July 4-6, 2007

July 4th... Dad and I spent the afternoon with you. You have been doing very well, you are alert, focused and eating well. You have been enjoying your time with Andrea, most especially when she reads to you and you listen to the audio cd’s she bought for you. Your facial expressions tell it all.

Monday we went to the hospital for a cat scan and everything went well. We saw people who took care of you two years ago when you were very ill. They were so happy to see you so alert and focused. The results of the cat scan were good, nothing changed.

July 3rd there is a HBO documentary that Dad and I will be watching. It is filmed at Hartwyck at Oak Tree where you reside. It will be very difficult to watch but it is very important that as many people as possible get to see it. People need to know at least in part the difficulties families face each day with brain injury. The show will air throughout the month of July and I will watch it every chance I get.

We have been blessed with beautiful weather and I have been able to take you outside on the patio. You continue to do well, you have been so content and have this peacefulness and calm that is very comforting to me.

Andrea did not have to teach summer school Monday or Tuesday and was able to come in the morning to be with you. Monday she got to take you to a barbecue on the patio and Tuesday she got to see you on the tilt table.

On the 16th of July you will be going to JFK hospital for a special test ordered by Dr. Medina. The past two years you have been having episodes of brain storming with high fevers and profuse sweating. They have to put you on a cooling blanket and every time this happens your blood work shows elevated liver enzymes. You also appear to be in pain especially on your right side. The test is called MRCP and it is a MRI of the pancreas, liver, kidneys, gall bladder. The doctors are now thinking there is something triggering the episodes.

I have Thursday and Friday off this week and I am looking forward to the time to myself. I will be down to see you of course but I can now get some things done in the house. Our kitchen, living room and dining room are now completely done and I now have the task of putting everything back.

July 6th... Susan, Sean, you and me will be going on a day trip. Not sure where it will all depend on the weather. If it is nice we will be going to Roosevelt Park otherwise we will go to the mall. I have some shopping I can do so it will be fun either way.