Journal entry by Jon Bartelt —
Hello everyone,
As you may have noticed, our pace of updates has slowed... Since Dad has progressed a lot since the accident, we are now at a stage where we expect small improvements each day rather than big jumps in ability. We are all happy to be out of the hospital and rehabilitation center and Dad is motivated to work hard in his out-of-patient rehab so he can continue progressing. Just please note that it is harder to describe the day-to-day progress now, so updates will be less frequent.
I asked Dad what he wanted communicated in this update, so here is the info straight from the source:
"I want to thank everyone for all the support and the cards and gifts. I have improved a lot but am still not 100%. Hopefully that will come with time."
I asked him what is still difficult and what is better now that he is home. He said:
"My sleep is much better without the nurses and doctors bugging me. But, it's still tough to get up in the morning and get dressed."
Dad is doing pretty well physically. He can walk around the house just fine and barrels up and down the deck stairs at nearly full speed (even if we all cringe watching him do it). Yesterday we played 18 holes of disc golf at the park. He walked the whole course, carried his own discs, and actually scored similar to how he did in December 2018. At times he was frustrated because he is not able to coordinate his body like he used to, but this should improve with time, PT, and practice. His decision making was a bit hindered as far as knowing what disc to throw, what type of shot to go with, and knowing the layout of the course. That said, I lost two discs in the water and he only lost one so I probably don't have room to criticize here. He also did not follow my tips and advice on what he should do, but that also tended to happen before the accident...
As far as cognitive ability goes, we still have some work to do. Dad has much of his personality back, understands jokes and sarcasm, and can remember most everything up to the day of the accident. However, he still struggles with problem solving, understanding timelines and linking together different events or memories, and with comprehending everything that has happened and is happening. His cognitive ability should improve with continued therapy and time. The doctors have said it can take up to two years for the brain to heal (what deficits, if any, that will remain after two years of healing is impossible to predict).
As Kristin said in the last update, if you would like to stop by the house and visit, just text Mom to schedule a time. Having things scheduled is helpful so that Dad can get used to remembering dates/times.
Thank you again for all of the support, thoughts, and prayers! This whole process would have been much more difficult without the help from friends and family.
-Jon
As you may have noticed, our pace of updates has slowed... Since Dad has progressed a lot since the accident, we are now at a stage where we expect small improvements each day rather than big jumps in ability. We are all happy to be out of the hospital and rehabilitation center and Dad is motivated to work hard in his out-of-patient rehab so he can continue progressing. Just please note that it is harder to describe the day-to-day progress now, so updates will be less frequent.
I asked Dad what he wanted communicated in this update, so here is the info straight from the source:
"I want to thank everyone for all the support and the cards and gifts. I have improved a lot but am still not 100%. Hopefully that will come with time."
I asked him what is still difficult and what is better now that he is home. He said:
"My sleep is much better without the nurses and doctors bugging me. But, it's still tough to get up in the morning and get dressed."
Dad is doing pretty well physically. He can walk around the house just fine and barrels up and down the deck stairs at nearly full speed (even if we all cringe watching him do it). Yesterday we played 18 holes of disc golf at the park. He walked the whole course, carried his own discs, and actually scored similar to how he did in December 2018. At times he was frustrated because he is not able to coordinate his body like he used to, but this should improve with time, PT, and practice. His decision making was a bit hindered as far as knowing what disc to throw, what type of shot to go with, and knowing the layout of the course. That said, I lost two discs in the water and he only lost one so I probably don't have room to criticize here. He also did not follow my tips and advice on what he should do, but that also tended to happen before the accident...
As far as cognitive ability goes, we still have some work to do. Dad has much of his personality back, understands jokes and sarcasm, and can remember most everything up to the day of the accident. However, he still struggles with problem solving, understanding timelines and linking together different events or memories, and with comprehending everything that has happened and is happening. His cognitive ability should improve with continued therapy and time. The doctors have said it can take up to two years for the brain to heal (what deficits, if any, that will remain after two years of healing is impossible to predict).
As Kristin said in the last update, if you would like to stop by the house and visit, just text Mom to schedule a time. Having things scheduled is helpful so that Dad can get used to remembering dates/times.
Thank you again for all of the support, thoughts, and prayers! This whole process would have been much more difficult without the help from friends and family.
-Jon
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Craig Stay Connected to Family and Friends
A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Craig's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?
