Inspiration, Determination, A New Friend, The Road to Recovery.

It's 4:21 on Sunday evening. We just got home from Greenville...and it looks like we had a pretty good little storm while we were away. The current was off when we got here, so I fed little Buckwheat his bottle, then decided to do deep breathing for myself until the power came on again. Little unexpected breaks are a good thing.
Today was a very good visit. Frieda, Young Nancy and I were to have met with Donna Mooneyham, who is both a teacher of rehabilitation and a specialist in her field. We have a mututal friend (Martha Myers) who had gotten us acquainted via email. Donna was DELIGHTFUL! She's energetic, full of life, has had her own life experiences that involved recovery from a very serious illness. A charge nurse had come in before Donna arrived and said that Frieda is looking at Monday or Tuesday in terms of moving to the neurological rehab unit! We are so excited! Knowing that, Donna who actually helped develop many of the facilities in the unit was able to tell us all about how things will go.
Rehab is not play time. It is very serious and is taken as such. Frieda will be working HARD...each and every day for 3 hours or more. Frieda is ready and totally up to the task. She was thumbs up with everything Donna was discussing. One particular touching moment, which is totally "Frieda," made me very teary. Donna asked Frieda what was troubling her the most about the stroke. We all knew that Donna meant PHYSICALLY for FRIEDA. Her reply, through her vent was very clear to me. She said, "she was worried about everyone else." I asked her again to be sure of what I heard and she looked at me very seriously and said again "she worried about everyone else
not this" (meaning the stroke). I think we were all taken aback a bit, Young Nancy and I would not have been one bit shocked at that reply, but I feel confident that Donna didn't expect that. Later, when we talked Nancy said she was really stunned to hear her mother say that, but then again...not really.
I learned that Donna lived very near our old home on Oak Island. We knew a lot of the same people from both there and on the Outerbanks, which is a frequent haunt/'second home' of ours. Wayne was thrilled to talk about our favorite fishing captain on Long Beach with Donna and Frieda was all ears. We had planned a deep sea fishing trip with Mervin Darnell, who is one amazing captain. We will fish with Mervin yet, but it just will be postponed for a while.
No visitors are allowed in the rehab unit during the day. I learned that from Donna. Rehabilitation will be intensive and I am thrilled that many of the folks there are aware that Frieda is "on her way!" It was like a ray of sunshine popping into that room with me when Donna came in. She brought confidence, support, love and faith into Frieda's room and into her heart by the bushel! Donna gave us the big cheer to GO FOR IT, WORK HARD and GET OUTTA THERE! It was great having someone give us the extra boost and the confidence that YES, this will be done.
Later Karen Winfrey and Barbara Ritchie came to visit! They brought some fun things in that Frieda cleary loved! Hank sent a stuffed dinosaur, Karen brought some wonderful lotion and Young Nancy had also brought a basket of "feel good stuff" like great smelling lotions to pamper Frieda with. That dry hospital air can make you stir crazy in itself, so the lotion was a huge hit! She didn't even wince or give me a look when I started putting some of that lotion to work! We got her arms, hands, fingers, legs, etc covered really well and she said that made her feel much better.
All in all, it was a very informative and motivational visit. Frieda is still in the "I CAN DO THIS" mode...where she will have to remain for a good while. That said, time flies. The same amount of time she has been in the hospital in general is what they're using as a baseline for when she could possibly be ready to return home! So, hey...if she starts asking "ARE WE THERE YET?" I feel quite comfortable is saying closer today than we were yesterday, or two weeks ago!
Check this week's paper for the yardsale!!! We've all gathered up our favorite junk (not junk, just kidding!) And we're having a BIG OL' FASHIONED RAG PULLIN' to raise money to get Frieda's place ready for her to come home. There will have to be modifications and we're just getting things ready for that! Do have a look at the ad in the paper (local readers) and for those of you reading this who are not local, please wish us good luck, great turnout and great weather!!!
Keep your fingers crossed on Frieda's move to the new unit! This will be a great happening! Sorry this post is delayed. We had a few more storms last night! Rain is very much needed, but so is electricity to continue writing a blog! So, I had to get done in increments.
More as I have it...am waiting for Young Nancy to come over. We're going to be pricing YARD SALE STUFF!!! Oh boy! :)

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