Rehab has been very slow in getting started. His initial evaluations were back in September and the therapists set up a plan for OT and some PT but our HMO had only approved the evaluations and not treatment. After that approval then we were finally able to set up his appointments, of which he only got to a couple and then it was time for the surgery to replace his bone flap. Jump forward two weeks and the bone flap is replaced and Sam can start OT two weeks after the surgery. As with many HMOs I didn't get the full scoop and found out when I called rehab to schedule future appointments I was told we needed "new" approval from the doctor as Sam had been discharged from rehab once he entered the hospital for the second surgery. I look back and wish I had called immediately after the second surgery, it would have saved weeks. The request sat in an "in box" for a week before processing and only then was pulled to the top after I called again. As what have feels like months have gone by (which they have) all was finally approved and Sam had a reevaluation last week. Mmm, this was a definitely a rabbit trail but I wanted to give a history.
Okay, for the news. Kathy his OT put him through the same tests as before and many have improved. He did better on the short term memory tests which were looking at about 20 items on a table and then repeating back what they were once gone. His eyes distance vision is 20/20 but his eyes stop tracking together when anything gets closer than 12 inches away, which seems okay to most of us but doing close-up work they have to track together. She was surprised he isn't having headaches with most of school work he is doing is online. Anyway, Kathy gave him a simple exercise to work on and this week he starts "officially".
Sam is having some difficulty with tasks that require many steps,which most do, but it appears to happen mostly in new environments. Kathy says this is not unusual and that his OT will help him learn to work through this. Also "I don't know" has become a frequently used phrase. When we ask him questions we have to push him for an answer, making him think about it, and not answer for him for accept "I don't know". The answer may be slow in coming as I saw when he was talking with Kathy but that's good. Kathy reminded us both (and I share with you) that the right answer thought out is far better than a quick I don't know. It can be frustrating for him because I saw that when asked a question he really may not know the answer but once given time to think he comes up with the correct answer and feels better about it.
Kathy was reassuring that the delay in getting started did not harm his future progress. I'll call it a bump or hiccup, try not to feel guilty about anything, and move forward. The best days are yet to come.
Oh, I almost forgot. Sam is in school for one class each day and that is going okay. One class is Algebra and that has been difficult for him at times. One PT at the clinic told me last week that Algebra online is not usually recommended for TBI patients as it is more difficult for the student since there is not teacher to help with the one-on-one. I had already started to have my doubts. Sam would definitely like to stop that class. I'm going to talk with Kathy about it on Wednesday and see what her take on it is since she is his primary therapist.
Sam is such a great son and young man. God's plans for him are grand I'm sure. Thank you all for your continued prayers. Sam and we his family could not have gotten through this without them.
God bless.
Mom/Stephanie
