The Weeks Overview

On Monday evening (really Tuesday early morning), Sam and I were back in the emergency room having her feeding tube replaced once again. The emergency room doctors and nurses recognized us, and in fact one of the doctors who had helped us the last time around (about two weeks before) commented on how well Sam was doing and how much better she seemed. It was only a 3-hour visit this time- the shortest imaginable for an ER visit, and Sam was actually very calm and more aware of things than in the past. When we returned to the facility early on Tuesday morning, I again complained about this situation in particular and the doctors ended up re-evaluating Sam later in the day and now she is having three meals a day. However, she still has the feeding tube in, as it is a long process to wean someone off properly and safely.

One thing that I have noticed this week is that overall Sam is consistently more "there". It is very hard to describe exactly what that means, but it is a slight positive shift. Last night Sam talked about photo projects that she wants to do, and asked for the B&H catalogue (I had previously asked her if she wanted to see the B&H catalogue but was thrilled that she brought it up this time) . I believe Sam was inspired by one of the many cards that people have been sending in to her which had three photographs on one page of a newborn baby. After looking at the card, she asked if we could take pictures of our daily lives, and then "print" them on one page...maybe 6 to a page. I asked her if she meant that she wanted to document her daily activities and the people around her and she said "yes"..."exactly". She wants me to do the same at work. Sam did not describe this project as clearly as I am writing it down now, but after a back-and forth with her, this is what she was thinking. She then came up with many other project ideas - typical Sam- and I decided to keep a journal of her art project ideas, for when perhaps she can truly carry them-out. She very much approved of my jotting down her ideas in a notebook and then referencing them later on. She even noted that the projects were not something that was "durable/doable" at the moment, but maybe later. I was thrilled that she seemed to grasp the concept of "later" . I look forward to seeing her this weekend and seeing if she revisits any of her photo ideas. When I left her last evening, she was still thinking about new photo projects.