Wednesday evening update

Jason had a tiring day - tiring enough that he slept rather than do his last 2 rehab sessions. He continues to make small improvements, and is starting to acknowledge that he may have indeed had a head injury, since he sees that he cannot do some things that he thinks he ought to do. He is still confused about a lot of things, but he sure doesn't act confused - he is incredibly articulate.

One thing that would help, I think, would be for us to be able to tell him some details about what happened, but none of us really knows. If you were there, and can shed some light, please give me a call at 277-4264 (evenings) or 255-7559 (days).

thanks,

Steve

Life on 2N (Inpatient Rehab)

Life in rehab

Hi Everyone.  It took almost 8 hours yesterday from when the doctor told Jason that he was going to be moved to the rehab unit until we were actually settled in a room.  That is how things go in a hospital.  What a pain.  Anyway, we are thrilled with the doctors and staff here.  Everyone is compassionate, respectful and patient.  Jason is doing physical and cognitive therapy a total of three hours a day.  At this stage it is exhausting for him.  He is working very hard and has a good attitude.  He likes to be challenged.  He is starting to accept that he has a brain injury but it is hard for him because he doesn't remember the accident and his head does not hurt.  

Suzanne and I are running on very little sleep.  I am going to close out now but will try to give you some details of the therapy tomorrow.  It is fascinating.  

Be safe and keep your positive energy coming.  P

A Little Update

Hello All,

The mothers, Suzanne and Peggy, spent Monday with Jason.  In the early hours of the day a doctor from the rehabilitation unit stopped by to assess whether Jason was ready to be discharged to rehab.  Hallelujah he passed!  Around 3pm Jason was moved from his chaotic space on floor 5 to a quiet, private room downstairs.  Now begins the tough work of therapy.

Suzanne spent the night with Jason in his room last night.  It was either that or a bed for him where the top part was described by the mothers as a "tent" and a "cage."  The last thing we need is for Jason to think he's out camping somewhere in the wilds.  We're trying to help him find reality.

Sadly, as Jason's head heals some frightening things are becoming apparent to him.  As of last night he was vehemently denying that he had even raced on Sunday.  He was convinced that he merely acted as an official and that someone had put him in the hospital on purpose.  The upcoming days could be very hard for Jason as he heals and the reality of his situation sinks in.  But I feel very confident that eventually Jason's hard-working, nothings-gonna-stop-me attitude will kick in!  Keep sending those comments.  They've been hugely motivational!

Isabel

 

Isabel has HER phone again.

Starting today I am back to using my regular cell phone (with the number ending in 3943). Please contact me at this number, not on Jason's phone. Thanks. Isabel

Happy Ending to the Day

When Suzanne arrived today she told Jason the interesting story of how a well-meaning neighbor put a cat inside Suzanne and Steve's house that she thought belonged to them. Turns out it did not!  Steve was awakened in the night and bitten when he tried to keep the cat from attacking their cats.  

When Steve arrived at the hospital at least 45 minutes later, he mentioned the funny cat story and JASON REMEMBERED IT!!!!!   This is incredible!!!  His short term memory is coming back!  We are still smiling here, and hope you are too.  

Thank you for all your positive energy.

Hello everyone.  Peggy is blogging today.  Isabel needs to recharge.  

Jason made great physical progress yesterday but had a little bit of a mental setback after the chaos of yesterday.  He is now able to walk short distances and tolerate up to two hours sitting up in a chair.  He is awake and active for 4-5 hours at a time.  This is a dramatic change from when I arrived on Thursday.  

Mentally he in totally intact except for his short term memory and he does not always understand where he is and why he is here.  It is obvious that his mind is working overtime to get things figured out.  He has had several theories.  One was that he was on a ship of immigrants and that no one spoke English.  He decided this because of the long corridors with rooms off of them, hearing foreign languages all around him and the "festive atmosphere."   His second theory was that he was a player in a multi-layered video game.  He has talked about "getting his matrix on."  By the end of the day we had him somewhat reoriented and talking about the need to plan the wedding.  

It is easy to understand why Jason is confused.  I can't imagine a worse setting for a head trauma patient.  There are lights and beeps and alarms all the time.  The food may look like a waffle or sausage but it is really pureed food reformed to look like what it was originally so you bite into it and it doesn't taste anything like what you thought it would.  New people come in and out of the room at all hours and many do not speak English or speak it well. Lights go on and off with little consideration for whether it is night or day. 

Yesterday I was talking to a nurse in the hall about Jason and she asked me "are you door or window."  His last name is Vanstaveren so I said, "no, neither."  Then I realized she was asking me if he was the patient near the door or the window.  Isabel and I are becoming disoriented and we have not have any bumps to the head.  

The good news is that Jason is incredibly smart and his mind is working all the time.  We believe that this constant mental activity is what is going to hasten his recovery.  Also, aside from short term memory and being oriented to place and current situation, everything else is fine.  He can read, reason, joke, grouse and speak passionately about injustice.  He is still the Jason we all love.  

Tomorrow we are hoping to get Jason transferred to the inpatient head trauma rehab.  This is a quiet, sane setting where they will provide him with therapy to reconnect his damaged circuits.  We expect to see exciting and rapid healing.  Please keep sending your prayers and affirmations.  We are so grateful for all of you.  Peggy