Second year Day 82 - Tuesday March 5, 2013

I wanted to explain something about Bridgett's memory.  Of course, initially she lost her long term memory and had those many months when she couldn't remember anything.  I made that personal reference book for her which we read parts of daily.  Then I recorded myself reading the pages of the book and we play a segment daily (5 or 6 times a week).  Anyway, what I noticed right away was that Bridgett remembered what I told her about her life (what was written in her personal reference book) and that was all she remembered.  It's like we are re-creating her memory, really. I spoke to the neurologist and he said that may be all that she ever remembers.  Anyway, the guy that had me start recording from her book said that the hope is that she will learn what I am telling her now and that connections will start to reform and she will remember more.  So---that's happening!!!  All of the time I see it more and more.  At first there were just little glimpses of something that she remembered--more like the essence of a memory.  Now, more and more details about the things I am telling her.  For example, I have a page where we discuss different activities of childhood that would be considered "fond memories" of things she used to do.  I talk about how she used to go to the field and help feed the cows (when we lived in town).  I said that we'd load up hay on a trailer and pull it behind the 4-wheeler.  A few days ago she said to me--the trailer was red and had no top on it, right?  And windows in the side, right?  She remembered!!  Then today we were talking about bottle feeding calves and Tyler said do you remember the name of a calf we bottle fed--he was thinking about Ace.  Bridgett said the one that stood like this? and she bent her wrists forward to demonstrate.  We did have a calf that was born and couldn't stand on its hooves and we bottle fed her--Little Lady.  The vet said she'd never walk normally, but after a while, she did!  Bridgett remembered!  It's so fun when she remembers things!  I know it sounds so minor to you as you read this, but it's very exciting to us as things come back to her.  It gives me hope that eventually she will remember many, many things!