Monday's News...

This continued warm, late fall weather is absolutely awesome.
As the sun shines greatly the past few days, it seems the reds are redder, the burnt oranges are oranger, and the yellows are yellower on the leaves of the trees. The foliage is stunning as you drive throughout Massachusetts.

We said 'aloha' to Oma and Opa as they left us yesterday to head back west to their home in upper New York. Again, it was such a sweet and fun time that we all had together. Sunday was spent with Mom enveloped by all of her children and grandchildren, with the exception of the Hawaii grandkids, watching football and playing Scrabble in the lounge. We washed Mom's hair again, and to give you an idea of how much stronger she is, she now blow dries and combs her hair herself.  She had no 'formal' therapy at all yesterday, but sitting up, watching and conversing with all of us, definitely proves beneficial to her healing....and makes her happy!

She bid adieu to Ray this morning as he was able to stop in and spend an hour or so with her, showing her pictures of the foliage that he took, and talking with her about the next phase in her journey. Ray has done an unbelievable job here, overseeing all the financial, medical, and coordination of information, along with documenting everything via photos for all of us to see. He arrives in San Diego late Monday and will drive up to see Auntie Wendy tomorrow, where he has already scheduled a 'dim sum' meal with her. :)

As for therapy today, once again, we are thrilled with the progression of exercises that the therapist challenge her with. After getting ready this morning, Mom did minutes of arm exercises to increase her upper strength. She moved right into group therapy, where in a circle of fellow patients, they worked on arm and leg strength exercises. Lunch quickly followed, and just when she thought she could catch a couple of zzzzzzzzzzz's, Kristin from Physical Therapy, challenged her one last time for the day - physically. With only a belt around her waist, Mom walked from her 2nd floor bedroom, to downstairs and out the back door to her parked car, where they practiced Mom getting in and out of a car. She finished this incredible task by walking back to the building, on concrete, and then on to grass, to practice the change in terraine. Not once did Mom stumble! And though she had moments of doubt, she never gave up, nor even thought of it. She was completely exhausted by the time she was brought back to her room in her wheelchair and was able to sleep for 50 minutes, until, ding!, the speech therapist came in to work with her on sequence questions and do a bedside swallow test. At this time, Mom will continue to eat pureed food, until her interest peeks and she chews and swallows her food immediately.


A word from Ramona:


"Thank God for all those who trust the Lord, and who trust the decision that I made, in staying here and allowing God to heal me. I hope I feel better when I see you all in person. Thank you for all your wishes, and all your prayers".


"At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and i in you.
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." John 14:20 - 21.


"You are My treasure. I delight in you when, and only when, you are fully yielded to Me with no thoughts of personal ambition or achievement. If you wish for anything, wish for more of My nearness. If you long after anything, long after more of My righteousness and more of My love. I will not occupy second place, and My Spirit will leave an impure vessel. Just as sin has no place in heaven, I will not dwell in peace in a heart that harbors evil." An excerpt from Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts.