"A view from Lake Tahoe"

01-18-2009

1909 Hours.

Just returned from Kentfield a little while ago. Got Mav all fed and he is on our bed watching me as I bring you up to date.

Left this morning a little after 5:00 and arrived shortly before 8:00 am. Took Mav on a walk and we strolled down the bike /running/dog path to the little hamlet of Ross Calif. Reminded me of Desperate housewives town, very quaint and friendly.

When the doors opened I was the first visitor to register. Dar was awake and looking around and we had a nice time chatting and laughing. I took the opportunity to tell her that our friends Pat and Doug took me to Walmart yesterday and Pat helped me pick out some comfortable clothes for Dar. Dar already had several pairs of "scrubs" so that was not an issue. The tops presented a whole new set of issues. Trying to find blouses that button or snap in the front between seasons was a nightmare. We settled for 4 white medical smocks for women. Thank God they had 4 very small ones. We returned home and put a care package together for Dar with enough clothes she can wear for a week and I can bring more and launder every week. Thanks Pat, thanks Doug.

Dar laughed alot about how she was going to look like one of the staff and not a patient. Her aides got her dressed in her new duds a couple hours after I arrived. She really looked cute, and stupid me forgot to take a picture and I even had our Nikon.

Something that happened on Friday that I did not tell you about, I can now share with you. Dar's dad said at one point during there visit Friday he thought he saw her head move. Now remember, these were the things that Oroville was hoping to see as "purposeful movement". These were the kind of actions that would have lead them to believe that Dar was recovering. Well we now know that Dar has been recovering since the 5th of Janurary.Thats when I posted about her laughing about Maverick and his pilly-willys and his cookie treats. Thats when she woke up.

Back to my story (sorry, my bad). Today, I thought I saw the same thing Dar's dad did, but if it did happen it was so slight I could not be sure. Dr. Redkin, (forgive me if I got it wrong), Chief of Medicine was her attending doc today came in and checked Dar out, suctioned very little from her lungs listened and told me she looked real good. After he left I again could have sworn I saw not only move her head but just before it appeared that she was looking at something outside her door.

Let me set her position, when I arrived she was on her back slightly rolled to her right side. Her head looking more to her right than her left and definatley past center. As I said Icould swear I saw that head and pillow move, it appeared that just before she moved it she tracked her eyes from right to left as if looking at something in the corridor and followed it with her head, ever so slight I was sure I saw it move. Guess what, I made sure the Doc knew.

Well folks I can beyond a shadow of a doubt inform you that Dar is definatley rolling her head from right to left and appears to be tracking something in that left directions with her eyes. Dar moved her head more and further as the day went on. By the time I left I had seen her almost move her head center straight up from close to a flat postion on her right cheek. This is great news. I left a note for Speech Therapy and P/T, and asked that both her Doctors were made aware of what I had seen. Alvin I do believe you saw what you thought you did.

A very good friend and co-worker of mine, Nancy Metz has a Lavender ranch at her home. She recently gave me some lavender based creams to put on Dar's hands, feet and her joints. Nancy I don't quite know why today was so special, but when I asked the "madam" if I could rub some cream on her feet and hands you would have thought she was the Queen of England. Dar smiled so big and laughed so hard, I think cuz she thought she WAS the queen. Nancy thank you so very much. I hope nobody finds where I hid it. Of course when asking Dar I had to sound like an English butler, I did and not to bad if I say so myself. Thanks Nancy.

It was hard to leave, especially as we learned Friday, Dar's memory at this time is very short, her brain is processing very well, I have to be careful what and how I say things. If she hears me say that I have to leave, look out, the tears come. Today it was especially hard for me to leave '"cuz" I could not tell her, and as much awake as she was today I could only keep telling her how special she is and how proud of her I am and how much I love her. I had to wait for her to drift off and sneak out so as not to upset her. It was really really hard to walk away this afternoon. It will be really hard not seeing my best friend till next week-end, my saving grace is that I (as you remember) am to call Dr. Waters daily and get updates for the blog.

Think about it, as much progress as Dar has made since the 5th I might find her up and about or even in a wheel chair. I know what your thinking, I am just so proud of my wife I just get excited. The real world says that this is going to be a long recovery, since I very much live in a black and white world (gray is sometimes hard to find), it is not real hard for me to live in this REAL WORLD. I have every hope, dream, faith and trust that Dar is going to recover, same as you all do. She is a very special lady to many of you that she knows personally, and a very special lady to those who have just recently met her through this blog. I love my wife and will climb every mountain with her and be at her side through this recovery. I say it again, without your prayers and I know there have probably been thousands, and there will continue to be, thank you is not enough, there are no words that can genuinly express my feelings to all that ARE playing a part in this recovery. Just remember this, WE LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I think with that I will close for the night and grab some supper, curl up with the dog and watch a little tube.

Good night my dear friends, God bless each and every one of you.

Darlene, I love you, I'm proud of you, you are my best friend, Rest well my love.

Good night all,

Danny

PS, a reminder, feel free to leave a comment or thought at the bottom of each post (comment section), or email me at.............. cntrydjpro@sbcglobal.net