A good day

Hello All,

We can see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel and are confident it is not an oncoming train. Monday, Labor Day, was an understandably quiet day with a holding crew of doctors around but, thankfully, a full nursing staff on duty. At one point a young, blonde, good-looking young man came into the room and announced that he was there to remove the staples from Bernice's scalp incisions. I had seen him before as part of Dr. Moyles neurosurgery team but discovered now that he is a fourth year medical student aspiring to become a neurosurgeon. I asked before he began if he had ever done this before. He chuckled and replied that prime activities of medical students are to change dressings and bandages and to remove staples and stitches. I told him I would be watching carefully. He brought out and removed the sterilized wrapping of a specialized tool: a staple remover somewhat different than the version I keep in my desk drawer. Jeffery removed 22 staples from Bernice's two scalp incisions with only a minor level of discomfort for Bernice. Every day Bernice's appetite is improving and the nausea which is evidently a side effect of her brain surgery, is gone. She spends time in her chair or sitting on the side of the bed dangling her legs over and doing leg lifts. We were told that the evaluation people from Rehab would arrive on Tuesday. Who knows?

I arrived at about 9:00 on Friday morning because I did not want to miss the Rehab people. So as to not keep you in suspense, the Rehab crew never appeared and i finally left at about 5:30. At around 2:00 in the afternoon Bernice took a nap and i joined her slouched in a chair. Our Dr. M. visited twice during the day and is very pleased with Bernice's overall progress. He obtained the go-ahead from the powers running the drug trial to start her up again. Some patients on the trial have had dramatically good results but, even though Bernice saw only modest improvements, we all thought it will be worth while. Dr M. is in favor of Bernice getting into Rehab if she qualifies but he can only recommend. Dr Moyle the neurosurgeon also visited and approved of all he saw. He is also in favor of Rehab and will send in his recommendation. We have plans if Rehab in the hospital does not work out and they involve returning to the Glen Head area but nothing will be finalized until we find out.

On two occasions today Bernice circumnavigated her whole area with a walker. The first time was with Chrissy the PT gal who also led Bernice to a stairway where she climbed four stairs. I was the guide on her later second trip. On the Monday just past Bernice will have been in Mt. Sinai for three weeks.

If you keep conversations short Bernice is accepting calls on her cell at 516-435-5060.

Good night all,
love, Merwin