Jenny began showing voluntary neck movement to her right today, which has relieved the pressure on her right ear some. Therapies have focused on strengthening the neck. In just under 2 days, she has also gained more tone in her neck and she is able to sit upright in a bed with litle or no support, when she needed constant support as recent as last week. I took her outside at lunch time and Jenny just relaxed peacefully in the sun and breeze. Since Jenny is aware of her condition at all times, she sees less progress than someone like myself or less frequent visitors. There are wonderful things returning each and every day which add up to bigger improvements as time goes by.

Jenny seems to be more at ease and getting her needs taken care of at her new hospital. Rehab has been tiring for her, but I prefer the more aggressive approach. Her head does not pull as much to the left today. I had spent the past three nights with her, so I have had just as little sleep as she gets. Yesterday, while holding her head (near the temple/top of her left side) to keep her sore ear off the pillow, I fell asleep and woke to find myself smooshing her face. I jumped and Jenny had the biggest laugh. I’m sure it was uncomfortable or at least annoying, but after a while (how long I do not know) she appeared to find the humor in it.

Jenny is here next to me and she wanted me to send her love to you all. Jenny has been in real clothes the past two days and looks so very good. She gets upset when they put her back into gowns. She wants to take a bath/shower so very bad, but they want her to get better neck and back control. I think she will work that issue until she gets her way.

It has been a larger than normal break between updates. Jenny has had some difficult nights that lead into difficult and emotional days where rehab is hindered by her anxiety and sadness. Regardless of the reason, she will tense up and be impossible to move if something is troubling her. Jenny indicated to her sister that her needs were not being taken care of at night, so I have stayed at the hospital with her the past two nights. The first night was a nightmare. I feel bad it took me this long to stay up with her. She was not cared for very well by the night nurse, who was from a nursing temp agency. I also realized that she was waking up at 4 or 5 am each day, so by the time I got there after getting Zach off to school, she had spent too long alone. She is blind without her glasses, but only one or two nurses have ever put them on for her. That leaves her with only her hearing. Most people are unable to really know what she wants or understand her blinks.

Jenny has had some great things since I have helped ease her stress by being there 24/7. She has eaten a whole range of puree foods. Puree chicken is her least favorite, but I commned her willingness to try it. She liked Mashed potatoes until she ate them for 6 meals in a row. She liked pudding and puree fruit but her favorite was some chocolate that smuggled in after getting peer pressure to try it by her friends. Shr rocks at swallowing and she is getting better at moving food from the front to the back of her mouth. Her mouth opens wide and she has so much more muscle tone and expression in her face. Her right leg can almost lift straight out and her left arm is getting to be stronger. Her neck has been a difficult issue. Her neck is pulling her head to the left and she spends so much time that way that she is getting pressure sores. We have to hold her head for up to 1-2 hours to give her relief sometimes. It is a true fight to do so, but she keeps indicating that she wants us to keep doing it. Jenny is at a new hospital in Indy. We are at Community Hospital East. I need to hurry back so I will write more later.