Stryker Brigade News

Tiffany and I got Scott off to the shower again this afternoon with his nurse (2LT Giles serving his shift on ScottWatch) observing. Scott walks by putting a stiff right leg forward (almost a goosestep-like move) and then bringing up the left to be even with the right. He can turn in place by a sort of hop motion. I think he would do better if he had some right side warm up before getting up off the bed, but he is able to move with us stabilizing him. He is also able to hook his left leg under the right ankle to move the right leg around. When the PT Fairy came back today, we told her about this development. She was pleased with this, as it showed Scott was taking steps to improve his independence. Scott waved off the PT session as he was not feeling well and was a bit distressed over a realization he made earlier in the day.

The realization came about during a discussion about time zones between Walter Reed and Iraq (we're used to the differences from Pacific Daylight Time). Scott was acting like I was crazy so I wrote out the various times for Ft. Lewis, Walter Reed and Iraq. It suddenly dawned on us that Scott thought he was at Madigan Army Medical Center on Ft. Lewis in Washington. This really disoriented and upset him. He was three hours out of sync with reality and on the wrong coast. The next question from him was "How long do I have to be this way?" while pointing to his head. The answer is five more months to allow all the medical issues to be resolved, but it could be less time if he works hard and things go well. He just put his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.

PFC Majors was breathing on his own today when Julie and I went to visit him. We were unable to discern any other changes, but I'd say this was a positive development worth noting and passing along.

Scott's attitude adjusted back to "hopeful" after phone calls to two buddies from his patrol who are convalescent leave at Ft. Lewis. We heard "Two pints of beer" and "later bud" among other phrases on our end of the conversations. Scott later asked me if it would be "four or five months" (with accompanying hand gestures) and "that's all?" before the skull is replaced on his head. He seemed reassured with that answer as if he could do four or five months without part of his head standing on his head. That's more like Scott, but we certainly understood why he was so upset earlier today.

Julie has been tracking Scott's use of expressions in order to show her list to the speech therapist on Tuesday. He can't seem to say Tiffany's or Alyson's names. Scott called Tiffany "Mom" (which is technically correct, of course) today and doesn't use any term for the baby. He was able to call her "Aly" at Bethesda, but not since. All part of the ups and downs of brain injury recovery, I'm afraid.

At dinner Scott wanted me to notice something about the back of his neck. I told him I couldn't see anything wrong with it. He said, "Exactly. See how I can move it now." His head was where it was supposed to be, off the pillow and erect so he could eat without having to worry about swallowing problems. No pillows are needed now for him to eat. I'd call this head movement and control our significant improvement for the day.

After we came back from dinner, we spent some time with Scott and then Julie and I left to go back to the hotel (laundry calls). Tiff and Aly stayed behind to share some private time with Scott. I'm going back after midnight and try to place a call to some of Scott's other buddies. No PIC line was emplaced today as the PIC Nurse is still MIA. We're not distressed as the current IV line is working fine.

www.strykernews.com has a comment section and I'm going to try to answer questions from there that may be of general interest. Some specific things, I'll just respond to there. The question from the B Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry Family Resource Group (FRG) was where is he now?

Scott is currently at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20307-5001 on Ward 75. I've not seen mail call here, but I suppose it happens someplace. I've also not seen any orders assigning him to a Medical Holding Company yet, but I have seen some orders assigning him to the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The next question from another reader was who was Scott's favorite player on the Dolphins? I don't know about any favorites now, but as he was growing up his favorite player was Dan Marino. This was because Scott admired his work at quarterback (his position, too) and because he knew Marino had a genuine interest in children and neurological disorders that affect them like autism.

Another question had to do with unit patches and other adornments to the hated helmet. We haven't got it covered yet, but it's going to be soon, I'm sure. I told Scott today that we were going to make a new cover for the foam part of the helmet. It was going to be in Miami Dolphins' colors and have a dorsal fin on top. He gave me a scrunched-up "Huh?" look for a second and then smiled when he got the joke.

ST