I AM RICH!!!

Thursday morning, February 27, 2014….Cold, just darn cold!!!  But I hear Spring is coming soon, I'll believe it when I feel it :)

I wanted to jot down what a fantastic week this has been with my Companion.  She has Posterior Cortical Atrophy, or PCA.  I will post a link to a video clip of Actor Seth Rogen speaking before the Senate Committee on Alzheimer's Research…..effecting millions of Americans and RISING!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHqx3-mfHAY
Please take the time to watch this clip and do your own research on keeping your brain healthy and ways you can support those families who struggle with the Disease.

My Lady has had a slow recovery since her upper respiratory infection in December.  Although her responses to Therapeutic Music are measurable, I felt like she was loosing ground.  Over the last few weeks, I have seen a positive up-swing and I am so grateful for that.  My Lady gets 3 consecutive days of Therapeutic Music every week…..

On Sunday, I set up in the Dayroom and there were a handful of patients there along with my Lady.   The very First harp string I played, she let out a loud gasp.  The Aide that was attending another patient turned around and said, "wow, did you hear that?  I think she likes the Harp and look, she's smiling".  I was just so thrilled that the Aide had been in the room and had witnessed this expression of pure joy from my Lady.  I struggle every day I am there,  to educate the Staff on the mental and emotional condition of my Companion.  Although she is blind, can't communicate with conversation and needs complete care, she is much more alive than you can imagine.  I know the busy staff struggles to complete the most basic care of the patients, but it would make such a difference if they would talk to her as they go about their care.  Sadly, I fear it is the families that are left to find alternative intervention and stimulation for their loved ones.

On Monday, I was excited to play again for her.  One again, I started in the Day Room, sharing my Therapeutic Music with the other patients and the Staff at the Unit Desk as well.  After giving her my hello's…I played one of her favorites to start out, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"….not only was there another Aide in the room but another person who is there on a regular basis for her Companion and has seen my Companion for several months "around town" (that's what we call the Facility, our little town or village and the folks there just become your family :)  My Lady immediately starts tapping not just one foot, but moving both feet!  Did I mention she is paralyzed on her left side?  Yep, that left foot starts moving too.  Again, with total shock, both the Aide and the other worker both say, "look, she's moving her feet, she loves that music".   Whooohooo…..yep, she is rocking' to the beat.

Tuesday was a real killer of a day.  I couldn't wait to email the family at the end of the day to let them know what a fantastic day she had.  I played my Harp in the Day Room for about an hour and then I took her to the Dining Room and played the piano for 2 hours.  At first she dozed in her chair and smiled off and on while I played.  I ordered these really easy "fake books" with simple written melodies so I can make the tunes as basic or as complex as I would like.  As I was playing through one of the books I came upon "My Favorite Things" from Sound of Music.  Ok, here is the exciting part….not only did she wake up, move her feet, raise her hand to her mouth (she has not raised her hand that high in months) but she started to sing!!!  Yes, she was moving her mouth and making various sounds to the beat!  That my friends, is a First.  I wanted to cry.  She was filled with so much joy that she HAD to express it.

I am so grateful for the work that I do.  I am grateful to my husband for supporting me on this Journey….although this line of work is such a struggle for employment, I am about the richest person I know.  What a gift Music is to the world.