We All Get A's

Wednesday 28 November 2001
FROM MY NOTES:
I was awakened by a 4:30 am phone call from the Unit: Brian was awake and asking for "someone he loved" to come see him. So I got up, dressed, and got there by 5:30. He was in bed, peacefully looking at his notebook calendar. This was a good thing, and I didn't really want to interrupt. But I sat with him and we talked. He immediately wanted to see Alana and walk, neither of which he could do at that moment.
The themes/questions/statements of the morning and later:
"What is reality? You're born, you walk, you die."
"When I was in a coma, I thought I was dead."
"I know more about dying than you do." (singing)
"I feel like I know what it's like to be dead."
"I want to see my girlfriend!" (he didn't remember seeing Alana the evening before)
One thing I did to try to distract him was to give him a pad and a colored pen to write "I can walk" several times. As he lost focus, the writing and spelling disintegrated. But his writing is larger, and he writes his small 'a' in the familiar manner: a. I also walked around the Unit with him - he was in the wheelchair - when it was late enough that we wouldn't disturb people. And I helped him stand to pee!
Dave came during breakfast. I left to go ready myself for working at Lincoln School in the afternoon. I didn't return until 7 pm, for the evening shift. Dave reported the day's activities verbally and in notes. Dave stood Brian up while Brian dressed himself. later on, Brian had a shower.
A quote Dave noted: " When I was in a coma I realized how pointless life was. (a silly look at shocked Dave) Just kidding. I'm so glad (to be alive)!"
With Marcy, Brian sorted puzzle pieces, pee'd standing, and started his laundry (which he and I put away in the evening).
Later on, Brian worked with Marcy and Amy together. He walked to the gym, stood to work on puzzle and card sorting, and they noted he is "Doing great!"
Brian and Dave had lunch together. During Brian's afternoon session with Julie, he practiced writing words in phrases, and checking his work. He worked more on this later on. Dave also had him copying sentences, such as, "Dave makes me work too hard." Brian apparently got a big kick out of that one. 
Dave also took Brian around to visit with June, and they shared artwork. June Smith is an Ashland resident and Peace House figure, who had a stroke right after Brian's heart attack. She is also an artist. 
In Brian's final PT session of the day, he worked with Sharla. She had him walking, working on math skills, sorting cards and balancing on his knees.
Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 3 is Show and Tell time for everyone. Dr. Solomon, Janet Murphy, therapists and family are a part of it. Brian wowed everyone, put together the puzzle faster than he ever has, and told Jeff Solomon he is "an awesome doctor!" (which he is).
Dave, Brian and I all got straight As; the therapists are pleased to have Dave and I on the team, Joyce wants to hire us, and Julie is amazed at how we are a step ahead of her. They all stressed that our work with Brian is helping him progress as quickly as he has. YAY Brian!!
Brian was obviously tired when all this was over, and Dave insisted he get in bed. Brian protested; Dave left for ten minutes and Brian fell asleep. He was allowed to sleep through a 4 pm therapy slot with Amy, and through his regular dinner time at 5 pm; Nurse John held Brian's dinner till 6 pm. Apparently Marshall got stuck on the mountain and couldn't make it to dinner with Brian. (Marshall was managing the restaurant at Mt. Ashland) Marshall called, spoke to a nurse, spoke to Brian, but didn't make certain that the message got to Dave (who had to ask the nurse). Brian did not remember that it was Marshall he had just talked to, so he was unable to relay any message. Kellie also did not show up.
Dave left Brian asleep. I returned at 7 pm and Brian was wide awake and talking. Apparently Sarah Golden had tried to visit, but Brian was asleep. She left a note. Brian was a bit distractable, fixating on the usual themes. Alana did not visit, nor did anyone else. Brian told me he had had a dream during the coma in which he had walked on the moon and his helmet broke and he died from lack of oxygen. He had asked me earlier if anyone had walked on the moon yet. Brian also told me he had dreamed that Alana broke up with him, and he cried about it this morning. 
Brian is noticing how thin he is.
I read in Looking Glass and Brian fell asleep by 9:30 pm.