I just returned home from taking Joey and Angela back to Boise to fly home to Minneapolis tomorrow. We had a wonderful week with them and Jamie and Jahara. Jess was very alert and smiled at all of them all during the week. I know he had so much he wanted to share with them and must feel so frustrated that he can't get the words out. It was really hard to see them all leave.
We did give Jess 10 mg of Ambien one day and he did seem to move and wiggle more than normal. It only lasted for about an hour and then he was pretty wiped out. So, we decided it's not worth tiring him out at this point. Maybe he's just not quite ready.
He had a few visitors during the week such as his good friend Dustin, a substitute teacher, Tracy, who spent time with him at school, Angela, a friend from when he was about 10, and his other long time friend Mikey who ran into him at therapy. I wasn't there but heard from everyone that Jess gave Mikey a look and a smile that lit up the room and all of their hearts. We know he's in there and that kind of response just verifies it. He does miss his friends. Thanks to all of you for sharing some time with him.
We took the whole family and Brandie to the play, "Snowflake" one night. It was a very entertaining and heartwarming one man play. The actor had also been in a car accident earlier in his life and was told he would never walk again. You would never know it watching him dance around the stage. Jess was very attentive and actually turned his head and eyes following him across the stage. We were quite the group with Jess' four year old neice, his 88 year old grandma, his sister in law who is eight months pregnant (with my little grandson), his mom, dad and his sister. It was an evening we all remember.
Jess had a little seizure yesterday. It again was scary and reminded us of how things can change in an instant. He stopped on his own and I quickly gave him extra seizure medication and Ativan to ensure he wouldn't start up again. We, of course, always wonder what triggers the abnormal electrical discharge in his brain but we never seem to find a reliable cause. The after events are always interesting. This time he has been very alert today and seemed happier than usual. Other times it wipes him out for a couple of weeks. We are just glad it didn't last very long.
Not much more to report except we want to wish everyone a wonderful remaining holiday and the best New Year ever! We are expecting lots of good surprises! Why not?
Our love to all...Pam, Chris & Jess
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2 comments:
Hi Pam! My name is Olivia Van Leuven and I always read the updates about Jess and his progress. I had a TBI 8 years ago and after years of limping, a wandering eye, slurred speech, a billion surgeries, and a contracted arm, I've come completely back to normal. Well, except for a SLIGHT limp, but considering how bad I was, who cares? I even have my Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from CSU, Chico. Doctors have told me and my parents that the typical brain injury recovery takes about 10 years. Key word: ABOUT 10 years. Maybe Jess will recover in 5 years, maybe 14 years, etc. Either way, he will be back 100%. It is a mathematical certainty. When you get a cut, it heals right? This is the same sort of thing. I was SO near death, I spent a month in a coma, and I broke just about everything. It's been a long haul, but if I did it, why can't Jess? If you would like to talk to me, my email address is ovanleuven@cox.net
love always,
Olivia
Hello again. i am getting ready to return from italy back to the valley and i just wanted to remind you how much i have been thinking about jess and that i am really really looking forward to seeing him.
hope this year brings good things for you and your family. you certainly deserve it!
Love you all.
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