Day 123 - A Blonde Moment?

This morning saw the trip to the hairdressers, and the picture on the left is the result. CLEO's hair was beautifully lightened and cut, and I am sure she feels much better as a result. We had one slight wobble beforehand, in that because one effect of her stroke has been to make her slightly less confident than she was before, there was a moment when she really didn't want to go, because she worries about having to deal with people whom she doesn't know well if she is on her own. However, she faced that hurdle like all the others of late, and once that was done she was fine.

It is a common enough response in stroke victims to become confused at things which would normally present no problem, such as sequencing (the placing of a list of tasks or ideas in order, such as the individual actions that make a cup of tea) or speech, reading, writing or number comprehension. Unfamiliar situations or stress can highlight these even more, and lead to very emotional responses. Luckily cleo retains her lucidity and ability to think in an ordered way, albeit slightly slower than before, and with a little less confidence. Others of course are not so lucky. As can be seen from the picture she looks remarkably well considering that she had a major stroke some four months ago.

After we got cleo home from the hairdressers Melanie the physio arrived and spent a good hour working on manipulating cleo's hand and wrist. She is patient and careful, and now that she understands the need to keep cleo's arm, hand and wrist supple she will manage that part of the treatment well, I am sure. She has promised to come every day (until she goes on holiday at the end of next week!) but then we will only have a few days before seeing James again, when I can fill in if needs be. Furthermore she has also made a referral to a different care team, known as "D.A.R.T"., which deals more specifically with stroke and disability problems, and which is a longer term prospect than the home care or "C.A.R.T." team who are provided as a short term rehab facility only. We should be contacted by their own physio, called Emma, next week.

Now we seem to be getting through to the healthcare people we need, and while it has taken some time, I am pleased that we are making that progress through the mire that is the NHS with all its bureaucracy and form filling, which seems in many ways, to needlessly consume the time of those charged with helping the patient.

I have to say I like cleos hair that colour. In the past she has been, at my suggestion, bleached white, but this is more natural, and far more healthy for her hair and scalp. The cut is good too, and she intends growing a little more length into it over the next few months. Results should be good, in my view.