Day 46 & 47, Sunday & Monday

Today, Monday, we had a evaluation by the Out Patient Speech Therapist, a lady from the Netherlands who speaks perfect English. Joanie was given some additional exercises and was delighted to learn of a technique to strengthen the left side of her tongue. She often bites it when eating and describes it as the constant feeling of just returning from the dentist with a numb tongue. While I was fixing lunch (thanks to Brenda, Joanie's sister, for the great lasagna) Joanie took it upon herself to empty the dishwasher. I'm delighted at the feelings of independence and trying to return to pre-stroke activities. All these actions are always hampered by a left arm/hand that is uncooperative! It is neat to see Joanie forcing herself to try and use the left hand for most tasks.

This evening, we tried a new thing. We drove down to our little lake, Brentwood Lake, about 8 blocks away and took a walk! I carried her cane and held her left hand so I could swing her left arm in cadence with her right leg. We walked perhaps 150 yards across packed dirt, pavement, and loose sand before we turned back. I left her on a bench and proceeded to walk around the lake on my own. I look forward to the day when we can both walk around the lake together, as we've done many times in the past.

Joanie wonders if I paint too glowing a picture of her progress. She still has a long ways to go, it is often discouraging, and she wonders about her future. Still, I see all kinds of progress and continue to point out things that she couldn't do a week or month ago.


Sunday we managed to get through most of the exercises, as we do most days, from Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. If Joanie has the strength and energy, we could spend 4-5 hours each day on them. That doesn't happen. Joanie does continue to become more involved with household chores. However, when we drove in to town to wash off the van, she remained inside and pointed out spots of the windows that I was missing! That evening, she mentioned that she was getting hungry and I suggested a snack because I wanted to go out and vacuum the van out. As it turns out, I did go out, and Joanie got up and made herself sandwich. When I returned, I was upset. My concern was that I'd not been in the house to supervise her when she was making her first foray into the kitchen to "cook" for herself. After she assured me that she'd not used a sharp knife, or anything else potentially dangerous, I calmed down. I soon reasoned that it is all part of the process of her becoming more independent.

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."

Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)