Six Years Post Injury Update
My mother is extraordinary. At 78, she is 100% cognitively back to where she was before her brain injury. She remembers things that we forget. A few months ago, I told her the phone number of a restaurant and she remembered it that night, the next day and two weeks later.
She still does not drive, and although her balance is better, she needs to do those exercises to maintain it and it is not perfect. Thank goodness, she has not had a seizure and she remains on the Dilantin. The only physical "disability" present is that she needs an arm to lean on when she is climbing stairs with no railing.
She has conquered her social gaffs and amazes us all every day. She looks beautiful and her face betrays her 78 years. Her personality is softer than it was before her TBI and she is much more yielding with my father. She is more talkative with strangers and sometimes slightly child like, but by no means childish or immature.
She continues to take care of my 87 year old father, and also maintains a sharp, intelligent and funny sense of humor. About two years ago my dad had a stroke and was hospitalized for about three weeks. I was somewhat worried about my mother being alone, but she alleviated that fear immediately, showing that she could not only take care of herself, but also take charge of the situation bravely. He recovered, but is quite fragile. They are still able to go out and dance once a week, however, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June.
I continue to be grateful and to strive to help others touched by TBI.
