Newest Update from Mom:

It’s been a month since my last post and a lot has been happening. Shortly after my last post, I discovered I had Covid and spent New Year’s Eve and the following week or so quarantining with Skip. Fortunately my symptoms were very manageable (thanks to Meagan and every potion and lotion they sell over-the-counter that she dropped off for me.) Super Human Skip managed to avoid getting COVID from me and we were pretty happy about that.  

As promised, after the snow cleared, Skip began driving with me in the car on short drives, and he quickly built up to driving in the cities and highways. We’ve found that his driving is very much unchanged, in comparison to how he drove pre-stroke…. we’re not saying his driving is good, it’s just unchanged. 🤣 He still drives too fast and breaks too hard. But what do you expect from a retired navy jet pilot?  He is now driving on his own and enjoying his new-found freedom.  I have returned to work at Stafford Suites and although it can be exhausting, I’m enjoying the challenge of being back at work very much. ❤️

Skip still has OT once a week and speech therapy six times a week; however, with the high COVID numbers, the outpatient unit at the hospital has now been closed for three weeks. Skip has been limited to his three sessions with Bri (Atlas Aphasia) each week… thank goodness she is so amazing! Between the sessions with Bri and the homework that the therapists at Good Sam are tasking him with while they are closed, he is definitely keeping plenty busy at nights, when not working.  

His auditory comprehension is still proving to be a major challenge for him. He says he picks up about 50% of what is said to him and guesses at the rest.  His social skills are so good at covering his deficits that most people don’t even notice he’s not following everything they’re saying to him. Sorry to break it to those of you who we have visited with over the last couple of months… he’s just that good! As for his verbal skills— they continue to get better and better and he’s talking more and more. Does this surprise anyone? 😂

Please pray that Skip will be willing to continue to focus on his much-needed speech therapy. He has really begun to grow restless about jumping back into work, which is challenging since there’s still so much therapy work and growth opportunity needed.