Monday, January 21, 2008

Due to the holiday today, things at the hospital were very quiet. I had hoped to take Mark outside, but unfortunately, it was a little cool and we were not able to find the special chair he needed to be moved outside. We are going to try again tomorrow, hopefully with better results.

So, instead, we had a quiet day of reading. I decided that Mark should become an honorary member of my book club and yesterday, I began reading him the selection for this month. He seems to be enjoying it, although he does have some trouble remembering what it's about when we stop. I remind him about what we've read and go on. He really finds it relaxing and it keeps him from getting agitated. He looked like he had fallen asleep at one point and I stopped reading. He opened his eyes and asked why I stopped. I explained and he said just because his eyes were closed it didn't mean he wasn't listening! I continued on. One of the nurses is reading the same book and she's from Cleveland too. We're ahead of her, so Mark told her she had to catch up!

Mark's short term memory is not good, as is typical in injuries like this. The nurses come in and out and ask Mark to tell them their names. They told me today, that he's getting better but that his problem solving skills do not seem to be impaired. He looks at their name tags and then gives them the name. They have started turning their ID badges around so he can't cheat. They told me that a lot of the guys on the unit don't think to look at the tags. He seems to have no trouble with the guys and even calls them from his room and waves. The gals are teasing him about it.

The other soldier who was transported here with Mark from Walter Reed is in the room next door. He stops in every day to check on Mark. Mark remembers his name, Donald, but thinks they were in Iraq together. Don is a staff sergeant and since he doesn't have a platoon any longer decided today that he and Mark were going to be a new unit. His wife and I just laughed and thought that's all this rehab unit needs. Mark thought that would be a great idea. Don was hurt in an IED blast in Iraq and is ambulatory, but had a serious head wound and broken arm. His wife and I have become very friendly. They are a nice young couple with a ten year old daughter.

I would say on our scale, that today was a seven. All the therapists are back tomorrow, so that will mean a change in Mark's cast, and all the rest of the treatments. Wish us luck!