Outrageous Malfunction

Sunday, June 8, 2008 10:57:37 PM:

When I was walking up to the ICU entrance, I could see, Tom, her day nurse, walking into her room through the door’s window.  I came in as he was telling Trudi, someone is walking in behind me.  She was sitting in the chair and looked fairly comfortable, and she looked at me and smiled and her face lit up.  My gosh, I get tears of joy, each morning, and am thanking God for His healing of Trudi.

We sat together for an hour or so, and she talked about many different things.  She is apparently seeing snakes and wombats.  A friend of Trudi tells me that is real for patients who have been in ICU for a long time, and remember, she was asleep for 11 days or so.  I reassure her there are no real snakes on the ceiling, they would fall from the ceiling, anyway.  It is called “critical care psychosis”.  I’ll inquire about this, tomorrow.  Interesting phenomenon.

I ask her what year it is and she says, 2007, and didn’t know what city she is in, but knows she is in Texas.  She isn’t aware of what happened to her, yet.  We talk about her stroke and she she still thinks she can get up and walk to the bathroom or go shopping.  I remind her she can’t walk, yet, but will, and that she has no bone on the right half of her skull.  She says, oh, it wouldn’t be smart to go out. And later, same thing. 

After getting back in bed at noon, she went to sleep.  I decided this would be a good time to go to lunch.  I returned about 1pm and she was still sleeping.  I answered emails and read until she awoke.

Trudi is thinking about the future.  She wants to make a list of things we will do together.  So we are working on a list of dreams and goals for our new future, together.  She alos talks about people I don’t know, but from her past, somewhere.  I talk about our life before the stroke, the pool, the pets running in the yard, and anything to keep her thinking.

Trudi is still there, but she will be a new Trudi.  We are making a new life together, one with a deeper faith in God and each other.  As Trudi told me, “We will be glued together”.  And she is right, and God is the glue holding our spirits together, forever.

Good night, everyone.  I’m a little tired and going to call it a day, and will be with my wife in the morning.  I miss her so much.  But know she will be home when the time is right.

If I’ve forgotten anything, I will send an extra update.

May God Bless You All.

Bob Holcombe