Stryker Brigade News

Occupational Therapy consisted of testing mostly. He completed most of a non-motor visual perception test. The various tasks were designed to determine if the subject's perception was working properly. The tasks asked Scott to determine which figure was different from the others, reversed, how many of a certain shape could be found, etc. Scott did well on these tasks. I don't know the exact score yet, but I'm sure he did very well.

Recreational Therapy gave Scott a chance to respond to some e-mails from friends who had sent them. (I'll get their addresses tomorrow and add them to the list.) Scott had the RT type most of his responses for him.

We ate lunch in Scott's room and he got a chance to call his grandmother for her birthday. It wasn't the clearest conversation, but I know she appreciated it. After the call, Scott cat-napped while waiting for his 2 p.m. appointment. About 1:40, a nurse came in and said Scott was to go to Prosthetics (located in the basement) and be fitted for a new brace and helmet. We hurried and got Scott ready. He walked on his own again and did fine in the elevator. Julie walked slowly behind with his wheelchair and I walked alongside him ready to eliminate any obstacles or catch him should he stumble. (Scott really doesn't like anyone to worry about him while he's walking and often stops and stares at those who do until they give him some more space.) He is doing better at looking to his right when he comes to an intersection before going across. Anyway, we didn't have enough time to get the Prosthetics stuff done before his 2 p.m. appointment for Speech Therapy, so we made a date for tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and rolled Scott up to the appointment. Julie and I continued our practice of staying outside these appointments so as not to distract him. Julie worked on some papers and I continued with an excellent history of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry--The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers by Richard Moe. (I finished it this evening, Jim. Thanks again!)

After Speech, we wheeled Scott down to PT for more stretching and balancing exercises. He also did eight minutes on the treadmill. The PT wanted Scott to continue to use his cane, so she loaned him one and walked back to his room with us.

It being Julie's turn for an outing, so she left with one of the other mothers about 4 p.m. Scott and I were left with bad daytime TV. Scott put The Maury Show on and I was subjected to Paternity Scandal Television. I guess I needed to feel like I was at work again so I didn't protest too much. Scott was upset that at least two of the paternity results won't be revealed until tomorrow. I haven't heard Scott laugh so hard in some time. These knuckleheads put themselves on a national television show with such a scandalous issue and Scott couldn't believe it. I got him on one case with one of my favorite lines from Blazing Saddles: "To tell a family secret, my grandmother was Dutch." The program also confirmed my suspicion that some people have no shame.

Later, we redeemed ourselves by watching the Blues Brothers while waiting for Monday Night Football. Scott dozed off and the sound on the remote/Nurse call device did the excellent soundtrack no favors. Julie came back around 7:30 and we made the cold walk back to the Fisher House.

By the way, if you're interested in the Fisher House organization, and I'm learning more about it daily, you can check out their website at www.fisherhouse.org.

ST