The Writer's Right

Dad’s Making Strides

My dad has been home for two weeks now. He’s doing really well, he’s amazing all of us. He’s really antsy though. I took him to visit his work on Friday, and he was so happy to see the guys. It made him want to get back to work ASAP. But yesterday he had a follow up appointment with his PCP and he said my dad won’t be back at work for at least six months. I know that this was a blow to my dad. He realizes how traumatic his injury really is. He tells us he’s depressed. But he starts more therapy this week and has a bunch scheduled for the next month. This should keep him busy. He’s also joined a TBI support group that really seemed to give him hope. He can’t wait to go back next month and talk to more survivors. There are people who are post injury 17 years and working and there are some that are worse off than he is. So it’s a good group.
His short term memory is great - amazing really. But some of his speech needs work. You wouldn’t notice his deficiencies just talking to him, but because we’re with him all the time, we know. He gets confused with names and trying to describe things to us. I tell him to slow down and thing about what he wants to say. He knows what he wants to say but it just gets stuck sometimes. I’ve also noticed that he rarely calls us by name. He refers to us by our nicknames, like “Frenchie and Honey.” If we ask him what are names are he mixes them up. But eventually he gets it. It breaks my heart to see him struggle. But I keep reminding him that he’s make amazing progress and he’ll get through this. He tells everyone proudly, “I’m gonna beat this!“ He’s a trooper!

1. I am glad to hear your Dad’s condition is improving Sam, I’m certain it must have something to do with all the Murphy visits. I hear dogs, especially pugs have secret healing powers

   Posted by Lori  on  08/22  at  12:27 PM
Page 1 of 1 pages