Cyrus E. Eaton Jr.had major stroke on Feb 14, 2005
Subj: Elevator talk...
Date: 97-03-05
From: Mseaton to the family about Dad and stroke
Will wonders never cease? Not an eight hour, but a twenty-lour pass for Papa this Sat until Sunday at 7:00pm return. After a day or two back at the Clinic, talk is that he can come home any time after Tuesday. He donned his new hinge brace for the first time today. It comes to an inch or two below his knee, and he likes the comfort of it as well as the assistance it gives in helping to lift his toes and to keep his knee from locking when he walks. He now uses a small quad (four footed) cane. With only me and a "gate belt" (wide belt around his girth, now leaner, :-)—we went up and down six stairs and walked 150 feet. He again practiced getting into the "car." I think Dad trusts me as a helper who won’t let him fall.
We both have learned so much about all the therapies—especially the physical therapy. In Speech "Therapy, Cy read Father William by Lewis Carroll, one of his favorite poems. He'd read a line, then Eliz. would repeat, then after the next line, I would repeat. The purpose being-we had to hear inflections, singular, plurals, past tense type of pronunciations. This type of speech work reminds me of the course in Linguistics I took at Case Western Reserve with PK Saha.
You should know that in recreational therapy the Lebanese therapist, Elizabeth, Cy and I played cards today. A week or so ago, he couldn’t match pairs of cards. Today, with his right hand he could pick up a card , place a chip on the board, recognize all the cards as he viewed the board. He did, however, turn down the therapist's invitation to attend a Cavalier's basketball game in a group therapy situation going out together.
Tonight, while Elizabeth visited with Dad, I had a long talk with Dan and Marge Moore, the parents of Wendy Moore. The prognosis, after this ski accident in Nevada, is very good. "Snow White's" eyes are now open, she sometimes smiles, shows other emotions, and responds when family members read to her. We see Wendy every day in both occupational and physical therapy, so have an opportunity to observe her progress and talk to members other family: One of them always attends each session of therapy.
Her father told me tonight that he would help advise me about purchase of mechanical devices that Dad might need. I think most of what he'll need (beside the quad-cane) is something for the bathroom area- bathtub/shower and rails to help unseat himself from any place he might be seated-so to speak.
Cathy's cancelled plane last night was complete serendipity. She, Elizabeth and I had lots of family giggles in front of a fire, eating popcorn and drinking something or other, if you get my drift. And now today, Eliz. and I have had special times –she with Dad and she with me. The night nurse wants to have some of her aromatherapy elixir. And Elizabeth does have such a magical way about her. So, tonight as usual, the elevator didn’t move. And again someone said, "Maybe it would move faster if you pushed the button." Yes, yes, yes... with love, good night.
Addendum: Okay, so this email is long, Save it for the week-end and think of us. But remember these days are full of activity, learning and hope for us. Things are happening that we need to share.
Thursday March 6,1997
Date: 97-03-05
From: Mseaton to the family about Dad and stroke
Will wonders never cease? Not an eight hour, but a twenty-lour pass for Papa this Sat until Sunday at 7:00pm return. After a day or two back at the Clinic, talk is that he can come home any time after Tuesday. He donned his new hinge brace for the first time today. It comes to an inch or two below his knee, and he likes the comfort of it as well as the assistance it gives in helping to lift his toes and to keep his knee from locking when he walks. He now uses a small quad (four footed) cane. With only me and a "gate belt" (wide belt around his girth, now leaner, :-)—we went up and down six stairs and walked 150 feet. He again practiced getting into the "car." I think Dad trusts me as a helper who won’t let him fall.
We both have learned so much about all the therapies—especially the physical therapy. In Speech "Therapy, Cy read Father William by Lewis Carroll, one of his favorite poems. He'd read a line, then Eliz. would repeat, then after the next line, I would repeat. The purpose being-we had to hear inflections, singular, plurals, past tense type of pronunciations. This type of speech work reminds me of the course in Linguistics I took at Case Western Reserve with PK Saha.
You should know that in recreational therapy the Lebanese therapist, Elizabeth, Cy and I played cards today. A week or so ago, he couldn’t match pairs of cards. Today, with his right hand he could pick up a card , place a chip on the board, recognize all the cards as he viewed the board. He did, however, turn down the therapist's invitation to attend a Cavalier's basketball game in a group therapy situation going out together.
Tonight, while Elizabeth visited with Dad, I had a long talk with Dan and Marge Moore, the parents of Wendy Moore. The prognosis, after this ski accident in Nevada, is very good. "Snow White's" eyes are now open, she sometimes smiles, shows other emotions, and responds when family members read to her. We see Wendy every day in both occupational and physical therapy, so have an opportunity to observe her progress and talk to members other family: One of them always attends each session of therapy.
Her father told me tonight that he would help advise me about purchase of mechanical devices that Dad might need. I think most of what he'll need (beside the quad-cane) is something for the bathroom area- bathtub/shower and rails to help unseat himself from any place he might be seated-so to speak.
Cathy's cancelled plane last night was complete serendipity. She, Elizabeth and I had lots of family giggles in front of a fire, eating popcorn and drinking something or other, if you get my drift. And now today, Eliz. and I have had special times –she with Dad and she with me. The night nurse wants to have some of her aromatherapy elixir. And Elizabeth does have such a magical way about her. So, tonight as usual, the elevator didn’t move. And again someone said, "Maybe it would move faster if you pushed the button." Yes, yes, yes... with love, good night.
Addendum: Okay, so this email is long, Save it for the week-end and think of us. But remember these days are full of activity, learning and hope for us. Things are happening that we need to share.
Thursday March 6,1997