Captain America near the 4th of July - AN UPDATE

When Rand was teaching eighth grade American History, he painted his classroom red, white and blue. There were stars and stripes on the walls, door, bulletin boards and his podium. He frequently wore flag inspired shirts, his “Americana” necktie collection was legendary and his patriotic spirit earned him the nickname “Captain America.” His room at the assisted living home is also decorated in red, white and blue, although I’m not sure he knows why. He has one red wheelchair and one blue one. There is a large American flag outside that he watches and informs me when it needs straightening or care. Rand was always the first one in line at the voting booth and refused to vote absentee, as he wanted to exercise his franchise in person. Now he has permanent vote-by-mail status and we talk the candidates and ballot issues through thoroughly before each election. He keeps abreast of current events better than I do and he has a clear sense of whom and what he wants to vote for.

Rand’s mental and physical progress in the last six months has been nothing short of phenomenal in my book. In the large scheme of things, it probably isn’t much, but in our world, it is huge. He can now walk distances that are more than double what he could cover before Christmas. Then it took him 17 minutes to walk the short course at rehab, now it is just seconds over five minutes to cover the long version. Last winter when he was doing so many jigsaw puzzles, getting the pieces to fit was a by guess and by gosh proposition. Now he can use some logic, some problem solving strategies and the process of elimination to find and place the pieces correctly. A five hundred piece puzzle is still a big challenge and takes a lot of time, but now he can sort out the edge pieces and begin making the frame all by himself. He continues to clean everyone’s clock in Blackjack and is getting pretty good at Solitaire.

The reading project is slower than slow but he isn’t giving up, nor am I. He can do dot-to-dot pictures using the alphabet with fewer and fewer mistakes. Colors and numbers are still a mystery to him but he keeps working at them. His sister sends him postcards from Wisconsin each week and he is now attempting to read them out loud before turning them over to me. I read, “Dear Rand,” and he impatiently says, “Yes, yes” as in “that’s obvious, get on with it!” He saves every postcard, studies it and then puts it in his red, white and blue box of treasures for safe-keeping. Six months ago, “Dear Rand” would have brought a look of detachment and disinterest. Now he’s all ears.

Rand’s many activities are on summer hiatus so it is nice for us to have some time off too. He does go to a group speech class every week, but he doesn’t attempt to participate yet. Among friends and family, he is much more verbal but still not intelligible. He enjoys music therapy every week and is doing well. The speech-generating device is sitting idle as Rand has moved somewhat beyond it. Those of us who are with him every day have become pretty good at interpreting his wants and needs which is a strength of the device. Because he cannot read, spell or recognize letters, he cannot use it to conduct conversations, make comments, join in discussions, ask questions, all the things he so desperately wants to do.

Thuan, our wonderful CNA, who works with Rand every day, has offered to take a day off and go with us on an outing in July. That is going to be so much fun! We will leave first thing in the morning and return that evening. This will be Rand’s first full, fun day away in well over two years! Rand’s physical needs are such that I can’t care for him alone, but with Thuan there, we can go pretty much anywhere we want. We are in the process of planning the day and I think it will include a stop at a casino! Rand doesn’t remember the plans from one day to the next but when we discuss it, he is very excited. I hope this will be the first of many expeditions/opplevelses for us and that Rand will enjoy and remember it.

You should see Rand maneuvering in his “hot rod” electric wheelchair. Everyone who encounters him in action is amazed at how agile he is, how wonderful his spatial awareness is, how careful and polite he is around groups of people. It has given him so much independence, even though he pooh-poohs it, he couldn’t go back to depending on others to move him about. I doubt if he remembers what it was like to not be totally in control.

Rand enjoys coming home now. For a long time he either refused to come here or would only stay outside on the patio. Now he chooses our house over other places to go. Recently, I gave him the choice of several restaurants to go to for dinner. He shook his head no to each one. In desperation, I suggested we have dinner at home. BINGO! That was a big yes! I don’t know who was happier – Rand or me!

I’m still trying to get away one day a month with varying degrees of success. With Rand so much more aware of his surroundings and improved memory, I feel I have a little more flexibility. He understands where I am going and why, why I might be late one day, what errands are, and at times he goes grocery shopping with me. His tolerance for that is about the same as before his stroke, but he does enjoy getting out, although Target is still his favorite destination!

The long and short of it is that all is well. Captain America is so far ahead of what I ever thought was possible, I am in awe of him every day. He is content, determined, game for anything, and the Sweetheart of the Western World! He loves company, cards and letters, so keep them coming.

Keep Rand close to your hearts, in your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Connie