Day 112 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Today we picked Grayson up at 10:00 and went off to our now familiar local Lutheran church. Grayson had a good morning – singing hymns and reading along with the responses. It's amazing how those memory paths of song and verse that get walked over and over as we grow up, provide such a familiar place to return in times of stress. It was another warm welcome with our other church family.

After church we went to lunch. After several weeks of sushi, we decided it was time for something different – a hamburger and a root beer float at A&W. Not exactly health food, but it was a fun change of pace. Grayson hasn't had fast food since November, so this was probably was a big deal for him!

After lunch, we went to a delightful new park replete with two small lakes connected by a stream (all man-made of course). We walked around for about 90 minutes. It was so great to soak up the sunshine and be outdoors. It was also great to get Grayson moving! Here is a picture of Grayson and Regina pausing for a minute by the lake.

We returned to the residence, and Grayson took us to the rec center to see the karaoke machine. We played with it for a bit, and he sang several songs (the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin) before he just ran out of gas. We bid our farewell and hit the road for home as he was ready to crash for a nap.

A nice day and a nice weekend. God was good to us today!

Pax!

Brant

Day 111 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Today we picked up Grayson after he finished his weekly grocery shopping.

We took Grayson to lunch after all of the groceries were put away. Both Regina and I noticed that he is much more controlled with the speed of his eating. His hands still shake like the dickens, and we make sure that his glass is only filled half way. It was a noisy place, and that is not usually good with Grayson these days. Nonetheless, he behaved well, and was able to carry on a small amount of conversation.

After leaving the restaurant, we drove around a bit as have spent very little time trying to get to know this place – geography, centers of interest, etc. We spent an hour or so just driving around seeing things, locating the local museum and shopping for a hand strengthener at Sport Chalet. Then we decided to head back to our hotel to get some things. While there, we watched a movie on TV, Marley and Me. Grayson laughed out loud at some of the scenes and it was a delightful lazy afternoon.

After the movie, we went downstairs to the hotel restaurant for dinner. It was not crowded and not noisy – good things for Grayson. We had a leisurely dinner (something we could not have done two weeks ago) and asked him lots of questions. Tonight he remembered the street name where he is living – that's the first time he has been able to answer that question for us. Great news, and a little bit of short term memory that is working!

After dinner, it was back in the car, and off to the residence. Once there, he was done for the day. He got ready for bed and was in it less than 20 minutes after we arrived.

While still markedly improved from two weeks ago, today Grayson was off his game a bit compared to yesterday - another up and another down. The good news is that he IS improved in our observation. More good news – Grayson is looking forward to going to church with us tomorrow!

Pax!

Brant

Day 110 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Late this afternoon we drove up to see Grayson. It's a good thing we didn't stop on the way for dinner, or we would have missed him! We arrived, had a short visit, and then he was off to the theater to see a new play in town. Such culture!

He gave us a tour of his new apartment. His room was neat and his dresser drawers were very organized. Family pictures were up on the bulletin board. Clothes were hung neatly in his new much-larger closet. He was never this neat before!

Both Regina and I noticed a marked improvement in his speech and in his self control. His behavior has been outstanding. Tonight he even brought me my coat when it was time to leave, and held it for me to put it on. Wow! While we don't know for sure, we suspect that the meds that he started a week ago have made a difference.

While Grayson is improving, I do not delude myself how difficult his life will become. I need to remind myself occasionally of the research in the area of cardiac arrest (CA) induced anoxia, and how challenged the patients and their families are. On the bright side, his age is the wild card. Generally CA induced anoxia happens to folks in my age bracket, not Grayson's. We continue to pray and hope for continued success, in the knowledge that God has a plan.

Pax!

Brant

Day 109 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Today Grayson was on his best behavior for the staff. This is several good days for Grayson. Could be improvement, could be his new residential assistant (RA), could be a honeymoon period in his new apartment. Whatever the cause, this significant reduction in inappropriate behavior is welcome and good!

This evening, Grayson asked to go to the rec center to sing with the karaoke machine. He really enjoys this, AND he remembers it. The initiation of an activity, as opposed to waiting for someone to tell him what to do, is also a very positive sign.

