Day 23 and 24 of Jim's Recovery

Happy Thanksgiving all! Not too much to report from yesterday because it was a holiday and therefore Dad didn't see any of the therapists. Dad did have lots of family visitors so he wasn't lonely on Thanksgiving. I stopped by around 3:00PM and brought my lab, Hintza. She adores Dad and was very excited to see him. Dad recognized her and tried to remember her name. She kept standing up on the bed and putting her head underneath Dad's chin. Dad told us that he wanted to take "his boys" for a walk. He couldn't remember his dogs names but it was great that he could remember he had dogs!

I took Dad some Honey Baked Ham and Garlic Mashed Potatoes for lunch. At the time he didn't want to eat it, so I'm not sure if he got to enjoy it. Though Erin said she stopped by around 5:00PM and took Dad some of Cindy's (Erin's Mother-in-law) gourmet turkey dinner. Erin said that Dad was "gobbling" it up, (hee hee) and taking great big bites. Mom had to leave the room because she was so worried he would choke, but he wouldn't stop taking big mouths full.

Today, November 27th, Dad had a very busy day. Apparently, he saw his therapist and the doctor. I will get those details from Mom tomorrow (or today because I'm writing this at 2:00AM) for all of you. Dad had several visitors and so did not have any dull moments.

Dad keeps asking to come home and Mom and I have to be really careful not to let our emotions control our desire for him to be home. We were trying to get Dad discharged so that he could come home and finish his therapy. But today with all the work he did and with seeing the doctor we hope that Dad can grin and bare it so that we can take advantage of the great therapy he is getting. It's really hard to leave Dad in the evenings but I think if we can all just hang in there one more week it's going to move Dad along even further.

Yes, Dad does have four hour time slots he can use to get out of the facility and we may try to use one of those times on Sunday. Dad keeps asking to go to church, which seems ironic to me. Huh, Ironic might not be the correct word. Growing up Dad was never a religious man and he only started going back to the church he was raised at when he began a new job. Then he started playing in the Community Churches choir and Dad hardly ever missed a service after that. Now he is asking to go back to church even though he can't sing. It just blows my mind that going to church is his priority when he was so against religion growing up. The Community Church has been such a place of camaraderie and friendship that I understand why he wants to return as soon as he can. Plus, living a miracle certainly changes ones perspective on life. Erin says that Dad was taking about things he remembered from the hospital and he keeps on talking about himself in third person. Wonder if he had an out of body experience? Either way thank goodness for the Community Church that gives Dad such a feeling of purpose. A great big hug and thanks goes out to the Bountiful Community Church Members. You folks are amazing! We love you.