Monday 17 October 2011

Alex's status remains stable, waking up a bit more every day with responses like ocean tides. Lucid and then sleepy, lucid and then sleepy.  She moves her arms and legs all over the bed and kicks pillows off. She moves her left arm most often and uses it for
 most expression. Her right arm is the side on which she suffered a fractured clav. and she avoids moving this arm. She coughs a good deal, which I understand is good, but it sounds harsh with her trach. I can see that coughing really bothers her as her eyebrows tense up in an annoyed manner.  She has her monkey Jimby with her favorite blankets.

We will sing Happy Birthday to her later this afternoon and give her gifts...it really depends on her schedule, when she feels up to it.

Most doctors and staff say she will not remember the majority of her ICU experience. That only in rehab will she really start to recall the details around her.

Regardless, I know that moment by moment, Alex is comforted by those who love her, both here and far away. She and I know this --that when you truly think upon another person, you are with them no matter how far away you are...so always think good thoughts.

This morning, Dr. Crowl from the Peds Rehab came up with two members of his team. They are super great and are working to bring Alex to Rehab this week. Once out of the trauma ward (in which keeping calm and saving lives is priority) and into a supportive creative area, one in which bringing her back into the moment is key  --like an extended cup of coffee. She will have help with speech, movements, everything.

Alex has outstanding potential to regain herself. She may have to recall/rewire certain skills that she already knows. For example, while she may recall how to write, she may need to time to engage her thought to eye to hand to coordination  so she can smoothly engage the action of writing. This is just an example.

Visitors should always recall that she hears well and probably does not need much baby talk or updates about herself so much as she would enjoy fun carefree news about you and the outside. These serve as pleasant distractions from the bleeps and blips. After all, she is still a wonderful, young, 18 year old lady and likes movies, music and a bit of gossip now and then.