Tonight Grayson did all of his chores with minimal prompting. The picture task list seems to be working for him! After chores, he did most of the preparation tasks to bake his chicken breast, but the RA thought it best to put it in and remove it from the oven, as Grayson's hands are still so shaky and she feared that he might burn himself.

As a treat for his good behavior, cooperation and initiation, Grayson got to watch Happy Feet on the DVD in his apartment. According to his RA, he was laughing out loud, and was thoroughly entertained until it ended at 9:45 tonight.

Another great day that the Lord has made!

Pax!

Brant

Day 108 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

The staff reported that Grayson did wonderfully today. The staff is trying to encourage him to initiate his chores, as opposed to being reminded of them every day. Toward that end, they developed a picture task list for him to follow when he arrives home from the clinic. He was introduced to the book this afternoon, and when prompted, did each of the chores right away with no objection. The long term intent is to have him accomplish the chores without prompting.

After his chores, he went to the rec center. There they did the therapeutic home program (THP) interspersed with Karaoke. Today the THP's were filling in the blanks at the end of a sentence. He breezed through these as always. He sang with the karaoke machine for about 30 minutes – he loves it! His resident assistant (RA) told me that he sang one Beatles song from beginning to end – with all of the words. She was impressed, and Grayson had a ball!

After the rec center, they hopped the transportation to a pizza parlor. Grayson was chatty on the bus (he is usually quite non-verbal in public), and he saved a seat for his RA. When they arrived at the parlor, it was starting to rain, and he offered his coat to cover his RA's head. She was impressed. (Mom and Dad were proud.)

Probably the most significant thing here in Regina's opinion, is that these were deeds outside of "himself". He was thinking of someone else, and initiating action, as opposed to waiting for something, or to be told what to do. We consider this a very positive sign.

We called this evening right after he had returned home and gotten himself ready for bed. In the course of our conversation, he asked us how our day went – another sign that he realizes that there is a world outside Grayson.

The only bump in the road today was at the pizza parlor. It was quite noisy inside, and there was a lot of activity. Grayson can only tolerate that kind of environment for a short period. By the time the food arrived, he was done. He ate impulsively, and wouldn't be dissuaded from stuffing his mouth past full. He and his RA wound up sitting in the bus until the rest of the group finished, but that turned out to be positive and quiet. He calmed down and talked with her until they returned to the residence.

So you see, we have improvements and challenges. Today the good far outweighed the bad!

Pax!

Brant

Day 107 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Today was Grayson's first full day in his new room. Regina spoke with him today. He told her that he likes his new roommate, and he also said that he liked the new room. He described what he was wearing, and that he was taking a break and watching TV for a bit.

One of the things we had brought Grayson in the hospital, and now sits by his bedside, is a digital picture frame. The frame displays a new picture every 30 seconds. The pictures that we have loaded are of Grayson with various family members. He never turns it off. Today he plugged it in after the move yesterday, and it is again by his bedside.

Grayson was very difficult to understand tonight. Regina had to have him repeat things several times to understand what he was saying. This is just one more sign of just how long a road we are on, with very, very slow improvement over time. But we do see improvement from week to week. We still hope and pray that we will see more of the "old" Grayson again.

Pax!

Brant

Day 106 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Today was an exciting day for Grayson!

As soon as Grayson arrived back at the residence from the clinic this afternoon, Grayson moved from one apartment to another. Not a long distance move, but to the apartment next door. Necessitated by other moves at the complex, and desiring to keep staff with patients and patients in appropriate rooms, several folks wound up moving today. Lots of excitement!

Grayson actively participated in moving things and setting up his new room. He was quite helpful, moving foodstuffs, refrigerator items, clothing, personal items and the like. His staff remains the same, and so other than geography, things should remain the same. Change is exciting and sometimes unnerving, however. I got the sense that for Grayson, the jury was still out, but that he was not upset by the move. He has a very nice young man as a roommate, and the other room of his 3 bedroom unit is currently empty.

Today was also Monday – Music therapy at the rec center! Grayson went down there with a few other patients and wound up singing karaoke. Grayson had a ball, actively participated and stayed several hours. He also played Wii during the downtime. Regina and I spoke with him just as he returned to his apartment, and he sounded great. It was also later than he generally stays up now, so we were surprised that he was still going strong.

It was another good day full of life and song!

Pax!

Brant