The colour purple
We spent a peaceful night and a quiet day together at home; pretty much just the two of us. Raquel did show up for 3 hours, and I so I finished grading late assignments and posted grades for my courses while Gilly was being cared for. I felt sort of queasy all day; probably from all the rich food I ate over the long weekend. I rested on the couch and read next semester’s textbook all afternoon.
Gilly was rather wakeful today. He was up at 9:00, and did his share of eating all morning long. He slept the afternoon away in his chair, woke for dinner and returned to bed in the early evening.
Raquel called me into the living room this morning to show me Gilly’s right foot. His toes were totally purple on the bottom. I found it awfully strange, and hoped I hadn’t injured him somehow without noticing it. His right foot does not move unless I move it for him, so it often gets tangled up with his left when he is being transferred. It’s hard to bend down to reposition his leg while holding him in a standing position, because he could fall very easily. Raquel rubbed some cream on the purple area and his foot returned to its normal colour. I mentioned this to Daniel when he came to bathe Gilly later one and he said that most of his patients have purple feet in the morning, and with a little cream application it goes away. He admitted that it’s normal, but really very abnormal. I assume it has to do with circulation. I will mention this to Josee-Marie when she comes tomorrow morning to make certain that there is nothing I can do to prevent this from occurring.
Yaron stayed home to allow me some time out with Joey and Susie. We saw a fabulous movie (The Pursuit of Happyness) and then went for coffee with their friends. My evenings out are guilt-free; Gilly sleeps regardless, so he does not feel abandoned, and I have some much needed escape. It always feels bizarre to move out into the real world these days. I continually look around as if I’m an alien from another planet.
Being off of work really isolates me from everyday life. I’m not complaining, though. I am free to spend all the time I wish (which is a great deal) staring at Gilly while he naps. I can’t seem to get enough of that, yet it’s too much, which is why evening outings rejuvenate me as much as they do.
I would give anything to have a window into Gilly’s thoughts. He’s less and less communicative everyday. He rarely emits any sound whatsoever, except in response to people on the telephone. It is such a quiet response that the person on the other end hardly hears it, and does not have the facial cues to testify that he is truly responding expressively. This is extremely difficult for loved ones in far off places.
Gilly was rather wakeful today. He was up at 9:00, and did his share of eating all morning long. He slept the afternoon away in his chair, woke for dinner and returned to bed in the early evening.
Raquel called me into the living room this morning to show me Gilly’s right foot. His toes were totally purple on the bottom. I found it awfully strange, and hoped I hadn’t injured him somehow without noticing it. His right foot does not move unless I move it for him, so it often gets tangled up with his left when he is being transferred. It’s hard to bend down to reposition his leg while holding him in a standing position, because he could fall very easily. Raquel rubbed some cream on the purple area and his foot returned to its normal colour. I mentioned this to Daniel when he came to bathe Gilly later one and he said that most of his patients have purple feet in the morning, and with a little cream application it goes away. He admitted that it’s normal, but really very abnormal. I assume it has to do with circulation. I will mention this to Josee-Marie when she comes tomorrow morning to make certain that there is nothing I can do to prevent this from occurring.
Yaron stayed home to allow me some time out with Joey and Susie. We saw a fabulous movie (The Pursuit of Happyness) and then went for coffee with their friends. My evenings out are guilt-free; Gilly sleeps regardless, so he does not feel abandoned, and I have some much needed escape. It always feels bizarre to move out into the real world these days. I continually look around as if I’m an alien from another planet.
Being off of work really isolates me from everyday life. I’m not complaining, though. I am free to spend all the time I wish (which is a great deal) staring at Gilly while he naps. I can’t seem to get enough of that, yet it’s too much, which is why evening outings rejuvenate me as much as they do.
I would give anything to have a window into Gilly’s thoughts. He’s less and less communicative everyday. He rarely emits any sound whatsoever, except in response to people on the telephone. It is such a quiet response that the person on the other end hardly hears it, and does not have the facial cues to testify that he is truly responding expressively. This is extremely difficult for loved ones in far off places.
posted by Gilly at 11:13 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home