Playing Hooky

When I went to see mom yesterday, the occupational therapist was with her - working on speech and memory skills. The therapist came to her room because mom didn't go downstairs for her therapy when she was supposed to. She doesn't like the speech/memory part...so she tries to play hooky! She likes the physical therapy - she can get up and move around. She's always been a fidgety person who hates to sit in one place for long. So the rule of staying in her bed and waiting for a nurse to come and escort her to the restroom is making her crazy.

Anyway, the therapist would give her three words and ask her what category they belonged in - such as April, August and September or green beans, broccoli and zuccini. Months and vegetables, right? Anyone who knows my mom knows she couldn't do this before the stroke so it was hard not to laugh at times. I did take the opportunity to explain to the therapist 1) Mom has never had a good memory. She works at about 75% of what most people remember/take for granted and now she's down to 75% of what she had. She will tell you, when she was a kid, she was more interested in playing than studying. Mom even told me when the therapist left that she knows she's forgotten some things but there are other things she just never knew - it wasn't imporant to her. 2) I also explained about mom and the date. If you ask her what is today's date, she will answer "The 10th and 16th." Meaning, October (10th month) and 16th day. If you ask what is her birthday, she will answer "third and 19th of 27." March 19, 1927. That's how she has always said dates. So it's not wrong - just different.

During the last two weeks, I've spoken to many of her friends to give them updates on her. Everyone is in shock that mom had a stroke. She was the healthiest of her group of friends. She drove her friends to church, to lunch, to the Red Hat Ladies meetings and even to her square dances. In Sunday school, she sits w/ three other ladies and talks while the teacher is speaking. They're like young, mischevious girls. Our next door neighbor, Ruth, told me that mom had to get well and come home. She said, "I need her - she's my best friend." Mom always has a smile for everyone and it has continued in the hospital and rehab. The staff have also commented on her smile and good attidude. Last night, Joy called. Mom worked for her for years at West Elementary. She's going to call and talk to mom today. She said "Maybe they'll get some of that meanness out of her." She was referring to how honory mom can be. I said "No, that's impossible."