The Move to Dancing and Remembering School

Monday 19 November 2001
9:10 am  Just spoke with D. Martin: the ICD is fine, all cultures were negative, and discussion is occurring regarding availability of a bed at Providence today or tomorrow (Marshall is with Brian).
10:40 am  BRIAN IS GETTING OUT TODAY!! Dave and I packed up all his stuff from his room. Right now Brian is in the gym with PT David, working on standing. Brian sat up on the edge of his bed BY HIMSELF in order to get into the wheelchair. He also wheeled himself down the hall: "I'm moving!", very excited. He definitely pulls harder with his right hand, veering to the left.
When I took down the card from his Spanish class, Brian wanted to look at it. He sat and read it for some time; he was able to read the Spanish!
10:50 am  BRIAN WALKED!!PT David brought him back and they stopped here. "Hey Mom! I walked!" He stood up on his own with the parallel bars, and walked their length four times! Then in his room, Brian stood up with the aid of a walker, standing straight and tall! David thinks he'll be walking with the walker in a day or two. Says Brian, "I stood up! That's a good thing!" David told Brian he has worked with people for many years and has never seen anyone work so fast.
I talked to Janet Murphy,he social worker at Providence. We will connect when I go there with Brian today.
I called the high school and spoke to the receptionist. She will pass the good word, and have Pete Cislo (a Vice Principal) make an announcement. I also left messages for Alana and Thom at their homes.
(11/20) (10:50 am)  Brian and I rode over to Providence at 1:30 pm. Penny made sure he had lunch beforehand, and gave him a big kiss and hug. She said something very sweet to him about how hard she knows he will work, and how sweet he is, and he said, "You sound like my mom!" Brian rode in a wheelchair in the mobile van, and I sat with him. We talked all the way about how long he'd been in the coma. 
(Typing this brings tears. We became fond of Penny and the others. They were the medical family that helped us bring Brian back to life. We all grew very close in a short time. I will always be grateful to them for their compassion, dedication, humor, patience, and kindness to my son. It was a most amazing time and place for us all.)
Marshall was in the room when we got here. Brian is in Room 3006, once again near the Nurse's station (and on the 3rd floor). He doesn't have a great view like he did in Room 12 in the ICU, but he CAN see the mountains, and last night the bright crescent moon was shining. 
Marshall unpacked clothes and he and I did some paperwork. Brian didn't want to get in bed, but Steve, the Mobile Care driver, needed to take his wheelchair. Nurse Stephanie helped Brian get into bed, examined him, asked some questions. Brian was very alert and interested in everything. When Dave arrived shortly, he brought up Brian's posters and things, and we began decorating the room. He has art supplies, photo albums, writing, and his calendar, as well as some art work of his own, in his room.
Merrill Lynn White was the charge nurse in the evening. Marshall and I both know her from years ago, early 1980s. 
Brian's swing shift nurse was Bryan; he is actually a Certified Nursing Assistant. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. They encourage the presence of family. Brian's Physical Therapist is Amy. She got Brian into his wheelchair and he wheeled himself around the unit, with her help and Dave and I in attendance. Brian used his feet for most of the propulsion, which is great for his legs AND feet. (He did this for quite a while, and could really get some speed going after some practice. It was fun to accompany him zipping around the unit in circles!)
Brian saw the phone and wanted to call people immediately. The phone was removed temporarily, as per policy. The tv is covered with a blanket. Marshall stayed until 5:30, while Dave and I went downstairs to eat dinner. Brian ate dinner at a table in the dining room here on the unit, with Marshall. They also started working on a Visitor List, which Dave, Brian, and I finished after Marshall left. 
Dave and I stayed with Brian all evening, except for an hour when we left him with Alana. Alana reported later that she and Brian talked about their relationship: Brian expressed his amazement that she was still with him: "You didn't expect this when you started going out with me." (Alana was a remarkable young woman of 15 at the time).
Brian is still working on using the toilet, and was embarrassed after dinner because "I shit my pants." I told him it was okay, accidents were going to happen, and I would try to help prevent them. I reminded him he can tell us when he needs to go, and that I'm his mom and I changed his diapers. He thought it was sweet of me to want to help. "I love you so much," he told me.
Brian gave Marshall a big, spontaneous hug in the hallway, while Brian was in the wheelchair. Brian was very attached to his animals tonight: Xena the giraffe/pony, and Josie puppy.
I met briefly with Janet and Shelly, the social workers, this afternoon.
Brian's schedule for Tuesday was already on the bulletin borad across from the Nurse's Station, and in his room. He was scheduled for a morning shower and sessions with the physical and occupational therapists.
Brian is no longer attached to a heart monitor, or any other monitors. he does not have a PICC line anymore, either (all this ended today).
Brian has been expressing fears of falling asleep because he is afraid of falling into another coma. he looked a little scared when i was reading to him, then calmed down and fell asleep - after asking me to stop reading. It was about 9:15. Dave and I stayed until nearly ten.
Brian was alert and happy throughout his first afternoon and evening at Dancing and Remembering School. This surprised the nurses, who are used to some disorientation, and more fatigue.

Thus began Brian's next phase of recovery. An auspicious beginning to a busy time of hard work.