Day 33 of Jim's Recovery

Every Sunday I go to the Bountiful Community Church (BCC) early around 10:00AM to practice with our singing group. We do a special music each week, which Dad used to be part of the core of our group. Today while I was practicing my little Sage came running up to me and started hitting me on the leg. Now this is not unusual for Sage, she hates when my attention is diverted somewhere else instead of on her. So I kept singing trying to ignore her. She kept hitting my leg and calling for me with more fervor then usual so I looked down at her while singing to scold her. When I did she pointed to the end of the chapel. I looked up and there was Dad hobbling with his walker down the isle!

Needless to say I stopped singing and ran up to Dad to give him a great big hug. Of course Sagey did too, she was just as excited as I to see "gwampa" there. I had no clue that Dad was going to make it to church today. I assumed Mom would keep him home, and apparently she tried. Mom said as soon as he woke up today he wanted to go and she could hardly keep him from leaving. So of course she had to bring him. Dad has been talking about going back to church ever since he could start communicating. Of course everyone was just as shocked and ecstatic to see Dad there. I think during what we call "Passing of the Peace," where everyone goes around and greets one another with peace, the entire congregation came to say hi to Dad. I could feel Dad's joy radiating off of him and see it in his face. He was so thankful to be there with all of his good friends.

During each of our choir songs I would look at Dad and just grin from ear to ear. Dad had a huge smile and was bobbing his head to the music. He would smile even bigger when I smiled at him. I think I sung louder today then usual because I was so happy Dad was in the seats. I was so glad to have Mom there also. To see her doing the things she loved again made me also smile. Poor Mom needs to find some stability in her crazy routine. I was so happy to sing to her too. I had one of those moments today when you see your parents as if you were a child again. I am so happy to have such great parents!

This evening Matt, the kids, and I went to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Mom cooked Dad one of his favorite dishes, Corned Beef. Yum yum! I couldn't believe we were sitting around the table eating dinner together. I said a silent prayer of thanks. Dad still can't eat very much. He thinks it is still because of the PEG tube which was taken out last week. Matt thinks it's just because his stomach has shrunk.

During dinner Dad started telling us more about his Irish guy that was on the bed with him. You know I almost want to say that Dad had an out of body experience. He talks about this guy as if he was watching him. Dad says he couldn't see himself, or will say that he was not there. He talks about the Irish Guy as if he were a patient. Dad even told us the Irish Guy was a patient, but that he was getting better. I tried to get more of an explanation of the room from Dad. I asked if Dad could see the ceiling when he saw his Irish friend, he said no. I asked if he could see monitors, he said no, he could not see anything because "he was not there." I asked so the only thing you could see was the Irish Guy in the bed and he said "yes." To me the perspective that Dad seems to be giving us is if he were floating above the bed and looking at himself. I can tell you right now the hospital doesn't allow patients into other peoples rooms, and Dad never shared a room with anyone. I will keep trying to get more details. I find Dad's enthusiasm to talk about his guy amazing and want to figure out what his brain is trying to convey. Who knows perhaps it was just a vivid dream that Dad can recall. As Dad gets better it will be extremely interesting to learn more about this.

We had a very peaceful evening just watching t.v. and sitting by the fire. Dad fell asleep on the couch and my little girls played up in the loft bedroom. Dad is doing a great job with taking naps when he gets tired. I don't think he can keep from falling asleep, especially after having a ton of stimulus like going to church. We do still get worried about Dad. Dad might be talking and doing tons better then before but he isn't totally Jim yet. He does a great job describing the things that he needs or wants (or we are just getting better at guessing his needs!) But he still isn't quite the easy going, silly, make you smile Jim. Dad talks about himself a lot in the third person. I guess last night he was telling Mom how he missed Jim. He said that Jim was funny and he missed how Jim could make people laugh. Then he started crying.

I'm just speechless as to what to say. My heart tells me Dad will get better and be able to speak again. But it also tells me that we may not get the Jim we remember back. Who knows, I always try to stay positive because we have already seen such miracle from Dad. Perhaps he will be the fun loving Jim again. Let's all pray that he will.