Update

Sam spent 1-1/2 hours in "Inner Art" class on Saturday focused the whole time on her acrylic painting. It was the first time that Sam really was looking at the whole page and composition. She was able to ask for what she needed from both the therapist, Dahlia and myself, so for instance she requested the color yellow, and water for her brushes and more different size brushes. It was as if a team of assistants were at her side, helping her creative process all along the way. Towards the end of the class, Dahlia set-aside 15 minutes for everyone to share their work for a critique. Everyone in the class participated and it was quite a wonderful experience. I wish the class were available to Sam everyday, but it is only on weekends. I put Sam's work up in her room, and there is now a nice display of her paintings and of her progress.

Last week I met with all of Sam's therapists and doctors for a conference and overall review. I was told that she is making progress but it is very slow. They spoke about every aspect of her day and broke down each area that needed focusing on. She was upgraded to the next level group speech class because they thought she was getting bored with the one she was currently enrolled. The therapists all work together so well and talk so passionately about Sam that I felt much relieved afterwards, and comforted by the fact that she is truly in the best place imaginable for her injury. They also all love working with Sam and talked about how her humor comes shining through in the classes. The speech therapist Meghan, spoke with me afterwards and said that Sam is terrific to work with and explained in a little more detail as to how she orients her each day and how they do one/on one intensive work.

Yesterday, Wendy and Aileen visited and it really had an impact on Sam, who has been very isolated in the facility, since she only sees me as part of her other life. She really shifted and for the couple of hours that her friends were visiting, Sam and I became a couple again. Sam made sure that I offered Wendy and Aileen the strawberries that she was eating, as if we were playing host in our house to our friends. Sam also became very afficionate with me in front of them and in the old fashioned way we used to interact before her injury. Afterwards, Sam was exhausted by expending so much energy and I think grappling with her two worlds (as am I); her new friends and environment at the facility and then me, and her friends, representing her connection to her other life. Sam needs to see more people from her past, but I understand how difficult it is to journey up to Lake Katrine, Kingston for the day. I could tell she was still grappling with it all when I left, but know that she will manage to handle it well, especially with all the help from the amazing staff at NECSC.