Good friends, good attitude, and good food

Well, I (Diane), arrived this afternoon to spend some time helping out with the assisting of Mom that Dean, Mindy and John have done so much of and done so well. John is still such a trooper, not to mention such a gentle, loving and kind attendant, no matter what the circumstances. I hope to help out enough to give him some time to take his walks, visit with friends, and feel free to run errands or ? He got a few of those moments this evening visiting with some neighbors.

Each time I arrive to visit, I always expect to see Mom looking more "normal" or somehow appear to be more progressed through this healing process and living her life as she had before and in many ways she is. I always have to shift gears, however, and remember that she is still in pain and struggles to do some of the most basic things that we are all doing so effortlessly.

There is no substitute for being here to know what she is (and has been) going through and I am frustrated with my mind's way of minimizing and forgetting [the severity of her injuries and extent of her pain] when I am not present. Her body is still reeling and adjusting to the task it is obligated to perform in healing and restoring her to health. She is much stronger yet still fragile and as much as I want her back to herself again, I must be patient and trust the process.

Tomorrow we will get a visit from Uncle Jim and his friend Mable from Hot Springs before lunch then we are off to physical therapy for both of Mom's hands and arms. Although she has had the cast removed, her right hand is still delicate and weak and she must be very careful with it. This is not easy. She picks up some of the smallest, everyday things but even they can bee too much for her wrist. Her left arm is difficult to lug around and it stresses her shoulder which makes it uncomfortable to be in any position at times. Hopefully, this PT will make a big difference. She will be going each week and doing exercises in between.

Thanks go out to John's former partner, Gene at Merrill Lynch, his wife Paula, and many associates and friends for your gift of a prepaid card for food and all the fabulous restaurant menus and reccommendations! Yum! Last night they enjoyed Layla's and saved some leftover gyros for me too. Yum!

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Linda says: I never forget how grateful I am to be healing but I do admit that healing can be hard and it takes a lot of patience so I still need your prayers, especially for Monday.