Update #18 on Peter

Today is a big holiday in Taiwan. It is the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival. The church our family helps with is hosting a community BBQ and movies/cartoons and I need to head over to the party in just a few minutes. It will probably run late so I’ll take a few minutes now to give an update on Peter’s progress today.

He is speaking more clearly each day. Since he has been out of ICU, I believe he is improving by 50% to 75% each day over the day before. He is saying fewer unintentional funny things… but more intentionally funny things and that is great.

For example… while Peter’s dad and friend, Roming, were feeding Peter some breakfast, Roming was using chopsticks to feed Peter. Peter held up both hands and waved them around a little and said, “Bam! Look at this! I can feed myself with chopsticks without using my hands!”

When he looked at all the pillows on his bed, Peter said, “I must be the pillow king or something.”

Peter fed himself at lunch with a spoon with the tray in front of him. He held the spoon in his left hand which is great. He is left handed, but his left arm is *very* sore and not as coordinated as the right yet. He held the rice bowl to his lips with his right hand and shoveled the rice with the spoon in his left. Perfect form!

Peter sat in a chair and looked out the window and asked questions about where he was. He did ask if he was in Yonghe (he is).

Peter talked about his former roommate Derek and wondered what Derek has been up to lately. Derek, maybe you can email me with some things to tell him? He isn’t sure if you are in Taiwan or in America right now.

Peter is doing much better at verbalizing his needs… like when he has to go to the bathroom, when he is thirsty, when he is tired, when he is full, etc.

Peter remembers details of things that don’t seem very significant. For example, he remembered a set of chopsticks his friend Christy used today. She had forgotten them at Peter’s house for a while and he recognized them. Remembering these insignificant things, is actually a significant step in learning what he can recall from the past. You’d expect he would know important things, but maybe not things like the chopsticks.

He is now on some medicine that will hopefully help control Peter’s dizziness. He still asks if he is on a boat.

I have to run, but I’ll leave you with this… when Peter had to get to the bathroom with his IV attached (it isn’t attached all the time) it took 3 of us to help him get there. As we arrived at the toilet, Peter said, “Why would anyone go to the bathroom alone when you can go with 3 of your friends?”