On April 25th I left the hospital in Minneapolis after being in one hospital or another for 8 weeks! The nurses brought me down and Gary picked me up at the door. As we drove away from the hospital I shouted, this is Allina Hospital! I used to come here all the time for training when I was a nurse! I didn’t know this is where I had been. I was so excited to learn that is where I was because I worked for Allina for 45 years. It felt wonderful to be going home. The grass and trees were turning green and I was riding in a car like a normal person.
When we got home we walked all through the whole house. We went upstairs and downstairs. I had practiced stairs a lot in the hospital so our stairs were ok for me. I knew everything. I couldn’t say what things were but I knew them. I thought, I am like a baby that knows the faces of their family but can’t say words or names yet. I couldn’t say most names. By this time I could say my name and Gary’s name, but not my children, grandsons, or friend’s names. We started our life at home and it felt wonderful.
After 1 week, we started going to therapy at Courage Kenny Golden Valley. I had new therapists for my legs, my arms, my eyesight, and my words. We went to therapy 7 times a week. Each therapist who worked so hard with me was wonderful. I worked with my legs and my arms and did eye exercises. At first I still had to have one eye covered for me to be able to see and try to read.
I couldn’t remember or say my children’s names. The words therapist made a sheet with their pictures and I had to write each of their names five times a day. I cried a lot because it took many days for me to be able to say and write their names. I worked very hard on learning letters and words and names. I felt good about the work on my legs and arms and eyes, but I continued to cry often because of my struggle with words and names.
Then we had an appointment with the eye doctor (neuro-ophthalmologist). For the first time, hearing from her, I started to understand how hurt my brain was. It helped me know why things were so hard. Why I need to work even harder to keep learning. I also learned that my blindness on the right side was in both my eyes because of how my brain was hurt. It made me sad but helped me understand.
Slowly, I began to be able to know words. I told Gary I wanted to try to read the Bible. When I tried I really struggled. Gary ordered a Bible for 3rd grade readers. That helped me but it was a lot of work for me. We started to read from the Psalms each morning after breakfast. Gary helps me with words I struggle with. After dinner we started reading from John. I also started reading books our children read in grade school.
I wrote last time that I have been praying for people even before I knew words and names. Many times I would pray to God for those who came into my mind at night. A few days ago the verses were so real to me that it made me cry. Thankful tears to God. I understood what I was reading and it was just the way I felt. The verses were from Ps 63:6-8:
“As I lie on my bed I remember you. I think of you all night long. Because you have helped me, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I hold on to you tightly. Your powerful right hand takes good care of me.”
Even though I don’t know many of your names, I pray for you and thank God for all your prayers for me. It is a miracle. 🙏🏻❤️