Progress Report

Yesterday Dad, Mom, and I met with all of Dad's therapists -- speech, physical, and two occupational -- plus the social worker who is coordinating his rehabilitation.  He had just completed his third week in rehab and was due for a progress report.  We were thrilled with the news we got.  

Not surprisingly, his physical recovery is almost perfect:  he tested at 4.5 out of 5 for mobility and balance.  Bette, his PT, is continuing to work on his flexibility as well as fine motor skills in his right hand.  

The area that continues to challenge Dad the most is definitely speech; we are learning, more and more, that "speech therapy" encompasses a tremendously broad area of cognition.  In fact, it's kind of hard to figure out where Occupational Therapy leaves off and Speech Therapy picks up.  For example, sequencing -- or completing the steps for a task in the proper order -- is a speech-based challenge.  Anyway, lately Dad's speech therapist, Kelly, has also started to work more on his reading activities, especially the various levels of comprehension and recall.  

We were especially excited, though, when Kelly told us how much he has improved in the last 3 weeks.  During his first visit, Dad tested about 20% on the battery of tests she administered.  This week, he tested at 75%.  Still some room for improvement, to be sure, but how exciting!

Anecdotally, I've noticed a tremendous improvement in Dad's conversational skills since I last saw him just under 2 weeks ago.  His vocabulary is strong -- yesterday he referred to something as "assinine."  Good one, Jackie.

The folks at the rehab center predict that Dad's outpatient therapy will last 16 weeks altogether -- 13 weeks longer -- at which point they expect that he will be able to function with close to full independence.  This is not to say, of course, that his recovery will cease at that point.  Most stroke patients report change, growth, and improvement one, two, even three years or longer after their strokes.  For now, we're hoping for a continued upward path and steady, regular progress.

Adventures with the Aunts

Yesterday afternoon my Aunt Jean and Uncle George arrived from Tampa; they'll be staying in Pine Ridge for about 10 days. How wonderful of them to come to NC!

Dad had today off from therapy, so this morning, Mom and Dad went to Raleigh with Aunt Jean and Aunt Joyce to see an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Afterwards they got takeout from P.F. Changs -- everyone's favorite.

I'm so pleased that Dad's able to make these outings now. He really seems to benefit from being out and about. In fact, he got a little cranky on his day off last week when Mom didn't have anything planned!

Farm and Other Activities

I returned to Pine Ridge on Friday to find Dad in good spirits.  He and Mom had a very busy week, with therapy each day Monday through Thursday.  On Wednesday, they attended their first weekly meeting of TAP (Triangle Aphasia Project), a group that helps patients with aphasia re-engage.  It also offers support to families of the patients.

During the week Dad revisited a couple of his favorite activities:  gardening and puttering around the farm on the Ranger, their all-wheel farm vehicle.  Yesterday the usual Saturday yard chores took up most of the morning, and Dad was able to help me remember how to pilot his crazy Husqvarna zero-turn mower without careening around like a drunk driver.  He also rode herd on everyone, including Lee and Andre, walking around and pointing out spots of grass we might have missed.

Visits from friends and family continue to sustain us all, and of course we are so grateful for the help that everyone is providing.  Mom's cousins Doris and Betty have done an amazing job keeping the garden watered and weeded.  On Thursday night Dad's office staff brought dinner, and Mom reports that everyone had a grand time.

Aunt Jean and Uncle George are arriving from Tampa on Monday afternoon and will stay for two weeks.  Everyone's looking forward to their visit.

This morning Mom is conducting a biscuit-making tutorial for me; it's one of those essential Southern skills I've never have gotten the hang of.  And later on we're going to head out to the Raleigh Farmers Market to buy provisions for our summer veg dinner.  Matt, who had to stay in Princeton working on the last- minute details of his book manuscript this weekend, will no doubt be jealous; the veg dinner with cornbread is one of his favorite Pine Ridge summer rituals.

Big Ed's

Dad is settling in nicely to his routine at home.  He seems very pleased to be able to spend time in his armchair watching his big TV, and TNT has obliged with plenty Law and Order episodes for his viewing pleasure!

On Tuesday of this week Dad began his out-patient therapy schedule in Raleigh with 4 hours of sessions with his OT, PT, and speech therapist.  He had more sessions on Wednesday, and is taking a break today.  Sessions resume tomorrow, and from now on, he'll go for 3 weekly sessions of 3 hours apiece.  He'll also attend one weekly group session for patients dealing with aphasia.

Matt H. and I arrived in Pine Ridge last night to find Mom, Dad, and Eli waiting for us on the front porch.  Dad is in very good spirits and continuing his road to recovery.  We'll be here for the long holiday weekend and are looking forward to spending lots of quality time with both Mom and Dad. Oh--and Eli too, of course.

This morning we piled in the car and drove to Raleigh for breakfast at Big Ed's in City Market, one of Dad's favorite places.  Matt's midwestern culinary sensibilities were piqued by menu items including brains and eggs, roe and eggs, fatback, red eye gravy, and blackstrap molasses for your biscuits.  He elected for the more predictable choice of french toast.