Day 156 - Friday May 18, 2012

Today in the mail we got our large desktop style calendar so that Bridgett can more easily follow the date.  Before we were using a small one.  I placed it on the kitchen table for Bridgett to look at and she asked if she could strike out the days of the month that have passed.  We talked about things that have happened already and she came up to today's date.  About an hour later she walked into the room and went to the calendar and told Arri that it was Friday May 18, 2012.  This is the first time she has spontaneously talked about the date from the calendar, so I guess having a big calendar makes a difference (or maybe another week of healing makes the difference)!  Today when Bridgett was reading I noticed that she is reading with inflection, much more than usual.  It was cute to hear her reading the story, just like she was reading to someone else and telling the story.  She is doing better about remembering what she read as well.  We are going to borrow a kindle from a friend and we are looking forward to Bridgett being able to hold the kindle and read without any external help like she needs now.  YES! Initially everyone told us that the bulk of the healing would take place in the first six months following the injury and soon we will be at that six month mark.  However, we have learned that the most healing takes place during the first year, with healing still continuing after that.   We have met several people that had brain injuries from 5-15 years ago and they are still noticing improvements in their memory and brain function.  I know a lot of that depends on a persons efforts to improve but I don't have any doubts about Bridgett's efforts or motivation.  She is very motivated and willing to work hard.  Even now, although she really doesn't like the protein drinks I give her every morning, she drinks them anyway.  Today we went to Bigfork to see Sharon at New Image Concepts.  She is the one that always cuts Bridgett's hair here in Bigfork.  She was quite surprised to see Bridgett.  I had made the appointment yesterday and I told the gal that I talked to that Sharon would be so shocked to see Bridgett's name there and that we had been in Utah for five months following Bridgett's accident.  Then when we showed up Sharon was taken by surprise and saw Bridgett and started to cry.  Apparently the gal that scheduled didn't tell her Bridgett was coming, just mentioning our last name so Sharon was expecting maybe Arrianne.  Anyway, she gave Bridgett a couple of big hugs.  Bridgett didn't remember Sharon or the shop, but she was relaxed and seemed very comfortable, so I wonder if deep down it seemed familiar.  Sharon loved Bridgett's short hair and said don't do anything to it.  When it gets a little longer, she will trim up the back.  Afterwards Arrianne walked Bridgett to the car and I talked to Sharon. I guess one of her close friends had a recent brain injury, so she saw a little bit first hand what it's been like and felt that scare of losing someone that it important to her.  She said it all just made her so emotional. Her friend did not have a traumatic brain injury but a mild brain injury.  However, talking to Sharon I learned something.  I have done simple math with Bridgett but when I talk about multiplication she doesn't remember that.  Sharon got excited when I told her this and asked if the doctor asked Bridgett about multiplication.  I said no.  Sharon said her friend could add and subtract, but couldn't multiply and the doctor said that multiplication is done in a different part of the brain.  So, we learn something new every day, right!