PenDell has started reading this blog. He reads a bit and then he becomes so full with the love and surround that he feels from your comments that he has to stop for a bit and just let it in.

This man is amazing. I knew that already but he is confirming it day in and day out. His brain is still pretty confused and giving him information in a scrambled way. Now that he is present enough to realize that this is the case, he approaches everything he does deliberately. He speaks aloud each move that he needs to make so that his mind stays focused on the task at hand and doesn’t take him on a wild goose chase into a maze of thoughts that can end up taking a while to get out of.

He is so close, so very close, to being able to walk with the walker safely. He is focused on where to use his energy so that he is sure to use it in ways that adds to his healing, that moves him forward.

We had a perfect Thanksgiving day. My sister, Judy, and her husband flew in from San Diego to surround us and to be sure that we had a strong day. I reserved a small kitchen in the facility. Judy brought flowers, pies, wine and love. Erin came and brought one of her best friends since high school who had no family to be with, Evan and Isabel came in from the east coast. We talked and laughed and ate and loved each other all afternoon and into the evening. PenDell was so uplifted that he carried on with us with no break. He just didn’t want to be away from anyone. He has said every day since then that Thanksgiving was a perfect day.

The Saturday following Thanksgiving, Keith and Lorraine Fairmont and I hosted an engagement party for Evan and Isabel. Ann Foorman came to be with PenDell so that I could feel comfortable leaving PenDell for several hours. It was a simple, elegant event. PenDell said that he could feel the beautiful energy even though he was remote.

He is constantly grateful. He speaks about how uplifting all of the staff are. He thanks everyone for anything that they offer to him or provide for him.

His Speech Therapist gave him vocal exercises that have caused him to remember some of what he used to teach many of us about breath and vocal placement! I have worked with him some as well… definitely the student becoming the teacher! Every now and then, I hear his voice coming back. I love that sound.

We go for his second Chemo infusion on Friday. He will still be a patient here so transportation will be through the hospital.

We meet his neurologist on December 14th.

I have learned and am learning so much about what we need to do to care for him going forward!

We learned today that we have a discharge date! December 11th! We are both nervous and excited all at once! He gains so much each day so it is challenging to know what modifications I need to have done at the house. However, there are some definite steps that I can start with and then we will go from there!

He is filled with wonder, gratitude, love and he says to me every day that he is happy.

I am so very, very grateful in this journey. Each step has called something in me, through me, from me. We certainly aren’t done, in fact, we shall see what is in store. My heart is so full because of each of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!