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Journal – April 2018
What shall I say about Donna for this month of April, 2018? There is very little change. Donna has remained reasonably stable since Christmas. Four months with little noticeable decrease in her abilities, while some of her co-residents have significantly declined over that same period. Like those of previous years, this past winter has seen a large change-over – old residents passing, and new residents coming in. When I walk the halls and try to recall those that are still here that have been here since Donna came in 2015, I see very few – probably no more than three of the twenty-nine in Special Care West. Marilyn, one of the three musketeers who patrolled the halls with Sue and Donna, just a short two years ago – full of life and laugher – has just passed. |
DONNA'S
STORY 
Donna with my Sister Sandy
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Today, Donna spends most of her waking hours in ‘Donna’s World’. She comes alive whenever I visit and whenever others visit; always happy, always ready to talk to everyone who will stop to say hello. But it now needs a constant effort on my part to keep her interested in my world. If I stop paying direct attention to her or stop talking to her, she will almost immediately drift back into her world, stare straight ahead, not really seeing or focusing on things in our world. She’ll start working her hands in a kind of rhythm, almost certainly responding to some music in her soul. She may occasionally be heard as she begins to sing a song, sometimes one that I can partially recognize.
She still recognizes me, knows my name, and has lots to tell me on my arrival. We talk, but those moments will be very brief where we understand each other. I go through the motions. She speaks, voicing earnest thoughts that I, and others, can only rarely interpret. Fortunately, that doesn’t appear to worry her. She just carries on talking, only sometimes getting exasperated that you don't seem to be with her.
Moments when we can hug each other sometime occur, and I still see some true affection between us. She still likes her three kisses. And, as I said in February’s journal, there are even rare times when she will put her arms around me, look up with a sparkle in her eyes, and tell me she loves me. Just last week she added that she is planning to ‘take care of me’.
Donna and I went on one of the bus ‘outings’ this past month. It was only a short trip around our area lasting for about two hours. However, Donna wasn’t at all comfortable on the bus, kept telling the driver to slow down. She didn’t really enjoy the ride and was happy to get back home to the environment she recognized. I don’t think we’ll do another one.
Donna still enjoys her Wednesdays at ‘Pub Night’ in the Town Hall and occasionally even gets up to dance for a few minutes. At these times she is in heaven, with extreme joy on her face – either dancing with me or Elva. But that hour in the Town Hall is becoming quite exhausting for her (and for me too, these days) and I am beginning to foresee a time when those events will cease.
I haven’t much more to add for this month. April’s showers will bring May’s flowers.
She still recognizes me, knows my name, and has lots to tell me on my arrival. We talk, but those moments will be very brief where we understand each other. I go through the motions. She speaks, voicing earnest thoughts that I, and others, can only rarely interpret. Fortunately, that doesn’t appear to worry her. She just carries on talking, only sometimes getting exasperated that you don't seem to be with her.
Moments when we can hug each other sometime occur, and I still see some true affection between us. She still likes her three kisses. And, as I said in February’s journal, there are even rare times when she will put her arms around me, look up with a sparkle in her eyes, and tell me she loves me. Just last week she added that she is planning to ‘take care of me’.
Donna and I went on one of the bus ‘outings’ this past month. It was only a short trip around our area lasting for about two hours. However, Donna wasn’t at all comfortable on the bus, kept telling the driver to slow down. She didn’t really enjoy the ride and was happy to get back home to the environment she recognized. I don’t think we’ll do another one.
Donna still enjoys her Wednesdays at ‘Pub Night’ in the Town Hall and occasionally even gets up to dance for a few minutes. At these times she is in heaven, with extreme joy on her face – either dancing with me or Elva. But that hour in the Town Hall is becoming quite exhausting for her (and for me too, these days) and I am beginning to foresee a time when those events will cease.
I haven’t much more to add for this month. April’s showers will bring May’s flowers.
