Thank you all for answering the call to prayer. There has been much improvement yesterday and today. Ted actually wrote his name - and it looked like his signature! But, when asked to do it later, he did nothing. So....connections are being made at times and will continue to be made.
I learned today that he was extremely ill several days ago. This had never been shared with me. There is an obvious lack of commmunication in the hospital - no one told me that he was ill but only that he was not ready for his rehab activities. They have since changed their conclusions, are no longer going to write him off and send him to a nursing home, and are ready to work with him again. Your prayers have helped to turn around that situation quickly. The therapists and nurses are very excited about his progress yesterday and today and are very eager to help him to progress now.
Ted is getting alot of physical strength back. He is walking alot and is getting up on his own alot, so he has to be restrained. Right now, he does not seem to understand risks and consequences because he sometimes knocks things over and bangs into things if he is walking without assistance. He does not like the restraint and gives me that angry look about it. It is not my fault that he knocked over the IV stand which resulted in pulling out his feeding tube! He will learn....... maybe the hard way.....
In occupational therapy, he did very well in sorting coins! That should not surprise anybody. But, in recreational therapy, he could not tell the difference between the Pittsburg Pirate logo and the Ohio State logo. That is sad.......He smiled alot when the therapist brought up the 1978 Pirates pitcher, Kent Tekulve. Ted loved him in the 1978 World Series. Despite Ted's minimal ways to communicate, he knew when to smile and when to frown during the Gator Bowl. Unfortunately for Buckeye Nation, there were more frowns than smiles for all of us.
Ted is still not talking but is beginning to use his lips - which is a very positive sign.
He seems to understand that his favorite current candidate, Newt Gingrich, did not do well in the Iowa Caucus. He was frowning alot during that telecast. He seemed uninterested in Michelle Bachmann leaving the race.
He has lots of classes during the day - physical therapy twice a day, occupational therapy twice a day, speech therapy twice a day, and recreational therapy once a day. He is fairly tired between his classes and usually naps. When I visited today, he waved me off after his speech therapy class and was anxious to snooze before his next class.
It is recommended that there be no visitors unless you want to go to classes with him! I have been to them.....it is alot like pre-school. I understand that the classes are strenuous for him and that rest and naps are best for him between them. That sounds good to me! We all remember those days in college..... a little nap between classes! So, please don't visit for awhile. There will be plenty of time for visits in the future.
Thank you all for your prayers and please continue with them. We are hopeful that we are back on track now. Anne
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