Day 104 - Tuesday March 27, 2012

Today was a great day!  We got to go to some regular rehab sessions in Provo.  It's just great having to drive a short way.  Bridgett got ready and was anxious to leave so we mailed a letter on the way.  When we got there we went to speech therapy first.  Bridgett did awesome and really amazed the therapist!  She did much better than on the evaluation apparently.  Of course, my opinion is that she was working with a graduate student during the evaluation and now she was working with the therapist.  The therapists say things differently.  For example, the graduate student reads the question just at a normal pace.  The therapists talk in a slower voice, just barely, but it's easier for a TBI patient to respond if it's a little slower.  If Bridgett doesn't understand, she says it again.  Anyway, Bridgett was also just doing better so that's good.  She remembered the year and that it was Tuesday, so little by little things are improving.  Last week (and for several weeks) she only remembered the year.  This is the first time she's remembered the day of the week, unless it was Sunday.  She seems to remember when it is Sunday on most weeks, even before she gets out of bed (so there's no cueing about it).  Bridgett's sight is improving.  Without her glasses she answered a list of questions about herself, her name, address, family members, etc where she had to write down the answers.  She couldn't remember her address, but she remembered the name of the apartment building, so that was OK to the therapist, LeAnn.  Afterwards, she wrote down five fruits, five veggies, five states, etc.  Next she did sequence cards.  Everyone else has these old cards, but this therapist has nice new ones.  They talked over the sequences, and Bridgett decided to readjust a few, but in the end got them all correct.  The sequence she had a problem with was smaller and it was more difficult to see the details.  Next they did an attention improving game on the computer.  She did better with each game--first 75 pts, then 350 pts, then 390 pts.  LeAnn gave us a card to that we can install it on our computer and use it for 30 days.  Cool!  She said to play it for about five minutes, once or twice a day.  Next LeAnn had a program that was not working so she did this vocally herself--call out words. Every time she said a word that started with an "s" Bridgett was to push a button.  She got all but three words, but pushed the buzzer when LeAnn said these words a second time.  Next we headed to physical therapy with Shane.  On the way there walking, LeAnn said I think I am starting to see your humor Bridgett.  I assured her that Bridgett is indeed fun to be around! So when we got to the therapy gym we found Shane.  He is always smiling and Bridgett really got energized when she saw him--her kind of person!  First he stretched out her neck carefully.  He showed her (or me I should say as she will probably forget) some stretches to do daily in bed.  He said to do this for a week or so and her neck will be much better.  Then he checked her stomach and abdominal strength.  Next he had her do the exercise bike with resistance for a little over three minutes followed by a short break to talk.  Next the treadmill for ten minutes.  This treadmill tests the length of stride, the bearing weight of the feet etc.  She has a nice evenly balanced stride weight wise--exactly 50% each, but her stride is a bit longer on the right foot.  I asked if this was because of the brain injury and he said that can be normal for some people.  She had another short rest, along with a drink of water.  Next she did three minutes on the elliptical.  After that they did balance and coordination activities with exercise balls.  Bridgett is so funny!  She made little eh noises when things were hard or stretches were hard.  One of the times she said I am going to try to hold those ehs inside, but she still did it and he laughed.  After therapy we passed another therapist entering the gym. She said I hope you have a good day.  He had passed us and yelled back you have a good day too.  Bridgett said softly to me--I will, because I get to leave now!  Then she pretended to cover her mouth and snickered.  It was so Bridgett and very cute!  It was a good and productive session and I left feeling so happy about switching to this rehab! When we went out to the car I said to Bridgett--now we only have to go three blocks to get home and she said then why are we driving!  Bridgett's normal comment for sure! The rest of the day was good.  Bridgett came home and took a little rest and then stayed awake until bed.  She had three Boosts (these are all the high protein Boost) and also ate quite a bit for dinner as well. I am glad to see her actually getting her appetite back! All of the time there are little things that happen that help us realize that Bridgett is "in there" and coming back to us.  It is exciting!