February 20, 2013, day 49

Yesterday Dad transitioned to the skilled nursing facility Stillwater Health Care in Bangor. Today my Aunt Mel flies back home to Arizona. Where has the time gone seems to be the feeling around these parts lately and that’s not a bad thing. When once it seemed like every hour we were on the edge of our seats waiting and waiting, now in a flash, here we are almost at the end of February, some 40 plus days since Dad’s original incident. I would say time flies when you’re having fun, but I don’t think that’s quite the sentiment everyone has. And yet, we are all in good spirits, Dad especially. He has made huge improvements in just the last two weeks, specifically that I’ve noticed, in the speech department. Last Friday February 15^th, I asked him, which one of your parents was born today? One of my grandparents was born on 2/13 and the other 2/15, both in 1904. He thought for a moment and then said quietly, but distinctly, mother. He has begun to use more words and has started to piece together and form the beginnings of simple sentences. When I stopped by Stillwater on my way home from work last night, the Occupational Therapist came in to do her initial assessment. Skilled nursing facilities are required to do a minimum of only two hours of therapy a day, split between the physical, occupational and speech. After Dad’s assessment she said she was going to be working an hour a day with him, something he and I were happy to hear, as it is our intention for him to be able to come home. We told her our goals for what he needs to be able to do in order for this to happen. He needs to be able to get out of bed by himself, be able to bath and use the bathroom by himself and be able to maintain his balance while maneuvering through the house. Those are the immediate short term goals. Everything else on all our wish lists (like gardening and cooking, two things Dad loves to do) will come at a later point.

I have had several therapists comment to me about how Dad is a hard worker and he doesn’t give up. No truer statement could be made. He’s like me or should I say I’m like him? When he has something in his head he won’t stop until he accomplishes it. Returning home is in his head so I know he’s going to continue working successfully towards this goal and before you know it he will be walking around the house, feeding the dogs cookies again and having the cat sit on his lap in the TV room.