Mar. 23, 2005 - 19:39 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Blending

Thinking back a ways, noting that time has a way of passing somewhat unnoticed.

Our daughter has been with a brain injured foundation for going on eight years, a bit more or less. An institution that sees people such as that can become nearly independent in their living conditions. And being an institution it depends on contributed funds.

After daughter's stay in hospital in 1972 she was put in a nursing home. For twenty five years our daughter was aware enough to do things and was considered a troublemaker because she did not sit helplessly and mindlessly in the hall and being unable to communicate no one would take the time to try to see what her problems were.

Not having the ability to speak, nor the power to concentrate on learning something, yet she did have and has the ability to think, recognize, and socialize (in her own way) with friends and relatives. She has been able to assume some responsibility for caring for herself, washing her clothes and helping out with duties around her home base.

Our daughter was shuffled from one nursing home to another and was considered a person who couldn't fit in. Once chance she had was a group home wherein the residents were able to help run the place and make reasonable decisions, they were organized and functioned in voting committees. Unable to achieve the ability to communicate in a sensible way, obviously our daughter couldn't fit in there, so it was back to the "custodial care," nursing homes that would drive a person nuts if they were not completely helpless or content to pass the time mindlessly.

Heather and I felt that there should be some facility that would serve brain damaged folks and Heather spent much of her spare time (what little there was of it) searching. After much time spent in her detective work she found out about the organization. After much calling around and milling around she was able to get the foundation's attention about our daughter, after much paperwork and formalities were done, when an opening came she was put in an assisted living facility in Brighton, Colorado - about thirty miles from the Metro area. A place where she was happy and fit in. She was there quite some time, but eventually the funding of the foundation required that that particular home be given up. About that time an opening came up in the Denver home that Heather and I wanted for her. About five minutes from where we lived, at a house with seven other residents and that had daytime care for more folks.

Of course with our economy going the way it has been for quite some time now, funding for the foundation has been shrinking, but the need for such a foundation is ever greater as time goes on.

That house was also closed recently and daughter was moved to the main facility in Greeley. A very nice, house and outbuildings that have been renovated over time and in pristine shape now. The house itself is a historic farm house, but has been modernized greatly.

Daughter and six other of the residents of the Denver house were moved there together. One resident due to seizures was moved to the same nursing home that my sister-in-law is in. We see and visit with him when we go see Heather's sister. One resident was moved in to her Mom's house when her Mom was able to take her in.

All the time daughter has been in the brain damaged foundation care Heather and I have been visiting, in the Denver house it was at least once a week, in the Brighton house about once every two weeks. Our trips to the Greeley house depend on the weather situation. As Spring moves in it will probably be once a week up there too.

Heather and I fell into the habit of visiting with the residents there and became friends with them all. They had suffered brain injury that was sufficient that they could not live out in the world, but regardless are thinking, kindly and generous folk and wonderful to be with. The most able and independent person living there is a lady who volunteers at North Colorado Therapy Center and helps out where she can. For various reasons she cannot live out on her own, but is a fascinating person to talk to.

Heather and I have kept up with them and spend time visiting each time we go see daughter. Today we brought with cookies Heather had baked, a big Easter plate of candy for the group and Spring clothes for daughter.

We spend alone time with daughter and then together we go sit with the bunch and talk to whoever wishes to talk with us. Daughter is not selfish about our visiting with her fellow residents but sits with us and makes vocal sounds and laughs in appropriate places.

One of the directors was at the Denver house and became a friend of ours through this time, moved up to Greeley to the new place and also visits with us when we come there. The staff all know us too, and it is like coming home to visit up there. During the early parts of the day they are all in the Big Room doing their various activities and Heather and I usually get there about two in the afternoon and visit up a storm with everyone who wishes. We hate to leave there, but life goes on and so do we.

I feel privileged to see the lives of all of us Blending . . . . . .

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