I didn't see Ron until yesterday (Friday 8/22), one and 1/2 days after his surgery on his brain. I didn't know what to expect and what he might be aware of or say. He stared at me for a few minutes while I tried to make conversation with him. I went to IMC about 45 minutes before his transfer to the new facility. I met the social worker Michelle for the first time. Jim has met with her a few times. Stacie and Joyce Cottrell, my cousin and aunt probably ran into her too at the hospital. Very nice lady. She was the one who tried to track down a family member when Ron first arrived at the hospital. She has been looking out for Ron's best interests including figuring out insurance stuff. She was telling Ron about the transfer and she asked him to promise not to ever leave home again without some type of identification on him. It is far too stressful on the hospital staff. Especially not being able to locate family members.
Ron and I were having small conversation, and I could understand a few sentences. If I couldn't understand him he was frustrated. He wants to talk and be understood so badly. I showed him a few pictures of his injuries and he would get a frustrated look on his face and said "why?" I replied that for some reason he is getting to live this miracle of surviving a horrible accident. I talked about how he used to tell me that he wanted to speak to the youth about the important things in life, and not to go down paths that are hard to recover from. I reminded him of his desire before the accident. He shook his head "no". He said he didn't want to do that now. I chuckled. I think I might have been giving him too much to think about. Showing him the pictures of the injuries and talking too much about his future was too much for him to handle. His brain is trying to adjust to being alive again. I showed him pictures of the family and his eyebrows would lift. I brought a picture of our mother posing with Santa. I reminded Ron that mom used to hire a Santa every year to have a party with her grand-kids. He said "Yes, she loved that". He seemed to follow much of the conversation we were having.
I stayed until the ambulance arrived to take him to Provo. I was going to go home, and then felt bad that he would be going to this new place alone, esp. now that he is more aware of what is happening.
I followed them to Provo, got him all checked in a stayed another 1 1/2 hours with Ron. He really got chatty. He asked the nurse for some tobacco. I told him he will be cured from all of those bad habits because of his hospitalization. He was very frustrated by that comment. He didn't like that one bit. I was chewing on a grape Hi-chew piece of candy. He said, "it smells like grape gum", I told him it was candy, he said "give me one of those!". I told him he was on a special formula diet being fed through a tube. He gave me that look again. Very frustrated Ron look. I let him know that as soon as he could eat I will bring him a big burger, fries and shake. He said "guacamole burger". He could always make me laugh before, I was happy to see him back.
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