"I am so grateful..."

It was such a relief to hug my dad just past 12 am this morning. I was only with him for a few minutes, but it was pure joy to see him recognize me, say my name, and give thanks for me coming home.

This day has been quite the roller coaster. After a few hours of sleep at Uncle Ed's house, my mom and I returned to Regions to spend the day with dad. We got him moved out of the ICU and set up with a team of doctors and therapists. It has been so wonderful to be close to dad and to be able to touch him, yet he just isn't the same.

The stroke has not affected most of his physical abilities, but because of the hematoma's location on his brain, its effects are primarily with his mind and speaking. He has no short term memory at all, and for a long time today, he thought it was 1994. He has a hard time recollecting most things (everything from where he is to what different kinds of animals and fruit there are). He says "yes" a lot...I mean, a lot, and a few other token phrases: "I just don't know." and "I've tried so hard." My favorite?

"I am so grateful..."

His speech pattern is delayed extensively and he has a hard time finding words and putting them together. On top of that, he can hardly keep his eyes open. It is hard to believe that a man this tired and this incoherent can be grateful.

But then again, this isn't any ordinary man. It's Popparone.

At the end of our day together there was a glimmer of hope. We called up Grandma and got him on the phone with her. It was like the fogginess over his mind lifted and for a brief few sentences he was closer to the Poppa we know. Then UB got him laughing and he was able to converse in more than one word answers. Still, soon after his eyes drifted shut and he fell asleep. These most precious moments of the day, for sure.

His prognosis is still unknown. We are not completely clear on the extent of his disabilities, nor on the plan to get him back to the fullest of his abilities.

We ask for continued prayers and support for him and for the rest our family, especially these next days. We trust that God will continue to provide light even in the midst of darkness.

Now I am headed to bed--jet lagged and all-- knowing one thing I know for sure: I am so very grateful.

I have had a good teacher, don't you think?

All the best--
HGJ