Stryker Brigade News

I arrived after Scott finished (I think, I hope) the neuropsychological testing and while he was in Speech Therapy. After he got out, I linked up with him at Occupational Therapy. He started with playing solitaire on the computer using his right hand, of course, while he waited for the therapist to return. After she got back, she observed Scott cooking grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup in their kitchen area. Scott and I got to eat what he made. He did a pretty good job. He also found the necessary items more quickly than the last time he cooked something. In other words, Scott seems to be a one trial learner. He does it once or he's shown how to do it once and he's got it from there.

In the afternoon, Scott and I went to the Eye Clinic for another exam. The idea was to see if a prism-like lens could help Scott see objects in the missing visual field. This proved to be not worthy of the effort as what Scott would need to wear to be effective would be impractical. It's just too far to reach. While we were at the clinic, we got the results of the Humphrey Visual Field Test. Well, it's official, he can't see squat in the right visual fields of both eyes.

We finished with the Eye Guys just in time for Physical Therapy. Scott did his stretches while I brought Tiffany up to date (she had just returned from the medical appointment and testing for Alyson--Aly's okay, but will need some follow up to ensure her problem goes away as she continues to develop). Scott worked on the treadmill with electrical stimulation. He looked a little better to me today. I can usually hear the differences between his feet while he walks. Today was a challenge, though, as his footsteps sounded more alike today. The last task involved balancing on one foot while dribbling a ball. He did pretty well with both feet and with both hands. Again, he figures out how to do it, then does it well.

After PT, we returned to his room for some more daytime TV, a barren wasteland covered with ice--ugh. The only good thing about it, I guess, is that it prompts Scott to make comments about the programs and it makes him laugh. Scott played with Alyson for about an hour. She almost always makes eye contact with her Daddy and keeps her eyes on him while he plays with her.

Almost forgot, I got most of "Happy Birthday to You" out of him today. Tiffany said she got him to sing something else over the weekend. Very pleased to hear this.

After dinner, Scott and I left with Jim Moffet for the monthly meeting of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, a Civil War re-enactment group. He was not feeling very well, but when introduced to someone, he jumped right up, shook hands and engaged the person in conversation. A popular topic was how little things have changed for the soldier since the Civil War. Scott looked at a bag of buttons to be used on reproductions of Union uniforms and said, "Hey, I've got those, too." Hey, the eagle still works for the Army uniform.

Once the meeting got underway, Scott and I were introduced by Jim Moffet. This resulted in Scott receiving a standing ovation, one which seemed to last several minutes. I don't know if Scott knew what to think about this, but he waved and nodded when he made eye contact with someone in the audience. Scott and I were awarded memberships in the First Minnesota, completing the process begun at Walter Reed. Scott was also awarded a pair of Sergeant stripes and a Civil War cap (Thanks Tiff for getting me the correct hat size while you were home). When the meeting ended, there were lots of hand shakes, salutes and photo ops with the Boys in Blue.

As I mentioned above, Scott was having some head pain, but he hung in there until Jim got us back to the hospital. Scott went right to his nurse and got his meds. After I hugged him goodnight, he made some cryptic remark about me getting something, too.

Hey, all I want is complete recovery. I don't want much, do I?

ST