Elder Yates & Elder MalovichI'm sorry that it has been so long since I have updated, we were gone for a week, dad is doing great, as you will be able to see from the video from today, mom and I made it up here just in time to see dad walking. I can't believe the progress he continues to make. We are learning a lot about strokes, what it does to the body, and what it takes to heal and how long it takes to heal. Brian Smith sent dad a book that was written by a brain scientist who suffered a stroke and it has been very insightful. I thought I would share a few things with you that she had at the end of her book, "Forty things I needed the most".
Ask me multiple choice questions. Avoid Yes/No questions.
Ask me questions with specific answers. Allow me time to hunt for an answer.
Do not assess my cognitive ability by how fast I can think.
Speak to me directly, not about me to others.
Cheer me on. Expect me to recover completely, even if it takes twenty years!
Trust that my brain can always continue to learn.
Please don't finish my sentences for me or fill in words I can't find. I need to work my brain.
I may want you to think I understand more than I really do.
Focus on what I can do rather than bemoan what I cannot do.
Send pictures, it will be really helpful for dad.
Love me for who I am today. Don't hold me to being the person I was before. I have a different brain now.
Be protective of me but do not stand in the way of my progress.
Dad absolutely loves having visitors come, and it amazes us at how well he can carry on a conversation with whoever comes, his speech improves everyday. It's been great to see dad's sense of humor coming back. He is working so hard. I was up here Tuesday and they had him roll over on his side and put his right leg up on a short table. He was able to bend his leg back and straighten it out quite well. When he got done, I said "That was good, dad!" He said "no". I said "No? What do you mean no?" He said , "No, that was awesome!" I laughed and said "Yes it was!"
Ask me multiple choice questions. Avoid Yes/No questions.
Ask me questions with specific answers. Allow me time to hunt for an answer.
Do not assess my cognitive ability by how fast I can think.
Speak to me directly, not about me to others.
Cheer me on. Expect me to recover completely, even if it takes twenty years!
Trust that my brain can always continue to learn.
Please don't finish my sentences for me or fill in words I can't find. I need to work my brain.
I may want you to think I understand more than I really do.
Focus on what I can do rather than bemoan what I cannot do.
Send pictures, it will be really helpful for dad.
Love me for who I am today. Don't hold me to being the person I was before. I have a different brain now.
Be protective of me but do not stand in the way of my progress.
Dad absolutely loves having visitors come, and it amazes us at how well he can carry on a conversation with whoever comes, his speech improves everyday. It's been great to see dad's sense of humor coming back. He is working so hard. I was up here Tuesday and they had him roll over on his side and put his right leg up on a short table. He was able to bend his leg back and straighten it out quite well. When he got done, I said "That was good, dad!" He said "no". I said "No? What do you mean no?" He said , "No, that was awesome!" I laughed and said "Yes it was!"
Wow grandpa! That's so great and you're making so much progress. Love you lots!
ReplyDeleteDear dad and mom
ReplyDeleteYou know for many Missionaries you are our dad and mom, because we are never had our parents on the church, but in the future in going to have all members of this true Church Of Jesus Christ of Lathers-Days Saints, so I can call you dad and mom because You always showing how much you love each person you know, you are amazing, I do not know when I going to have opportunity to give strong hug, but I want you know we love you lots. I want you felling our hugs and our love
So on please get out of this hospital and go go go BYU,
Kisses Andre, Simone and Raphael
That is great. I am so glad that you get to go up there. I feel so bad that I don't get up there as much as I would like. Dad keep up the good work. I know that you will be back to your complet self soon. Love you and miss you tons
ReplyDelete