Day 8

Progress continues to be made in Sonora. Tonight, when I returned to see Joanie after spending the afternoon looking for the floor of our house, I discovered Joanie on the phone talking to our son, Troy. Before speaking with him, she'd been on the phone with her sister and mother. As a matter of fact, the staff told me that Joanie was getting too many calls and it had been interfering with her supper. They've also placed a sign near her door requesting visitors to check in at the desk. They continue to turn people away so that she can have a break between therapy sessions. While that doesn't seem all that friendly, she needs that protection.

I was able to bribe her into finishing her tomato soup tonight by offering to take her outside to smell the rain. It took a long time but we made it and she enjoyed the sensation. It's the first rain we've had in a long time. Her food continues to be pureed and unrecognizable. They want to make sure she can swallow adequately. After much thought, Joanie had decided that there is real value in pureed food--it's a money saver. You don't need to purchase and use floss.

Speaking of smells...Joanie loves flowers and has thoroughly enjoyed the arrangements she's received BUT she is finding the blend of scents overpowering. If you'd thought of sending her flowers, now is not a good time.

Joanie's latest trick is to be able to move her thumb and first two fingers on her left hand--just a tiny bit! I'm jazzed and continue to expect more progress. Joanie is working hard at all her therapy exercises and tells me that she and the other the patients really like Jim Nord, her PT.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds. The body is an amazing thing.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalms 139:14