Day 58 - Friday February 10, 2012

We were able to pick up Bridgett's glasses about 1:30 today.  I was so excited to have her put them on!  Immediately Mark had her try to read and she read a headline at the store.  However, she could not read the letters that were printed in red ink.  Maybe not enough contrast.  Also, I had to remind him that even with the correction, she can only read 18 font, so the other print was too small.  Anyway, we happily headed home and then we got the realization that it was going to take a bit of time for her to get used to things.  First of all, they are bifocals, which takes getting used to and secondly they have the bifocal part up higher then normal. She was frustrated with them and would take them off often. Since that bifocal part is so high I think that she is looking right at the change in lens, so seeing a little crazy.  We kept showing her to look higher for distance and lower for close, but with a very short term memory right now, we have to keep reminding.  Throughout the day she'd have them on one minute and the next time I'd look they would be off.  Additionally (remember when you first got glasses) she has a headache and she said I feel so tall (the sensation of having the glasses on as well).  Anyway, I'm glad we got them today so that she still has Saturday and Sunday to get used to them before we go to therapy. If she's still having problems by then, the occupational therapist will maybe have a suggestion for us or the optometrist that she saw.  It will all work out!  There are a lot of things to get worked out besides the obvious.  Our insurance agent spinning Bridgett off of our insurance policy to her own policy with Utah coverage.  This would also give her unlimited outpatient benefits.  The effective date would be 1/1/12 and we have been trying to get this accomplished since then.  She obviously could not sign her own paperwork at that point, as she was in a coma.  So, we applied for guardianship so that we can take care of this and any other legal issues.  We just were granted temporary guardianship this week (it takes a while!), and the lawyer got the info to the insurance company and she finally has her own policy!  Those guardianship papers are in the mail to us so that we can use them for other things--getting her medical records, etc.  The rehab doctor gave her papers so that we can get a handicap parking sticker, but we need the guardian ship papers for the signature since Bridgett is over the age of 18.  Even though we are her parents, we can't do things for her or request things unless we have legal guardianship.  Anyway, at least the papers are on the way and we can take care of a few things when we receive them.  Oh, I always forget neat things--yesterday when we went to the eye doctor, I said, hey let's get Bridgett dressed cute; it will help us pick out glasses easier.  I always ask her what she wants to wear (and have from the start).  I give her two choices and she picks things out.  Anyway, we asked, do you want to wear sweats (what she's been wearing for rehab) or jeans.  She said jeans (her first time wearing jeans since the accident)!  Then her sisters let her pick out a shirt from her closet.  She picked out a really cute shirt.  She got all dressed including a cute belt and a cute little hat and we were ready.  Before leaving I said let's get a picture.  She posed all cute and we got several really fun pictures, although she moved almost every time right when we were snapping the pic and so they are somewhat blurred.  But, in any case, she looked cute and more like the regular Bridgett we all know and love!  Oh, about posting her pictures online.  We have all discussed this and this is what we think at this point.  When Bridgett is ready, we will let her pick out what pictures she wants posted for all the world to see.  Online is a big community!  Until that time, we figure that she might not want pictures of her as a bald woman, with facial cuts, and teeth broken, all swollen etc--online for the world to see.  In a bit, I figure she'll pick some out and we'll post some from the ICU, some from rehab and some current (maybe we'll even post some video). Most women would agree with me on this!  It should be her choice! I've always told my kids, don't text or email or post anything that you don't want the world to see, because once it's left your domain, it's any one's guess as to where it will end up!