Dan came home Aug 13. He was in a hospital or facility for seven long months. I was really concerned when he first came home because it seemed like he had taken so many steps backwards. He was almost max assist on his transfers. He's gotten much stronger, he's back to almost what he was in January when he went to the hospital. He still has no endurance and no motivation, which is not likely to change. It seems as if all I ever do is remind, prompt, tell him what to do and when to do it. I get very frustrated and he gets very angry.

I've had home health since he came home. I originally planned to have someone in 3 hours a day Monday thru Friday and do it myself on weekends. I quickly realized that I just couldn't do everything that he needs done all the time. I think that I physically relaxed so much when he was gone that my body and mind finally said...I'M DONE. I've got a private male caregiver that comes in Monday thru Friday from 8am to 4pm and an agency caregiver that comes in Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 10am for bathing and dressing. It's expensive but the best thing I've ever done for myself and for Dan. His caregiver, Jeff, is just great with him. They go to the hardware store, grocery store, for walks, all kinds of things. The only vehicle we have is the wheelchair van, so I stay home when they go out. I LOVE being at home alone...it's quiet and no one wants anything from me. I've started looking for a small car so I can go out and do errands, visit, whatever I want whenever I want. I actually feel like doing things again!! I had not realized how tired and worn out I was.

Dan is back in outpatient rehab. I've found an excellent facility, Rehab Hospital of Indiana (RHI). They are an inpatient rehab hospital and outpatient rehab facility. They have every kind of equipment that you can imagine. Dan is even getting vision therapy! I'd never heard of vision therapy before. He gets his eyes tested by a Neuro Optomitrist that works with the hospital on 12/8. He saw a Neuro Opthamologist last fall who flat out said that Dan had optic nerve damage and nothing could be done to help his vision. The vision therapist said that there may be some things that might help his vision, prisims in his glasses being one thing. There are a lot of "maybe's", but, at least there is some hope. I would be so happy if something could be done to help him see better.

I'm hoping to be able to be online a little more now too. I've been lurking for a while. I'd like to be more active again.