A Good Friday

Last Friday, Faye (a friend from church) and I drove up to see Mike and spend a few hours with him.  He was playing Sequence when we arrived and then got stuck on "my wife is here". However, once we went back to his room and I started pulling out articles of clothing that I brought to him, he stopped repeating and started putting things away in his drawers or hanging them in his closet. I had brought a newsletter from missionary friends of ours, plus his college magazine, etc. Instead of reading the newsletter, he immediately wanted to tape it to his wall. While the LST went to get some tape, I started reading the letter to him and then he sat beside me and read the rest of it himself. Once done, he taped it to his wall where he has family photos and other newsletters and cards. I am so appreciative to everyone who continues to write to him. I think he enjoys the mail very much, and the staff is jealous of how much mail he receives! Thank you!

After the letter, I gave him his Asbury University magazine, and he started reading an article. Lisa (CM) came to get me so that I could meet with her and Srdj (RN) for an update. I told Mike I would be back in a little while and he continued to read aloud.  The staff has seen improvement in the last 2 weeks or so. Less aggression, better cognition. Dr. Rooker has slowly increased the Depakote and Seroquel to a therapeutic level and is maintaining it there for now. When I returned to the room, Mike was still reading....the same paragraph over and over.  I put my finger on the next paragraph and started reading that and he then picked up there and continued to the end of the article even flipping the page and starting on the next one.  I wish I had tried to see if he could remember anything he read, but I didn't think of that at the time.

We tried to see if he would like to go out to lunch, but when we attempted to close the magazine or take it, he became agitated and so Faye and I just went and brought lunch back to him. He ate the majority of his lunch and then we went for a walk. While walking, he remembered some things he needed from the store so wanted to turn around. His conversation was appropriate and clear. He is very impatient, but was much easier to distract and did not become aggressive when having to wait for the car. At Wal-Mart, he knew exactly what he wanted, and did much better at being aware of others and not bull-dozing straight ahead. The lines were long and slow. Mike said to me "Tell me candidly, do you want to live in Virginia? Then start looking for a house for us." He was so much clearer cognitively, but still has no awareness of his mental limitations or un-cognitive times. Thankfully, he let us know that he needed to go to the bathroom (hurray!) so the LST, Amanda, took him while Faye and I waited in line. We had barely moved when they returned and so Mike looked at Amanda and asked "Do we have a car?" Amanda - "yes." Mike - "Then lets go, they can take care of this."

By the time we returned, it was about time for us to head back home. Mike was just finishing his snack of homemade fruitcake that Mom and I had made, so I told him Faye and I were going to have to leave soon. He said "Then go." So we did! I kissed him and told him I loved him. He followed us to the door, gave me a hug and kiss and told me he loved me.  Before we could pull out of the parking space, he had come out and kissed me through the window then walked back to the building. When we turned to drive by the building, he came over again, but each time he just kissed me, said he loved me and turned around to go back to the building. Not agitated or pleading to come with me.  It's so helpful when he seems content and settled. Unfortunately, upheaval is coming again soon.

He will probably be home mid-to-late January and, at this point, probably for good or at least the foreseeable future. I hope what we saw on Friday, is sustainable and he will continue to improve. Please pray about the logistics of bringing him home. I am going to start contacting in-home assistance agencies, and need to work on a regular schedule of activities, chores, exercise, therapy, Bible study, games, etc. He plays a lot of Sequence and sometimes Monopoly with the LSTs. I'll be looking for some volunteers to come help occupy him also. (hint, hint!)

Started this earlier in the week and just never got back to finish it, so will send it on until I can write another one.  Been a full, but productive week. I have talked with Mike a few times and each time he has been able to speak sensibly with me. I may hear him fuss at the staff, but he didn't get stuck and keep repeating over and over. A real plus!  We had a great Community Christmas Gathering at church on Wednesday night and I helped with a skit for that, the UMW met for a Christmas supper tonight at a restaurant in town, and Mom and I are going with our cousins, Betty & Bubba to a play tomorrow, so we are already celebrating Christmas BIG around here and haven't even done much decorating yet!  Christ the Savior is born! Hallelujah!