And he needs to learn as much as he can about how to recover after his brain 
injury. He'll be home when he's ready. But now he needs to work hard, and 
rest a lot too.

Peggy



-----Original Message----- 
From: Phil Scovell
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 10:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Grandson Report #14

I went with Gretchen, and Big Everett met us up there tonight.  Little
Everett was playing basketball with his nurse, a female, in the gym when we
got there.  We had a plan as a family we talked over with the nurse and she
was very helpful and agreeable.  Sandy and I told Gretchen she had to stop
sleeping all night up there.  He is well enough, and old enough, to sleep on
his own but he is scared.  No, he won't admit it but as we talked it through
with him tonight, he began to cry.  Crying, I learned a long time ago, is ok
and even medical science has figured out crying is good for a person when
needed.  I told little Everett about my experience being alone as an 11 year
old and they didn't allow family members to stay with kids back then.
Little Ev was wearing some glasses tonight, one side covered, to try and
force his double vision back to centered vision.  No, it isn't known yet how
that will turn out so it is something to continue to pray about.  Of course,
violent blows to the head resulting in brain damage can even cause a retina
to detach.  Normally double vision isn't conducive to double vision as a
side effect but it isn't all that uncommon either.  I saw a frightened
little boy there tonight.  The routines they put him through today seemed
largely classroom school work to find out where he is as far as cognitive
thought and puzzle solving is concerned.  I reminded him, although this
probably didn't help, he was never alone even if his family wasn't right
there with him.  He has been wearing an I D ankle bracelet because they
consider him to be a flight risk.  He's been trying to call his friends to
come and pick him up.  He isn't violent but they said he is highly
demanding, swearing and cursing at times, to some of his family and hospital
staff when he gets tired or afraid; like staying alone this first night.  He
keeps saying he just wants to come home and get well there.  He said
tonight, "I don't know when I'll get to come home."  I said, "Everett, I was
in the hospital for 6 months and I never knew what I was coming home and I
was just 11.  He knows he won't have to stay long but we keep telling him,
he needs to know he is safe when he does come home and we need to know our
responsibilities then, too, to help him remain safe.

Phil.