Saturday-A Voice Speaks Again-"I CAN DO THIS."

Just after lunchtime today, I got a call from Sarah, Frieda's sister-in-law. She was elated and so excited to share that she and Gray, Frieda's brother were visiting and the speech therapist had come in. She had placed the "vent" into Frieda's trach that would allow Frieda to speak. Yes, speak. In a meeting last week, we were told that this was the next step and everyone was excited for this to happen, yet we had no idea what to expect. Sarah said that the therapist pointed to Gray and asked who he was. Frieda replied, "Gray." She did the same with Sarah and Frieda replied, "Sarah." She was asked several identification questions such as "what is this" for a cup, glasses a pen, etc. The therapist also held separate items and asked Frieda to identify a specific item of the two. Frieda did those things. Sarah and Gray were clearly over the moon to be able have seen all this take place. She wanted to let me know what to expect for the afternoon visit. I couldn't stop thinking about it. What would she sound like? Would Frieda be comfortable trying to talk? How would all of this work?
Candy Bohmert and I had planned to ride up together. She was so excited to just see Frieda, as it had been a couple of weeks since she had visited. Young Nancy met us at the hospital and up we went. The nurse came in to put the vent in and Frieda first said, "Nancy." I asked her who I was and she kind of grinned and said, "Anne." I pointed to Candy and asked the same question. "Candy" was the answer. We had each heard our names. Nancy was overwhelmed. Those moments and those words were incredibly emotional for us all. We went out for the nurses to check on some things for Frieda and Young Nancy basically broke down. She had been waiting and waiting to hear her mother say her name again. It was so beautiful. Again, prayers were answered and we were in awe.
When we returned, Frieda was in a great spirit, very animated. She made the "OK" sign with her hands, gave LOTS of "thumbs ups" and used all the hand language that she has used comfortably over the past couple of weeks. She was ready to test drive her voice. We asked questions, she answered. We told funny stories, she laughed. Her voice is very quiet and very low, but it's there. At one point, everything was very real and very surreal all at once. Candy was in the recliner, Nancy had laid across the foot of the bed with her mother and I was in a chair. We were actually chatting. We talked about movies, we jogged Frieda's memory on people, places and events. She wanted to talk about the paper, so we answered her questions.
When Nancy left, it was evident that Frieda had plenty of things on her mind. Her demeanor did not change, yet her posture became more serious. She had lots of questions. Candy and I did our best to answer each of them to her satisfaction. She did not want anything sugar coated and made that quite clear. She asked "WRITE?" The clarification was "Are you asking if you will be able to write again?" Frieda replied with her voice, "Yes." We explained that she would and that it would require work and time. She was ok with that. There were lots of questions, explanations and listening that went on. We held hands. We offered reassurances and more reassurances. There was an item that was like an apron on the chair. I knew if I did something silly with it, it would make Frieda laugh, so I tied it onto myself and was teasing Frieda about hating to shop for clothes because nothing ever fits right. She was really laughing at that and letting Candy know that she really felt sorry for me. It actually felt like old times. The three of us laugh a lot when we're together and the room was filled with joy. The evening nurse even commented on what a good time it sounded like we were having. She was smiling at us and I believe even the nurse knew that what was taking place in that room was love, healing and a deep bond among friends becoming even deeper.
Frieda has a lot of concerns, as you would imagine. She wanted to know about her house, her cars, her paper and basically her life in Oriental. She wanted me to tell her what happened again. We talked about the helicopter ride and she was able to recall from that her helicopter ride with Candy at an event at River Dunes that happened quite a while ago.
Frieda hasn't quite gotten all the details of the previous weeks in order, as would be expected, but she does know what has happened, she knows she has plenty of rehab ahead and the most poignant part of the visit was hearing Frieda Hudson SAY to Candy and me "I CAN DO THIS." She said it folks. Her words. Her VOICE. Her strength.
"I CAN DO THIS."
Yes, you can Frieda. And you will. I have never had even the slightest doubt in that. Not for one minute. This evening was very emotional. There were things that Frieda said that are private and were filled with emotion. Those things will stay in the hearts of Anne Haley, Candy Bohmert and Frieda Hudson. Let it suffice to say that Frieda is ready for what will come each day now. Things might be disjointed. Words may take work to bring them from her mind to her mouth, and a lot of patience is in order along with plenty of close listening and loads of encouragement and "ATTA GIRLS!"
I will sleep well tonight hearing the precious sound of my dear friend's voice saying "I CAN DO THIS."
When you doubt what you can do, think of Frieda. Let her words be yours..."I CAN DO THIS." And whatever it is you attempt to accomplish, you will.

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