First day at home

Sat with Harriet yesterday while Charles went to get her meds. Most of the time she was sleeping peacefully in her own bed. After she woke up we talked some. She seemed content to be home but exhausted by the trip and not sure what to do, as in "I should get things organized" etc. As was true in the hospital Harriet lit up when Charles came home and gave her a kiss. As I left  both Charles and Sketch were sitting on the bed and Harriet had a sweet, if tired, smile on her beautiful face.

Discharge planning meeting tuesday

Harriet discharge planning meeting

DOCs suggestions for home care

Brain fills in what isn't remembered sometimes makes no sense
Right now memory so so
This is Temporary
Getting better


PT: after first few days  home she can get around mostly by self. Not on stairs by self.

SPEECH: concentration poor, easily distracted, common after brain injury
  Switching tasks difficult
  Will get significantly better
  At hardest place right now because realizes has problems

OT: when up on feet charles should be around,  getting better

RN:  bring blood pressure cuff in to check
     Bring in White binder

Sonja (from Kaiser) in meeting. Will set things up once home.

Hi friends, Charles and I met with Harriet's team at RIO this afternoon. To maximize her cognitive recovery and following the team's advice we ask you not to visit Harriet while she is in RIO. She is easily overwhelmed and confused. Tracking visitors, conversation or new information tends to set her back. As always your love and cards are wonderful but please do not visit at RIO. Thank you so much for assisting in this way. Pamela

Sunday Sept 28

Harriet's sister Barbara goes home to Virginia today. She watched Harriet in her therapies yesterday and said she was impressive, walking without assistance and following a cross pattern with her steps so well the therapist asked her if she had been a dancer. She received five more cards from friends, enjoying them all, although the shorter the messages the easier it is for her. It is difficult to describe her cognitive abilities at this point but her docs say the next month will tell how much will return and the outlook is good.
Her dog Sketch visited yesterday. He is allowed in the garden but not in the hospital. I will learn how to attach pictures to this blog tomorrow. It is totally new to me but Charles is trying to mentor me. P

Hi Friends of Amazing Harriet.
I will try to keep you updated here as well as on Charles two blogs. Harriet has started her first day of therapy at RIO. Her days are full with OT, PT, and Speech therapy. She is eating a regular diet now. Between therapy sessions she is sleeping/resting. Physically She is doing pretty well, climbed four stairs twice, walking without a walker but with assistance standing by, etc. Cognitively she is making progress every day but has memory deficits, gets worn out with too much information, questions, etc.

Her sister will be here over the weekend, planning to leave Sunday.

I talked with Harriet's dr. Just now. He requests no visits this weekend. When friends do visit, do it one at a time for less than10 minutes with little conversation; too much information is overwhelming. We all want H to get the most out of her stay at RIO  and that means a lot of rest between therapies. Feel free to call or email me any time. pamelasmith1974@yahoo.com      5033801404
PS H really likes getting cards. She can look at them at her leisure and go as slowly as she likes.