Page 12: Getting Ready for Visitors
December 13, 2011 Leave a comment
It had been a week since Joe was admitted to the psychiatric unit at Mayo Clinic. There was no improvement in Joe’s memory. He still did not recognize Christa. His father, John, came to visit only once as he couldn’t bear to see his son this way.
Christa, on the other hand, came every day to visit Joe, and every day she brought pictures of Joe and their family. Christa had taken lots of photos throughout the years, taking great care in placing them in albums, chronologically sorting every image with a date and title. Every birthday, every holiday, every happy event.
Today she brought pictures of Joe’s sister, Sharon, and his brother, Don. They were both coming to visit today, so Christa wanted to show Joe who they were. If they could at least be somewhat recognizable to Joe by the time they came, it would be less uncomfortable for Sharon and Don and maybe they would come and visit again.
Christa came into Joe’s room, “Hi, Joey. How are you today? It’s Momma…do you remember who I am?”
No response from Joe. It was apparent that he didn’t remember. Every day was the same. Christa would open up the photo album, “See, here I am holding you when you were a baby. Here’s your first birthday. Oh, and look it here, this is you and your dad with your first car.”
Joe just looked at the pictures and every time Christa asked if he remembered, he either didn’t respond or he would shake his head no.
Christa had just finished showing him pictures of Sharon and Don, explaining to him who they were, when they walked in the room.
Facts: Christa would bring photos in to help Joe remember who people were.
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