Back to the ER

Bandage with a numbing agent applied to the head wound.

Super glue in lieu of sutures. Works for me!

Lisbeth's helper Karen keeping watch, waiting for the wheelchair to take Lisbeth out to the car.

Brave and beautiful Lisbeth.

"Chadder" cheese soothes all ills...

Milkweed agrees.

I was working in my studio on some paintings about Lisbeth's last trip to the ER when her one-on-one helper called to tell me that Lisbeth had just had another bad fall during a seizure. I quickly yanked off my painting apron and told them I'd meet them at the ER. Evidently Lis had one of her "no warning" grand mal seizures where she goes down like a felled tree. These are the worst - no bending at the knees, no initial crying out, just BOOM. Straight down. She and her helper were in the kitchen about to make some banana bread, when Lis crashed into the refrigerator door, face first.
She's banged up but OK. Breaks my heart what she endures.

Lisbeth & Milkweed

Now We Wait

Lisbeth in a staring seizure...

Dad waiting for the window of opportunity to administer 1 mg Ativan...

Kneeling at the Altar of Patience...

We finally did get it into her, so now she will rest and hopefully clear up...

Lisbeth's Milkweed Shrine table...

Garry and I saw Lisbeth's psychiatrist last night, then brought the orders over to Lisbeth's staff at her house. While there, we helped to give Lisbeth an Ativan for staring seizures. We are stopping the Benadryl, and starting a slow decrease of the Risperdol. We will wait and see what happens. If her rage attacks recur, we spoke about the possibility of trying another anti-psychotic once Lisbeth is off Risperdol, one that does not cause EPS: Seroquel.

Sigh.

To quote Lis, Hard to know...

Team Work

Holly Spence, Lisbeth's house manager, checks Lisbeth's schedule, while Heather D'Alessio, one of Lisbeth's helpers, looks at the calendar.

Heather D'Alessio, and Duane Hinds, Lisbeth's case manager from Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Christina Hinds, Lisbeth's case manager from Independence Association, makes notes about Lisbeth's goal list. Milkweed oversees the meeting...

Lisbeth and her Dad. Lisbeth looks forward to her quarterly meetings, and gives her input.

Quarterly meeting is over. Now it is time to go to see The Meeting Doctor (Lis-ism for therapist).

This morning we had Lisbeth's quarterly meeting. Representatives from Independence Association and Maine Department of Health and Human Services attend these meetings along with Lisbeth, Garry and I. We check in about how things are going for Lis at her house, we share our ideas and concerns, and set goals. We are currently working on creating more of a routine for Lisbeth, which is always a challenge with the ups and downs caused by her uncontrolled seizures. But we are looking at things that she already loves to do and turning them into planned weekly activities. Lis loves to bake, so she will be baking items one day a week and delivering them to the IA office for the help there to enjoy. There are weekly potlucks for IA residents, and Lis will be making a salad one day a week for these events. We are re-exploring the possibility of a small part-time job in the community - perhaps one hour a week. Lisbeth actually attended an IA dance last Friday! This is a big step - she has alot of social anxiety. There are monthly dances, and it would be great if she could attend more of them. She loves to buy new clothes, so a motivating factor would be to shop for a new outfit each month to wear to the dances (and she can afford it with her sales in her Etsy shop! :^) Lisbeth is in need of more socialization, yet it is very difficult to get her to do things because of her anxiety. We have to introduce things gradually. And nothing is ever set in cement. Go with the flow and know when to let go. If it works on some days, terrific. If it doesn't, that's OK, too. Tomorrow is always another day.