Well I think that's going to be the theme for the coming period; showing poop whenever he can. Somehow Frank has refound his fighting spirits. Today he again was more awake than yesterday. He's been in the wheelchair this morning and it appears that he went over the ward with the nurse. Tonight when I came he was watching tv, working the remote control himself. Andre was there and Frank dictated to him the dvd's he wants to see. So we're going to make sure he gets what he wants to feel as comfortable as possible under the given circumstances. He was laying on his back, told me that he had speech therapy (logo) today, and when I asked how the swallowing was going he answered the famous above words, in dutch, "ik ga de logo een poepie laten ruiken" (see title) "I want that bread with herring". His voice was much more controlled today, and the tone was more franklike than I've heard since the stroke.
And then he indicated that he wanted to sleep, he pulled over with his right arm grabbing the left side of his bed and turned to his left side. This is really great, it means that his physical strenght returns, that his ability to move his body voluntarily returns and that is really great news. Furthermore he said that he's very thankfull for all the attention and love and care which surrounds him, from his friends from far away and nearby. And having said that he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
When Andre and I walked away Andre told me that reacting to the blog was a little troublesome for him and he asked me to write a little handout. So for anyone who want to comment, or wants to leave messages for Frank, feel free, we read it out loud to Frank. Here's a little tutorial... To start don't use the little pencil icon at the bottom of messages, that doesn't work. Instead:
- choose the item you want to comment on, in the itemlist on the right side of the screen
- now you're in the submenu of a specific item and at the bottom of the text you click with your mouse in the blank field at the bottom and you type whatever you want to type.
- then press the submit button and your reaction is published.
- if you want to return to all the blogmassages simply click in the right sided list on the month or year, than you have access again to the rest of the blog.
So hoping to help you out (at least andre.... I expect a reply now, no excuses...;-))
Lets hope that Frank continues to make progess as he's doing right now. Perhaps then rehabilitation treatment might be a next step.
We'll see, let's poop with him!!! Goodnight Esther
Well... things to me are not all as is described. I also have to select a profile (Reageer als: ...) and I have to commit my reply using an account. So I have to log in, for instance at my Google account. Then I have to type some hardly readable codes (you know, those wiggly bits) and then, maybe, my reply is posted.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSee, I passed the exam!
If the mountain will not come to Muhammad...
BeantwoordenVerwijderenNow that I've passed my exam I can as well give my vision of the events of last evening.
When I came in Frank was watching TV, no signs of dosing off, responsive to everything around him. I've never seen him that active since this all started. He is clearly not happy with the situation as it is now. Our small talk came to TV and the huge collection of DVD Frank has and he named a bunch of films he wanted to see. Just from the top of his head, no problem recalling the titles. Typical Frank.
He sometimes has used a wordgame in the past "If muhammed does not come to the mountain then the mountain will come to him" (Dutch: Mountain = Berg) on occasions that he was vitising me.
It looks like the mountain has started to move again.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Go Frankie! I expect he'll be giving visitors guided tours of the institute in a few weeks time, no doubt adding all sorts of trivia about the part the building played in the 80 Years War or something.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAnd for the non-Dutch speakers who haven't yet figured it out, "showing somebody a poopie" is a rather literal translation of a Dutch saying that basically means "I'll show them whatnot!".
Welcome back, Frank. We missed you.
De Zaag
I've visited Frank yesterday (and neglected to write something about it. sorry) and also found him more awake, more aware and active. :)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThanks, Walter, for that translation. I was starting to feel someone privileged understanding the poop-references while the non-Dutch speakers were probably a bit confused.
Translating Dutch sayings like that is some tough shit.
I was with Frank tonight (12 april). He was a bit down, and was asking for his books.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHe was also fed up with the liquid feeding. Luckily the nurse noticed this (after some hints from Frank and me) and she also noticed his stool was too liquid. She will take it up with the doctor, to see if Frank gets the correct food.
I started reading him the book that was a gift from Niek and ws on his table. He enjoyed the reading very much, and asked me if his magazines (Battle, and Vea Victis, among others) had arrived at his house, as he wanted to read them too. I said I'ld contact Esther, so she can bring them from his apartment.
As I had to leave early, Frank wanted to read the book that I was reading to him, but the book was just too heavy for him to hold in his right hand, even with support from his left.
So I asked the nurses if they could provide him with a reading table, which is a device that you can put across the bed, and on which you then put the book, so Frank can read it without having to hold it himself. The nurse told me she did not have one ready, but would pass on the request tomorrow, and hopefully it will be delivered soon.
Louis