Wednesday, September 10

It seems that every day brings good news. Here is today's:

I don't know if all those supporters who haven't had the opportunity to visit Jillian knew that her injury extended to her left eye. As I understand it, the intracranial bleeding caused by the accident also flowed into the area behind or above the eye, resulting in substantial pressure on the optic nerve. Alleviating this required not another major surgery, but a slit cut just below the eye to evacuate the accumulated blood. Throughout her time in ICU, that eye was swollen shut and scary-looking.

Two weeks ago, just after Jilly was moved to the Rehab floor, she was examined by the Ophthalmology Department. At that time, she was not conscious enough to cooperate with the doctors, and they believed that there would be some loss of vision.

Today, fully conscious and all to ready to skip therapy, Jillian headed to the fifth floor again. After a bit of a wait and a full exam, with a bit of drama caused by a burly, delusional prisoner held in check by three burly Corrections Department officers, the opthalmologists described Jilly's vision as practically perfect: 20/40. The only treatment still required: Artificial Tears to counteract dryness. How about them apples!

Jillian's appetite is improving daily. Today she actually ate substantial amounts of three meals. She will not touch that Ensure they keep delivering to her. I think it took her almost a week to rehydrate herself; she has finally slowed down on that vitamin water. Despite all those notes when she was (I now realize) not yet fully conscious, she seems to have lost her taste for coffee and has not tried to persuade anybody to bring us all a beer.

We are finding enforcement of the visitation policy on the 6th floor a little unpredictable, even when we try to follow it rigorously. In light of a few minor disturbances today, we have decided to ask the loyal locals to schedule their visits, and plan for every other day instead of every day. Anyone who hasn't received an email from Ariel or a call from one of us but who wants to visit between now and Saturday, please give me a call at 505-507-8386. I want to avoid making people wait as much as possible, or, worse, find they can't get in at all. We want to respect the floor's two-at-a-time rule and still have Jilly see all those friends, whose conversation and companionship lifts her up. In truth, I've found the rule works in her best interests as well as the rehab staff's. We're just trying to find the perfect mix.

Jillian's remarkable recovery thus far has been an enormous, gratifying team effort. To all those who have followed it, whether we know you or not, whether you've ever met Jilly or not, we owe a great debt of gratitude. We will find ways to pay it forward.

Ingrid