Current Hospital

Craig Hospital Room 205A

If you want to send cards...etc. the address is

Craig Hospital Patricia Schmidt 3425 South Clarkson St. Englewood, CO 80110
(303)789-8254

E-mail's, cards and notes will all go in Pat's new scrapbook.

We know your love is here. Debra

Mailing List Subscription Information The Aunt Pat Mail List

A collaborative update for today from Debra and Betsy. We were part of a meeting with Pat's medical team at Craig today and will attempt to share the gist of their comments to us.

Special Nursing: Pat's healing well physically. She's on a pureed diet and will begin other foods soon. The feeding tube will stay in awhile longer just as a safety back up system. Her lungs sound good. Sore on her head is healing rapidly.

Dr. Weintraub: Explained the injury to Pat's brain using CT scan. He hopes to do a MRI in a couple of weeks. He compared the brain to a computer. Damage has occured on several levels - both diffuse injury and some focal injury. The diffuse is like damage to specific little wire connections all over. When that happened the whole computer shut down. Now the computer is on and the programs are coming up, but it is difficult for Pat to access them due to the diffuse injuries. There are two main focal injuries. One to the left temporal lobe has resulted in comprehension deficits. These deficits add to her confusion right now. Deep inside her head is another injury that relates to the brains ability to "start-up". Changing metaphors, it's like the starter switch on a car. I think he called it akinetic mutism. Medications that act like a jumper cable are being given now. She will most likely be taken off them later. He called it pharmacological rehab. He summarized by saying that Pat's physical rehab will go faster than the mental aspects which can continue improving for years.

We asked about seizure medication. She is not on any. The current best idea is that since those medications also have negative side effects and 8/10 people don't ever have any seizure, it's best to not give the medication unless it proves necessary.

Speech therapy: Language and cognition are closely linked. Due to the nature of Pat's brain injury both are a real challenge. The problems are extensive. Attention and focus are difficult. She has aphasia ( communication disorder due to brain injury). They are still assessing the extent of the problem. She will improve, but they cannot say how much. It is difficult for her to consistently comprehend what is said. Her difficulties with expression are related to the comprehension problems. They don't know how well she can think and solve problems. This will be the slowest part of her healing process yet they expect to see much more verbalization in the next few weeks.

Physical therapy: High hopes, but her lack of attention complicate their ability to help her with therapy right now. That will improve. There is some neglect of her right side right now, but they are not too concerned about that long term.

Occupational therapy: working on her upper body and arm strength. This is important to learning self-care, home care, and getting back to being able to go to shopping for antiques. There is some peripheral vision problems that they will work with later.

Summary: The info Pat needs is in her hard drive, but she's looking for ways to re-access it and use it in new ways. They think that by Thanksgiving she might be able to get day passes to go out, and be able to be discharged even by Christmas (but we can't know if that means to home, or to a half-way place.)

SOME WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

• Read all you can about brain injury. It will be important when she's at home.
• Find ways to help Larry out. (Food? Errands?) He's Pat's best therapy.
• Craig therapy is Pat's job right now. Naps and rest are critical for her ability to focus well in therapy. After discussion with the medical team, for Pat's benefit, we (Larry, Betsy and Debra) are asking you to schedule your visit to Pat through Laura. Usually it will be best to visit in late afternoon or early evening, but even that can change daily based on Pat's therapy schedule. Laura's brand new cell phone number is: 720-935-4490. Call and coordinate with her a good time for you to visit. Don't be shy; Laura is warm, wonderful, fun, gracious, and beautiful. (Just ask Aaron!) More ways to help to come. I'm done for now.

With gratitude for all of you... Debra