End of Diary One

Saturday 24 November 2001
6:10 pm  Dave and I visited Brian this morning before heading home for the day  and night (in the year's first snowstorm, all the way to Medford). We were with Brian from 8 to 10 am, when it was time for OT with Marcy. Brian was up and getting ready for breakfast when we arrived. he brushed his hair and was ready to roll. Yesterday's themes of paralysis and his year in school continued. I showed him his grades from junior year, and he wanted to know why he had a 'B' in English if he was a straight 'A' student. I explained about the special AP test he took at year's end, which wasn't reflected on the report card, and which was supposed to up his grade to an 'A'.
We continued to re-assure him that he wasn't paralyzed and hadn't been. He is also concerned about us having heart attacks, going into comas, being paralyzed, and choking. He MAY have some choking memories from the pneumonia, but he has also been warned not to eat so fast, so he doesn't choke.
Dave was being silly and obnoxious, and I commented, "But he's obnoxious in a GOOD way," and Brian made a face, smiled, and said, "THAT'S a good joke, Mom!"
Brian and Dave banter a lot, with Brian calling Dave, "You bastard!" and "You're an asshole!", in a growely voice. There's a lot of friendly insulting that passes back and forth. (They still do this!)
Today in OT Brian was going to work on dressing himself.
"You guys, you guys, I want to warn you. I'm going to be asking a lot of questions today."
Brian got to talk to Alana on the phone!
(11/25) (7:15 pm)  According to the notes in Brian's Journal (Memory Book) he got dressed and started his laundry with Marcy the OT. With the PT, he tossed the ball and walked with the parallel bars (Thom saw this later in the afternoon). Thom was with Brian all day, except from about 4:30 till 7 pm. Brian worked with Maria-Mercedes in the afternoon, and told her "I'm very, very tired today."
Dr. Levy visited: Brian's ICD has developed another "pocket" that may be an infection. Dr. Martin is supposed to check it on Monday. 
Thom and Brian played left hand catch, in the afternoon. Thom worked with his left hand a lot. When Brian walked in the afternoon, he also stood and played "Connect 4". 
Grandpa Jimmy and Grandma Rosemary visited, from around 4 pm through dinner.
In the afternoon Marc and Dan Ferguson visited Brian. 

Notes from Thom:
7 pm - Max, Ayal, Vanessa, Jessica E, Matt and 2 others visited. Vanessa and Jessica stayed 'till 9 pm.
9 pm - Read a bunch of Lewis Carroll, seemed sleepy but kept interrupting to say how thankful he was for all the hours reading to him. I left at ten with Brian nodding off.
I asked Brian, after many of his consistent "I'm sorry's" if he felt guilty about something.He stopped and thought for a while, and said, 'I feel guilty for punching Steve (?) in the balls.'
Next time he said he felt guilty about being paralyzed. I assured him that Steve had forgiven him for the low blow (and that perhaps he had it coming anyway) and that he was not paralyzed and he didn't have to feel guilty about being hospitalized.
Vanessa says that when she visited on Friday, Brian made a birthday card for Bubbie, whose birthday was today.
Marshall is driving Brian's car and wearing Brian's Celtic necklace from Spain.