I love you

The occupational therapist asks “Mike, what is your phone number?” and without hesitation Mike gives her the entire number for his beloved Blackberry.  She looks at me without Mike noticing and with a silent “is that right?”, I nod my head yes.  Sitting in front of the telephone she asks Mike to dial his number, but he is not yet able to lift his arms or hands to initiate the physical process.

We’re seeing that the most frustrating factor for Michael is the injury he sustained to the frontal lobes of his brain.  There are a wide variety of functions associated with damage to either frontal lobe and Michael has damage to both.  As a result, we see uncontrollable repeated impulses like the movement in his left leg, rubbing the incision area of the left side of his head, finger in, on or around his nose and the frequent inability to initiate speech or action.  He knows what he wants to say and knows what he needs or wants to do, but not always able to make it happen.

But lots of good things happen everyday…

Bobby says - “Mike, how was OT today?”  Mike asks ”occupational therapy? “ and proudly Bobby answers ”Yes, occupational therapy”

I say to Michael and the OT that Nate and Sylvette are bringing pizza from Tony’s to Mike.  She asks Mike what his favorite pizza is and he answers “pepperoni”.

Mike mentions to David about an hour later, that he’s getting pepperoni pizza today.  Did you catch that?  That was short term memory.  That’s huge.

I notice that the toes of his right foot that he rarely, almost never moves, are moving as they support his left foot.

Mike seated in a chair crosses his left leg over his right, with a shoe in his hand puts his foot halfway in the shoe.  Puts the left foot on the floor and pushes his foot all the way in.

With a bum knee that can bear no weight and with support but no assistance, Mike gets out of his wheelchair and into the bed.

David says - “I love you, son.  It’s ok to say it back.  It’s ok to say I love you Dad.”  Mike says ” I love you Dad”.  Proud as a peacock and smiling from ear to ear David says “did you hear that?  He said I love you Dad!”

Mike says to Emily “I love you too Emily”

When Amanda enters the room, Mike says ” Well, I’ll be…” Amanda says “you’ll be what?”  Mike answers with a smile “a monkey’s uncle.”

Tina Turner song asks “what’s love got to do with it?’

We say “EVERYTHING!”

We love you Michael - LIVESTRONG.