Sam's Story

"Sam Morris Therapeutic Narrative February 2010" is what I discovered in Sam's binder this weekend. Meghan, her speech therapist would have worked with her on the narrative. I asked Sam if she would share her story with me, and she was happy to do so. Sam read the full page out loud. Afterwards, I asked Sam if I could share part of her story with her friends on this blog site and she said "yes". I am just going to excerpt a few sections from the beginning and the end of her story. It is all very moving and inspirational: "My name is Sam Morris. I am here today to tell a story. A story about myself. I am 48 years old. Last year I had a heart problem that left me with a brain injury. Now I am at the Northeast Center for Special Care in Lake Katrine, NY for rehabilitation. I am working on improving my memory and the way that I process information. Also, my balance has been affected.....Occasionally when I talk I forget to use my voice. I am trying not to whisper, but to talk loud enough for everyone to hear me...... I get tired easily, and sometimes feel overwhelmed. When this happens, I should ask for a break. I can stop and rest whenever I feel the need to..... My goal is to become more independent so that I can go home. I want to be more musical, I want to grow my art and I have thought about writing poetry and am starting a project to write about my photographs. I am getting better every day. I am intelligent and strong and motivated to continue to improve. I have the love and support of all my friends, who are rooting for me everyday. I believe in myself and will work hard and participate in my therapies so that I can get back to it!" It was great to talk with Sam about her story and I love that the therapist works with Sam in this way. Another highlight Saturday morning was that the physical therapist came by and had Sam walk around the entire floor on a low walker. I walked behind Sam the whole way with the wheelchair for when she needed to sit down for a break. She did really well. I have never seen her walk on a low walker before, so it was a real treat. She has definitely gotten much stronger and she stands up straight now, which is also very good. Each time she would sit down to rest I would give her a little kiss on her cheek and she would break into a gigantic smile. It was great. Sam also painted for an hour in Inner Art class that afternoon and she and I just joked around a lot. When I was taking her to the class one of the aides, asked if I was her sister (this is a common question that I get all the time). I told her I was her partner, etc. which was fine. When Sam and I were on the elevator by ourselves I said to Sam "at least she didn't ask if I was your mother". Sam cracked-up at this and at many other such jokes that went back and forth throughout the day. On Sunday morning, I arrived very early, early enough for breakfast for the first time ever and caught Sam finishing-up pancakes, bananas, yogurt and a mighty shake. Wow! that was a lot of food and I was thrilled to see her eating so well. I knew that it was going to be another good day, which it was. Sam was very much Sam on Sunday, meaning that she wanted to look at her camera and to listen to PJ Harvey and just relax. It was truly a lovely weekend.