Dear family and friends
Today we had our monthly patient conference with the therapists and the staff at the Centre for Neuro Skills. Our two hour telecom covered the full gamut of the regimen of Grayson's rehabilitation and activity, as well as his performance scores on various aspects of his recovery. These monthly conferences are intellectually fascinating, emotionally wrenching and absolutely necessary. As always, I will share details of the conference in the coming days.
Today Grayson returned from the clinic and had a good afternoon. First he made his lunch for Wednesday to get that chore out of the way. Then he went and picked up the mail. He was very happy that there was a letter from Lauren, and there was a picture with it. After the mail run, he settled in to chores. Tonight while the chicken for dinner was defrosting, he vacuumed. After the vacuuming, he sat down with his residential assistant (RA) and did his therapeutic home program (THP). Tonight was the first time any of us can remember that he remembered his address (the apartment, not his home!) This is an important issue should he become separated from the group that he know where "home" is and be able to communicate it.
After the chicken was defrosted, the RA helped Grayson prepare and put it into the oven. They made a vegetable and rice, to go with the chicken and Grayson had dinner. After clean-up, it was off to the Swain Center, the rec center, for Karaoke Night, a favorite of Grayson's. Grayson and his RA were early birds, and they played Ping Pong while waiting for others to arrive. When some others arrived, Grayson suddenly left the game and became engaged in a physical conflict with another patient. The RAs stepped in to stop it, and Grayson left the center and returned to his apartment with his RA. We are taught how to behave as we grow up, and what behaviors are acceptable, and which are not. One of the consequences of brain injury is a removal of the natural "checks" that we are conditioned to apply when we are given a situation. Those "checks" are gone for Grayson, and he will need to relearn them.
Another consistently inconsistent day!
Pax!
Brant
It's so hard to tell what triggers sudden responses like this. Your positive attitude about relearning the checks necessary to maintain appropriate behavior will surely help.
ReplyDeleteHi Brant and Regina:
ReplyDeleteI know that relearning the important checks and balances is tough, but that is what this season of therapy is all about. He is in the right kind of environment for these things to occur and be rightly dealt with. What a blessing that is. And I know he is learning, though we want it to happen "fast", he is learning for the long term. So, we just keep on praying and supporting him, and we love him, and you two, too.
In Him,
Doug