Positive Signs

Two weeks ago, while visiting Mike, I took him out on the deck along with Mr. Ommm.  I brought a deck of cards and started playing War. I turned over my card and Mike's, verbalizing what I was doing. Soon Mr. Ommm disappeared. After a few turns, I asked Mike to turn over his card. He would do it, but only when I asked him to. After a bit of that, I pointed to one of the cards and asked him what it was "A JACK!" he said with force. Not like he was angry, but as if that was the only way he could get the words out. Each time I would point to a card and ask what it was he would do the same, inhale then exhale the words "A SIX!, A NINE!" Which card is higher? "THE NINE!" 

I was very glad that when the Psych NP came out to find us, she heard him speaking. I introduced Mike to her, as she sat down, and told him that we were going to talk about his medication. Silence. Thankfully, the NP waited to see if he would respond, then when he didn't, she asked him if it was OK for us to talk about his medicine. Mr. Ommm was back in a flash and prevented Mike from more talking. Natasha wanted to try a different medication with Mike called Namenda which she has found beneficial to patients with dementia and Alzheimer's. I, along with the nurses, believe that the increase in Depakote made him more agitated instead of calmer. Once the Namenda has had a chance to get into his system (approx. a month) and we see how he responds to it, then she will begin to titrate down on the Depakote. 

I was also able to speak with the OT that afternoon. They have put Mike in a different chair which seems to be working well. He's not sliding out of it, but is able to sit upright and wheel around the halls on his own to some degree. She was also trying to get the staff to get him up and walking more and possibly to the bathroom after lunch when he gets really antsy. 

Monday - doing better. "Smile, Mike!"
Eyes closed. "Smile with your eyes open." 😊😍

Monday when I was there, Mike was calmer and spoke a bit more. Eating was still rushed, but I walked with him by myself for a short distance for the first time since June. Quite an encouragement to me. And yet, after lunch he was so agitated and kept pushing me away. I asked him if he would prefer I leave and go home. "YES!" Well...thank you very much. I don't really take it to heart, we've had stuff like this before - it has been 6.5 years after all. So I didn't leave, but I didn't touch him or speak. Figured at least he was getting a sensory break by sitting outside. He would close his eyes and drop his head, then every little bit he would peek out of the corner of his eye in my direction. I wonder what he was thinking? We sat in silence for about 20 minutes, then I needed to get going. I asked him if he would brush his teeth and shave or let me do it when we returned to his room. Silence. Once there, he was a little bit more cooperative than he has been and said "YES!" a couple more times. Mr. B. was so glad to hear him speak and believes he will just "pop" out of it one day and be fine. I responded "With God all things are possible!".

The past two weeks I've only gone once a week. It was just too draining and stressful seeing him fidgety and agitated and nothing I could do about it; plus my Mom hasn't felt real well either, and I've been working on getting flowers and decor ready for the big Fall Farm Festival. However, since I saw such positive signs on Monday, I wanted to go back this week and thankfully our helper, Betty, could come stay with Mom, so I went today. 

So many positive signs!

I walked with him a short distance and he seemed quite stiff when I first got there about 11:30. Was also being obstinate. If there was anything in the hall, he went directly for it. He's strong, but I prevailed and got him to maneuver around objects and people. Back in the wheelchair, he peddled his way down to the deck. I gave him a tissue to blow his nose and in the process he felt his face and came right out with "I haven't shaved in a couple days!" After that we made a video and tried to call his Mom. She called us back later once we were in the room and he did speak with her, with prompts from me. He also was calmer while eating and I was able to let him feed himself at the end with no problems. 

After lunch, he brushed his own teeth and between the two of us we got him shaved. Another first since June. He didn't fight the entire process, just every now and then. Also, with prompts, he told Mr. B. that he used to do push-ups and sit-ups. Again we walked down the hall and this time he moved quicker, more upright and easier and he even maneuvered around things with cues. Bill, one of the OT's was coming down the hall with another resident and I told Mike who he was and to say "Hi Bill". Bill and the resident proceeded on into the OT room (it takes Mike a few seconds to process and get the words out) and then Mike said "HI BILL!" As if in slow motion, Bill leaned his head out of the door and said "Did I just hear what I think I heard?!" Yes! He's been talking a lot more today! "I've heard him be verbal, but not like that!" Bill said. 

Hurray! We're almost back to the baseline where he was before this last fall. Woo Hoo!! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you all for all your prayers! Thank you to the NP, nurses, CNA's, therapists, kitchen crew, Mr. B. and the other residents. As we continued down the hall, we came to Ms. Patty who I often stop and speak to and who has talked with Mike from the very beginning. Say hi to Patty, Mike. "HI PATTY!" At this point we are right in the center of the facility at the nurses station, so everyone around there heard him. There were lots of wide eyes and "I've never heard him speak!" Bill and Patty were the only two he would say hi to, but it was truly a great day after 3 months of turmoil and very little speaking.

We attempted the bathroom and then walked the halls a 3rd time and he was getting faster which is a sign of getting tired as the walker was getting away from him. I was able to get him settled in bed and he looked like he would be asleep soon. He was much calmer than he has been since he's been there. As I was saying my goodbyes and walking out of the door, I told him I loved him and paused to see if he would respond. I wasn't disappointed. "I LOVE YOU!" As I was walking down the hall, I heard Mr. B. say "There you go, Mike." I'm so glad Mike has Mr. B. to encourage him and watch out for him. I hope having a roommate that talks to him will help Mike to talk more also. A new prayer point. 

It was so nice to walk away smiling today. I drove away giving thanks to Jesus for such an encouraging day and vast improvement in Mike. 

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.