end of July

I visited Lance a few days in a row last week and, as usual, it was great to see him and he was happy to see me. I know sometimes it's difficult to see him in such a compromised state, or it's difficult to see him in this kind of facility, or it's just difficult to get to but I can see how much it means to him so I travel all the way from California to visit.

He seems to be adjusting to Northeast and knows his schedule and is very aware of where he needs to be at any given time. I attended a bunch of therapies and classes with him during the weekdays. He is still having a hard time coordinating his speech into sentences but he is better at communicating in general. His occupational therapist would like to see him move his wheelchair around on his own, which I think would be a great next step.

He does like to go outside so if you visit, and he directs his eyes towards the window, it's a good bet he wants to go out. If you go out to the back patio, try to avoid the smokers, he still hates that. You'll need a special pass to go out the front (ask LaVerne) but there's a nice area with benches and a gazebo that he enjoys. If his visitors keep taking him outside, he'll have a proper tan in no time! On Saturday, Sam and Alex came to visit and brought Kori, and Lance really enjoyed seeing them (if you want to bring a dog, there are special rules and procedures that LaVerne can fill you in on.)

Overall, Lance is getting better. I've seen improvements in all his therapies. The progress can seem slow but he is improving and his spirits are good and his sense of humor is intact. He does complain when he needs (but that's typical for Lance, isn't it?) so if you see him fidget, his wheelchair may just need adjusting. I'm often amazed at how normal Lance acts and reacts despite his deficits. I am positive he can overcome these with time and determination and hard work.

The classes and therapy sessions all happen during the week and I'm always impressed at how dedicated his therapists are, they all seem to really connect with him. The weekends are very different however. Some sessions take place and occasionally there are fun activities going on but, in general, the weekends are for visitors. If you can schedule a day out of the city to spend a couple of hours with Lance on a weekend, I know he'll be so happy to see you.

Happy Summer...