The Tournament of Hearts

Isabel called a few shots from behind the glass as she followed the Scotties' Tournament of Hearts with great interest this past weekend. The Canadian Women's Curling Championships were held in Regina over the last week.  Several of the Wascana Staff were glad to catch a few minutes on Isabel's TV and to make a few bets with her on the outcome of the different games.

With Mum's increasing ability to move her left arm and index finger, she is able to spell more quickly on a small letter-number board.  Mum reported the results of several ends of Sunday's final to another resident and his family in the solarium on Unit 2-6.  This increasing dexterity is encouraging to Mum and her Speech/Language Pathologist who is assessing what electronic device can best help her communicate.

As we all contemplate Isabel's second month at Wascana, we note how she is capturing the hearts of her new staff. Mum's love of visitors, plans for recreational activities at Wascana, and good humour are appreciated among the fun-loving staff. Last Saturday night there was a call to a "Party in Isabel's Room" which led to a Charge Nurse inquiring "So just where are ALL the staff?".

Hanging out with Isabel.

Mum attended her first Wascana Birthday Party and Concert last Thursday evening, and will start to more fully participate in other activities in the next few weeks.

With grateful hearts and continued amazement at Mum's determination and positive attitude, we carry on....

The Respirator as FRIEND

Hello All

Isabel continues to settle into Wascana as she spends more time up in her chair each day and participates in assessment for future activities. As Mum's stamina increases so does her energy for communication with her visitors. Once again Isabel is becoming a hub in her wide network and tells her visitors about friends and family through her letterboard.

In early winter, during one of Mum's most challenging weeks, a friend of one of us said: "What would happen if you understood her respirator as FRIEND rather than foe?"

One of her therapists suggested:  "Isabel, as time goes on, we all come to understand the respirator as another piece of furniture -- furniture that helps make your days easier and more enjoyable."

So what does the respirator look like and how does it work?  Mum has two respirators.  They are identical and each is the size of a laptop computer. in fact, her respirator is a small computer that provides a slight puff of air to expand Mum's lungs. The screen shows what amount of "puff" Mum is receiving and a measurement of what is going on in her lungs in response. One of her "laptops" is mounted on a small stand with wheels so it can easily move around her room or down the hall. The other is a "backpack" that will mount on the back of her wheelchair for longer outings.

The 8 puffs of air that Mum receives each minute come through a narrow hose to her tracheostomy at the base of her neck.   Mum has no tubes through her nose and mouth.   This means that Mum's face is completely free to move, show emotion, and mouth words.

At this time, Isabel has not regained her ability to swallow so is not able to drink fluids or eat solid foods. Her nutrition is provided four times a day through a gastric feeding tube known as a  PEG through the abdominal wall.  Mum's process of receiving nourishment is highly nutritious and rather boring, but this process leaves energy for more important activities like visiting!

Valentine's Day crept up quickly this year with all the transitions of the last weeks.  On February 14th, Mum was grateful for a variety of heart messages that arrived in her room and new friends at Wascana to whom she extended her own HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY greetings!

And forward we go!

Wascana Rolls Out Their Red Carpet

Hello Family and Friends

The Staff at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre (WRC) rolled out their red carpet on Wednesday, January 30 to welcome Isabel as their newest resident. We are all appreciating the homey atmosphere and hospitality.  Isabel and her "floral shop" of roses, daffodils, carnations, and flowering plants all arrived safely on one of the chilliest days of the year.

A thoughtful housekeeper who has been starting her car by remote control from Mum's sixth floor rooms at The General for the last three months brought Mum a fuzzy warm hat for her trip.  Mum's 6F staff cheered her send-off.

Within her first hour of arrival at Wascana, Mum's first visitor was a favourite nurse from the Regina General who was visiting a friend at Wascana. Mum has had a very busy week settling in, getting to know new staff and routines, and greeting other West Nile Virus Neurological Syndrome survivors who have come by to meet her. 

Isabel's cozy single room has a large picture window overlooking the children's playground and large elm trees.  January's morning sun shines in through her window and late afternoon light enters through her door.

As soon as Mum had moved in she asked that we share her new information:

Isabel's new mailing address is:  

Unit # 2-6

Wascana Rehabilitation Centre

2180-23rd Avenue

Regina, Saskatchewan

S4S 0A5

As well she continues to receive mail at Abernethy.

Isabel has a new speaker phone.  When one of us is with her, Mum likes to call friends and family.  Messages can also be left on her "message manager" when one of us is not present to answer the phone.  We will be checking messages several times a week.

Her number is: 306-545-5994.

Isabel continues to receive e-mail at <catherine.barnsley@usask.ca>.  She has a high-speed internet connection which means she/we can respond to emails in her room ~ and watch the latest on You-Tube or downloads from her favourite CBC site.  The grand-kids are pleased about easy high-speed access!

And so we greet February with gratitude for lengthening days, a new caring staff, and Cousin Joy whose presence this past month has been so timely.  Joy heads home to Scotland this week having shared so much time and energy with Mum along with visits with her Robertson cousins. We have endeavoured to do our best to provide for Joy's enjoyment:  a traditional January with brilliant sunshine and blue skies, blizzard, chilly temperatures, ice fog and hoarfrost, and warm Saskatchewan hospitality. 

THANK YOU, Joy!