you for staying in touch. You can talk with Chuck on his cell. He’s good. Love Sue