I looked in the mirror. My head was dented in on the left side. They shaved only the stitches, and the right side was fine. Why didn’t they shave the whole head? I looked like a freak.
My brother was here at the hospital. I was desperate to shave my hair off, and was trying to communicate. Of course it was hard to say anything. I was trying but fell short. My brother generally knew what I was trying to say and ask questions, about food, water, or walking, to make sure on the same page. I shook my head; all no’s.
At that time it was pointless to try and speak, so I acted it out like a game of charades. I stood up and walked toward the mirror. Then I sat down, at the chair, and made a buzzing noise, pretending to fling hair and drop it on the floor. My brother said do you want a haircut? Finally! My brother shave my head which was normal.
In the hospital, I was walking further. My right side was weaker than my left. I was trying to push myself harder each day. I didn’t get too crazy and I didn’t cause another injury, but I did want to strengthen my body. The first step, was about ten steps and that was it. Over one month I could walk in the hospital the whole floor, and steps too.
Because my surgery was drastic, the doctors wanted to be sure that I could travel home. They had test experiments and life skills, and see that I could do it.
Stay tuned for Seattle Part 4 to see you that I can make it back.
Dave Keller 