Still Jan

Yes, we are having a rally. Even though the chin is still basically on her chest, she is more herself, at least as of yesterday, than I have seen her in a long time. She was cracking everybody up with trying to get into conversations, smiling, being tempted with chocolate. The window was open yesterday.
Not sure how to describe this but I am amazed the impact she has on people. Even though she has a condition that is more difficult to handle I witness things and I say how proud I am of her, and right now she is fully aware of what I am saying, no doubt. Now she can't always respond, but when she does, there is no doubt that she is still the same women, with the same spirit, with that great smile. Oh how I love to see her smile.
The neck is a problem. As we all know this is a neurological disease that affects the entire body. With that in mind and with the condition like it is, I feel that this will be permanent. Nothing I can do, or anyone else. If it were to return to normal, it will be by Gods will.

She seems Happy

Not much to say about how Jan is doing because the amount of change is pretty small. The medication to help with the agitation seems to be right and working. However, her chin is still on her chest and I'm not confident that we will be able to get her head back to a normal position. Her chin is on her chest. This creates several things for her. It makes her real likely to fall and she has. Her eating is not 100%, probably just over 50%. Sleeping or even resting is somewhat of a problem because of the neck, if you can imagine. She is smiling at times and still communicating at times. She seems to not have any pain or great discomfort. It is to me but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it all.
She is taking less medicine now than at anytime. I believe that is true because we have cut back on her meds. Oh, one more thing. Due to her not eating I started cutting up protein bars and was feeding them to her. Well she started reaching out to pick up the pieces and going to her mouth by herself. It's been a long time since she has done that.
I would say that we are having somewhat of a rally due to her good attitude. We will take what we can get. thanks to all of your for your thoughts and prayers. Sorry about being slow posting. A lot going on lately.

Agitation?

Her chin is still down on her chest, it's some better but still not able to raise up her head. With that said she also, not agitated and smiling and chattering. She has gone back to eating and I'm stuffing protein bars into her when ever I can. She can still communicate at times. She will tell me "no" when she is through with the bar, easy to understand what she is saying.
The other medicine is zyprexia(sp). Right now she is not agitated and we are all happy. She is continuing to walk but is still a candidate for a fall. I have witnessed her run into door frames, corners and walls. Her nice red helmet has marks all over it from running into things.
I would call this a rally for Jan as things are better for her. I hope she can eventually get to where she can raise her head into the normal position.
Had a great trip to Lubbock last weekend. Too bad we got a field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown that was eventually the difference in the ball game.
Went to the Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday night and caught up with some of my playing buddies from the 60's. It was neat to see and be together. We have all entered into Texas Tech's Hall of Fame, what fun.....

Looks like a Rally

Wednesday was about the same for Jan. Her chin resting on her chest, smiling some but still unstable when walking. The nurse and I spoke about how long it would take for those drugs to get out of her system and she said probably thursday or Friday. Well today I walked in and started looking for her and I found her in a recliner in the living room. As I approached her I waited to see how she was and I was very glad to see her look up and smile at me and started mumbling something. I told her how very happy I was to see her smile and to see her eyes and I told her I loved her and I think she got a little tear in her eye, I'm not absolute sure.
We must remember that we need to enjoy the rallies but realize that they will not last, just enjoy the moment. I'm heading right back up there right now to enjoy the Rally. Thank you Lord for this answer to our prayers. For giving Jan some comfort during the struggle and for giving us this reminder of how very sweet a person she is.

Another Rally?

I have watched as residence of Autumn Leaves would fade and get bad and then through the miracle of medicine, back they come with smiles and what looks like an amazing recovery. But too often those rallies don't last. Eventually, the neurological disorder wins and the slippery slope continues. From a Homecoming Dance with smiles and interaction with people, to a head bowed where the chin is resting on her chest, weak and staggering when she walks, falling to the floor, yet driven to walk and not be in a wheel chair. Jan is still fighting an unknown opponent and one that is trying it's best to take her down. Jan is not a quitter, she will fight as long as she can. Of course, no one can be sure if she really understands her situation. We are at a point where the options are dwindling. The medical profession can only do so much. They try with the best medicine available but sometimes we run out of ideas. We are currently eliminating completely some of the meds that she has been on. If it has been one of the drugs she has been taking, maybe, just maybe her head will come up off her chest. It could be that nothing happens and the fact that she is weak and sometimes unable to sit up is just the disease. That is one of the symptoms of many of these diseases. My prayer is that we can make her more comfortable and stable. The aggressiveness may come back. If it does we will start all over trying to find a way to curtail that. I also pray that she doesn't fall and really hurt herself with a bad fall. I think the chances of that are better than 50/50.

wishful thinking I guess

Well the good news didn't last very long. She made it through this last Friday but over the weekend she began to really lean forward with her chin resting on her chest. She fell three times over the weekend and the staff tried to keep her in her wheelchair, but that was hard to do. She had very little to say since Monday but today she was muttering some things and she was able to smile and grin, but the leaning is bad. Try putting your chin on your chest and walking around all day, trying to eat, or be fed by someone. I feel so sorry for her. The doctor will come on Thursday and I hope he has some answers.
I am leaving town on Thursday, traveling to Lubbock for a banquet and to watch Tech and the Aggie's play on Saturday night. It has been hard to get away lately so I am looking forward to this time away. I hope everyone in your family is well and covered by the grace of God. That is my prayer.

An Amazing Time

This past Thursday, Autumn Leaves, the place where Jan is staying put on a "HOME COMING DANCE". What was going to happen during this time was my question. How could anyone, or almost, dance or enjoy themselves at such an event. With wheel chairs and dementia, pics, and all kinds of disease, how could anyone have a fun time, right?
Well, complete with three cheerleaders and catered food, plus a DJ playing music from the past as well as a decorated living room with ribbon, balloons, and things stuck up all over the room, it all got started about 4:30 p.m.
At first, very few danced, many sang along with some of the songs and clapped. Most just sat around and snacked on food.
I had no idea how Jan would react. We walked and she walked. I let her go where she wanted to go and would you believe it she walked right out on the dance area with the staff and what did she do????? She had this Hugh smile and started trying to shake her hips and everyone laughed and clapped and encouraged her to boogie. She didn't spend but a few seconds out there and then she was off exploring something else. She was doing very good. We made a 1 mg adjustment to one of her meds and now she is almost standing erect again. Some lean, but not nearly as bad as before and her awareness, at least for this day was pretty high. It was a fun time for all and I took Jan to the floor for the last song which was a slow dance and we danced the last song. We struggled some, but we made it through the entire song and she did great. I think she had a smile on her face the whole time. I will forever remember that dance. At one point the cheerleaders came over to speak with her and she lit up with this Hugh smile and started trying to speak and you could tell she understood that I was telling the cheerleader that she was a cheerleader and that she was recalling a part of her past that was very meaningful to her, and she still had some of those memories. It was great. As the day continued, the participation increased and so did the fun. I think everybody really enjoyed quite possibly their last homecoming.