Contrasts sometimes occur in Patty’s ability to perform from week to week–wide contrasts.  Last week, after Patty began her new school year, she complained of headache, left earache, and rash.  (It’s not unusual for her to become ill during the first weeks of school with exposure to new people and surroundings.)  Her energy level last Saturday was sluggish, and in lieu of working with switches on Sunday, she watched the film “Napoleon Dynamite”.

Today Patty activated the switches like a seasoned pro.  There was a delay of only a few seconds (and sometimes none at all) between the time when she was asked to activate the switch and when she turned the radio on with her foot.  Patty has a wonderful nurse, ZeeZee, who stays with her every other Saturday and Sunday.  With ZeeZee’s applause and encouragement, Patty smiled as she showed us what she was capable of–intense determination and focus.  In addition, Patty moved her right arm  on cue after a brief range of motion stretch. She also worked to roll her body from a side position onto her back with relative ease, considering she’d not tried that move since her tenure at the nursing home.

What we’ve learned from Patty over the past years is that when there are times she disappoints in her performance, she will rebound with exuberance the next.  It is that effort keeps us inspired and returning to help her again and again…and happily again.

– TB