Time marches on

Last thursday Joyce received another injection. Her response to it seems to be good. We will go back July 9th and see what a 3 week cycle does for Joyce. I still see the improvements gained in January. Joyce has different ditties or sayings she says than before we started but she also will occassionally pick up on the TV or a conversation and repeat a piece of it for some time frame.

She is still eating well and likes to walk up and down the driveway if I let her just go. My problem is that she wont close the back door when she goes in and out, and as hot as it is. that makes the a/c run more. I am sure some of you are horrified that I let her go freely but to date she hasn't ever taken off, even when we are shopping she will eventually find me or the car. I wish I knew what she was thinking when she walks around but in the store if she gets out of sight then sees me later she will walk to where I am.

Unless they develop a new medicine I have resigned myself to the fact that her aphasia is not going to go away. There are times she will respond yes or no to a question but she just doesn't voice her inner thoughts. As far as I can see though she is maintaining and not regressing. Holding the current level is a good thing because it buys us time. Five years ago this treatment wasn't available, five years from now there may be a cure. My hope is that she is still well enough to benefit from it.

Thanks to all of you following this blog, you prayers and hopes are so very much appreciated.

PAL

Forests,Trees, Swamps and Alligators

We have all heard the the obvious statements about goals and directions. "you can't see the forest for the trees" suggesting that you are looking too microscopically at a situation or "when you are up to your ass in alligators its difficult to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp" suggesting that you can get overloaded and forget what you are trying to do. Both of these apply to me at different times, then something will come along and the light comes on. I have told you before that the one ingredient needed is patience in dealing with this disease. God knows I could use a ton more. My middle daughter Missy has been moving from Dothan, Alabama to San Antonio, Texas. In late March she made a stopover and again in late May. The significance of this is that in late May she told me that Joyce seemed better in March than when she left California, which was early in the treatment cycle, and better in May that March. It is very hard for me to see the changes that Missy's time lapse allows her to see. Those trees just get in my way.

We have shifted to a 2 1/2 week cycle on injections, after the next one we will try 3 weeks. In the short term I see improvement and hopefully it will continue. It also helps financially as well not that money was the reason for the change. I just didnt see her improving with the weekly shots. We got an injection yesterday and she seems to be doing better than she did right after past injections. She still cannot express her thoughts so I have to read other signs. She has been much calmer this time than after previous injections.

I wish the best for all those facing the same problem. I hope in some way this narrative can help you. Thank you all for your support.

PAL