Thursday, August 20, 2009

I visited Christopher today and he said that he has not received many phone calls on his bedside bed. That email number DOES NOT WORK and nobody there can answer questions. You can email me and I can print your message or photo but Chris still doesn't read much. I tell him who said HI or left a comment.

I try to get him to read the "paper" and coax him to pick up the laptop, but he is not ready.

If you would like to have his phone number just email me . Keep in mind that Chris can only handle short calls..but that's fine. Just keep it brief and let him know that you are thinking of him. He does have therapy mid morning and afternoon.

Chris was moderately annoyed about being "institutionalized" as he put it, and just wants to get out, go home, and be with his kids.

It was yet another dreary, raining, night, and I felt equally depressed. This entire experience has been framed in this endless drizzly blah Summer...
I'll never forget it.

Not much change. Chris tells me that the physio therapy is quite a bit more intense and challenging. He wasn't as "bummed out" as he has been on other visits. He told me that it feels like a bad dream and hecan't believe that he doesn't just wake up..and it's over.

So having got that out of the way we sat back and watched some TV. He said that he was tired and he likes to watch a few shows before he falls asleep. Chris put his headphones on and smiled at me and we watched the Office. He would laugh out loud and luckily I've seen most of the episodes so I knew what he was laughing about. He took off the phones and apologised.."You can't hear this?"

I said, "that's OK, I've seen it before." Chris smiled and put the phones back on. I patted him on the shoulder and just sat there. It was nice just being there and listening to him laugh. :)

7 comments:

tuti said...

i send my warmest wishes to chris.
he is never far from my thoughts and i am sure he is going to get better. there is improvement everyday already!
-mistipurple

dmmgmfm said...

This must be so hard on you all...I can't really imagine how Chris feels, but I ache to be able to give some kind of comfort or help in some way.

Please know that you are all in my thoughts.

Inside our hands, outside our hearts said...

I must have missed something. But I do know Chris has a wonderful friend in you. Suspect its more like brothers, how couldn't it be.

I bet you, at times, do not know what to say when he gets to the point that frustration just takes over. But you are always there for him and I hope you know we all appreciate you as well. Because without you we are just out here wandering like empty souls searching for information.

As for Mr. Beautiful man, I hope he sense how much we all are praying and sending loving thoughts to him. Please give him awarm hug from me.

Look up Chris and see the beautiful world and people that await you.

Soft love,
T

I, Like The View said...

I haven't checked in for a while, so it's a relief to read your words. . .

. . .in my training as a speech and languauge therapist, I can remember icing the backs of the throats of stroke patients to stimulate the swallowing reflex - for some this was months after the initial event - compared to that, he seems to be making good progress

however I am sure that it's infuriating being incarcerated if he wants to get home (and I don't mean for this to sound lame, but what a relief that he's feeling and conveying emotion)

thank you again Donnnnnnnn for the updates here; I can remember reading Chris' comments over at ZigZ' (when he was WW, right?), but I don't think he'd know who I am - so my wishes go to you for your being such a great friend to him and I know he'll make a good recovery, in good time

Jacqueline x

AngelConradie said...

Please give him my love Donn... I would love to call him, but I am afraid the delay that happens in an international calls from SA may frustrate him? What do you think?

Annie Van Bergen said...

I think of Chris alot and am always sending good vibes

You are a wonderful friend to him, and your posts are very appreciated

Anonymous said...

Yes, Donn you are an amazing friend, and I can only imagine how hard it is for you to see Chris like this. Hang in there.

Laura