"IX months”
"Beware the ides of March" came and went without any major events. And that stupid "rat" in Staten Island said Spring is coming. Brrrrr. It is hard to believe that it has been IX months since the episode that began this journey. So many positive steps forward with the aid of the Megan Gepp, Kessler Rehab personnel and support at home especially from "Nina Belle", the comfort dog/beggar queen.
Melissa is trying to transition to the use of a cane with "spotting". Her balance is so much better but still she still has moments of instability. Together we are trying to work on that, and so are the Therapists at Kessler. Sometimes she gets ahead of herself and moves too fast or she turns a bit quickly and gets her feet tangled. If you haven't seen her since October or even January, you would be amazed.
Short term memory is not so great still. I am trying to get her to write things down in her Red Organizer Book so she can go back and look at it. That is a work in progress for sure, but I am not worried because some things she can recall with a bit of processing.
Long term memory seems to be very good. So that is a victory.
Getting back into the workplace is still "to be determined'. I don't want to put her in a situation where she might embarrass herself if she cannot remember from one minute to the next what was said. This happens sometimes even when we talk about daily plans or goals. I will try to do this in easy steps. She acknowledges that she has a huge deficit here, but is willing to work on this with assistance.
The other day she asked me when she could drive. OMG, that would be scary. Then she got a folder at Kessler on taking driving lessons. I will look into the process of learning how to drive again after a TMI/Stroke. I told Melissa, "let's focus on walking without assistance first and then you can move onto driving a car." Truly, driving a car is not important now. The ability to walk down the street standing tall, face forward without people as "spotters" is paramount.
I don't know where we are in the marathon except it is a challenge to stay hydrated and fueled so we can finish. My legs hurt, my shoes are making blisters and my singlet is rubbing me the wrong way. Got any bandaids? I get out and ride with my NJ League NICA MTB team, "Jersey Shore Tidal Waves"; and Saturday had a good day on the road bike. Our commitment to overcoming has not waned. Our goal is still a trip in August if Melissa is more independent/agile, the virus scare is over and toilet paper is plentiful again. Time will tell on those fronts.
Lastly, I just want to say I have only heard Melissa say once, during the past 9 months, that she was overwhelmed and disappointed. She bounced back the next day mentally and spiritually. The Melissa pre June 15 was optimistic and tried very hard to rise to the top, see the good in everything; "no negativity". That has not changed, it is a part of her character. We grow together and in the end this will make us even stronger.
