June 14th and 15th

Thursday……

I arrived in time to get kicked out today. When we arrived Chris was just waking up.  He had eaten breakfast earlier and then went back to sleep. The nurse needed to wash Chris up and was nervous about me being there in case she made a mistake… She was so cute.  She told me I could stay and then proceeded to tell me to go with Sherry and get a coffee. I explained I already did that… but she said I really needed a coffee and when I realized she was nervous about me being there.. I left with Sherry and said I would go and get a coffee.

When I came back, Chris was all cleaned up except he never got his hair washed, which she offered to do but he thought it would take too long. We visited and talked. Chris wrote in his journal. His last recorded memo before I left was… I sure wish my lunch would come. As I left I found it sitting outside the door… waiting for him. It was edible…  I went to work for the after noon. After his lunch the physio team came and got him in a  wheel-chair.  I received a text message saying he was outside sitting with the smokers getting some fresh air. It was a nice sunny day. He enjoyed that.  Thanks Aunty Sherry for being there to get him out of the room. 

He stayed up for just over half hour… not quite 1 hour. They were very pleased that he could do that.  He was happy to get back into his bed.  Nina arrived and spent the rest of the day with him.  After work, I went back to the hospital and spent time with Nina and Chris. It was really nice to be with them. We had a nice time. After maybe an hour and a half or more… I left them and went home. Each day we see improvement with his memory also. We are still praying and holding on to God’s promises that Chris’s mind and body will be completely whole.

Friday…….

I arrived this morning Chris had been up for a while. I talked with his nurse. He told me the plan was… Monday they would reassess Chris  and decide how much longer he would take to get ready to go to G.F.Strong’s Rehab. If it was only a day or so they would just keep him at VGH but if he needed the week they would probably send him to their UBC step down unit until he was ready.

The criteria would be he needed to build himself up to sitting in the wheel chair for 4 hours.

When I went in Chris and I discussed that, had a little fresh fruit and the physio team arrived. They helped him with not too much effort to get up and into the wheel chair.  He is getting pretty good at it. They told us to come back around 1:00. That would be hour and half…  We asked if  any one would be around on Sunday to get him up because it was his birthday and we were hoping he would be able to get out and visit with some friends and family… They told him with Saturday still to get up, he might be able to reach 2 ½ -3 hours sitting time by Sunday.

We went down the elevator and outside for a while. We met a man I knew who had been in an accident when He was around 20 (20 years ago) He walked up to Chris and talked with him. This guy had something similar with his arm and leg and is doing very well and was so thrilled at Chris’ recovery already. 

We were back a little later 1:20 and no one was around.  Lunch had arrived; it did not look too good.  Good thing I had brought home made spaghetti and sauce. We ate lunch… first time sitting up in two months.

Jo the physio woman came in and asked him how he was doing. He said pretty good…. She asked if he wanted to lie down he said no he could stand a little more. She was amazed. She told us to call her if he needed to before she came back. We played a card game he made up a few Christmas’ ago called… ‘Dung Beetle’ next thing we knew… Aunty Sherry arrived and got the room cleaned up and asked him if he wanted his hair washed. So he had his first sitting up hair wash in two months also… It was a hoot… Aunty Sherry almost soaked herself.  We had a good laugh during the whole operation….

Next thing we knew… he had passed the entrance exam … Go directly to Strongs… do not pass go…..Yahoo!  So not only is his mumps restriction lifted on his birthday but he has an early birthday present because it appears he is ready to go to Strong’s Rehab. He was ready to get back to his bed. His nurse said there would be someone in on Monday to figure out just how it would all work out…… Pretty exciting Praise the Lord.

Chris asked about Nina. He was concerned as she went for her treatment today. He called and talked to her. She has two days restriction. Please pray with us for her… as she recovers from this.     I am so in awe at the goodness of our God. He is faithful to His Word and He is so gracious and Kind.   

We needed to celebrate…  I went to Earl’s and got a tender steak for dinner…. Good thing as dinner was not that appetizing when it came.  Chris really enjoyed the steak and potatoes. He was able to eat just over half of it.  Seems like everyday since this happened we have been celebrating what God has done.

Each day has had challenges and each day has had victories. His mind and memory was again better than yesterday. We are believing that the results from the bang on his brain will be something that will astonish the Doctors and nurses… just like everything else so far. When I left… Chris was waiting for Aunty Sherry to come and tuck him in for the night… she always goes in on her break and sits with him a while.  God bless Aunty Sherry. Again my thanks to all who have stood with us and helped with your love and prayers. God bless you all.

Love Karen  

Saturday: 

Chris had just got into the wheel chair when I arrived. Lunch came and it had much to be desired. We decided to leave it and go to the Cafeteria for lunch.

We spent half an hour or so out side on the front step watching a couple of crows squabble. Then went to the cafeteria. He thought the pizza, the honey garlic chicken wings and the sushi looked good… so I added a Greek salad and we were set.

We had a good day played more cards and talked lots. It was just good to be up and out. After a couple of hours, his leg was sore because the knee was hyper-extended from the way it had been ‘loaded on the chair’. 

He is a pretty tough guy… we finally went back to the room and cleaned it up and got him ready for the physio to help him get back in bed. The one’s today did things quite different form the others all week They even used the other side of the bed. It seemed to me to be a little more awkward. But they were able to finish the job with only slight twisting of the knee. Ouch! 

Dinner was better and we played a little more cards. He is starting to notice the time and how long the day is. This too shows he is getting better. Finally I was getting really tired and told him I thought I should go. We would see him in the morning.

He tried several times today to call his friend Daniel in Texas, but only got the answering machine… Too bad.  I enjoyed today and spending time with him. It is wonderful to see the good things God is doing in His life.  Tomorrow we party. Thank you Jesus.

EPHESIANS 3:20

NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE COULD ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US… TO HIM BE GLORY

This is how the New living Version puts it:

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.