Wednesday Evening...News!

Ok...this is how it went...hang on to your hats, folks.
Wayne, Buddy and I went to the hospital this evening to visit Frieda. I knew how we had left Frieda on Sunday. She had tracked an ink pen, she had looked at us, but nothing remarkable and it was heartbreaking. Then, I had gotten news that was grim in terms of the most recent stroke Frieda had and what the prognosis would eventually be.
We walked into the room. Frieda was sleeping. The TV was on, but the volume was down. Within a couple minutes, Frieda opened her eyes. We looked at each other for a long time. I talked and talked to her. Wayne walked over and she looked up at him. (I was down at her bedside.) I told Frieda that Buddy was with us and pointed toward his chair and she looked over at him.
We talked to Frieda for several minutes, telling her names of folks who were asking about her, emails that had come in to me, that it rained at home today, and anything I could think of to say. She was not one bit...not even ONE BIT agitated. She was calm, she was very comfortable and very peaceful. She would look up at Wayne when he talked to her and back down at me when I spoke.
Needless to say, we were over the moon. Frieda actually moved her left leg, as she has done pretty much this whole way through. I told Frieda that Nancy was on her way up and in a few minutes, Nancy got back into the room. Frieda watched her come in, watched Nancy at the sink, watched her go into the bathroom to get something, etc. Frieda would look up at the TV and watch. She yawned a great big wonderful yawn. On two occasions, I asked Frieda direct questions and asked her to BLINK if she heard me. Question one was: "If you can hear me Frieda, will you blink." She blinked. Question two was: "Frieda, if you would like to hear music, blink." She blinked. These questions were spaced out within a 10 minute period and so they were not "flukes."
Frieda can see. Frieda can hear. Frieda can move her head from side to side. Frieda can move her left leg. When I turned on the music, the leg really started to move and that was wonderful to see. A doctor came in and she FROWNED at him. (Which totally cracked me up!) She watched him intently. I am thinking in HER mind, she was studying that ugly green bow tie he was sporting...which would be typical. (and mostly because it was!) While the doctor was in the room, Frieda would look from the doctor, to Nancy, to Wayne and to me. Her eyes were WIDE open. They were not half open. They were not "unfocused." They were not looking fearful or confused. As I said, Frieda looked comfortable.
I know what was said by the doctors on Tuesday and folks, this just ain't it! I know they give information based on reading test results...but, what we saw and were involved in tonight was absolutely not in concurrence with what I was expecting to see when I got there. I had mentally prepared myself all day for a condition that was worse than what I saw on Sunday.
This is why we must continue to pray, we must continue to lift Frieda up and we must continue to send energy to her. As humans beings, we have no place to say what God has in store for any one of us. It's not our job.
This is what went on tonight in Frieda's room. As I said when Frieda woke up the first time, from the first stroke, I will not take her efforts away from her. I cannot and will not minimize the things I see and know to be true...nor could I EVER allow things to be said or be embellished in terms of what Frieda has been able to do from the start of all of this journey. As always, I will continue to work has hard as I possibly can to support her in whatever actions or movements that Frieda takes.
This isn't about us, or what we want Frieda to do, or wish she would do or hope she will do. Even the tiniest of efforts needs to be celebrated and acknowledged.
We know Frieda isn't a quitter. She doesn't give up easily. I just know that, while she is still quite ill, once again, Frieda has blown the doctor's theories right out of the water in terms of what WE should "expect" Frieda to do or be capable of.
So, with faith firmly behind us, we will just continue to move forward. I know that all of us who love and treasure Frieda Hudson will keep right on doing what we've been doing all along. She was given a completely grim outlook at Craven. We must remember the weeks since then. While she has had another stroke, Frieda was doing things tonight that we had been told she could not do...and very probably would never do.
I know most of you will see this as you're starting your day. As I'm typing this, I'm thinking there couldn't be a better way to start a day!! Please continue to keep Frieda in your prayers. We can't give up.
As I said in an earlier post, as long as there is work to be done, we must continue to help Frieda in every way possible.
I'm amazed, thrilled and humbled at what I saw at the hospital tonight. I know you will be too!

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