California Update 13th January

written the 12th with more update below from the 13th

Dear all,

Well in two days a lot has been accomplished but I will just give highlights. I am using Graham's laptop computer and it is hard to type on this little keyboard. I hope to borrow an ergonomic one to make it easier on myself. The computer was very kindly donated and given to him by one of his colleagues at Clio who got a newer one. I can tell you though, this one is very new to me! Thank you very much Regina!

The internet connection in Graham's room will be set up on Monday, again thanks to Clio friends. Also the Voice Activated Software is being purchased by them today so that it will all be ready for Graham to re-learn the skills he had in England with the computer. We also are getting him a large roller ball mouse. I don't know how soon, but Graham will be writing to you all himself in the near future.

Yesterday Craig and I went to the apartment complex to see Flora and find out about his new 2 bedroom place. It is in the same little group of apartments, just below and across -- apartment A. It is easy access from the parking lot and into the door. On the 17th some folks from rehab are coming to measure his chair and the doorways of the new place and see what modifications need to be made. The kitchen can stay the same as Graham can't use his hands and thus a caregiver will be providing his meals. The bathroom will have the tub removed and the floor and walls all tiled so that he can be rolled into the room for a shower in this special shower chair. The doors will be removed and special floors put in that will make it easy for him to get from place to place. Flora, the manager of the apartments, is really keen to have him there and they are doing whatever is necessary to make sure it is ready for him. In fact, it could be ready for him to move in on the 1st of March. The previous tenants are moving out mid-February.

Graham and I are going over to Rehab Inst. of Santa Barbara (RISB) for a tour and a chat. They will assess him and he will probably go there for 2 weeks of intensive therapy to prepare him for moving to his own apartment. We are busy trying to locate caregivers now. He will have one who lives in and others who come in the day to give him a hand.

We have rented the storage space until the end of April for now and he can make decisions about what he is going to keep and put into his new place and what he will have to let go of.

Graham is really very capable in his new powered chair. It is a very fancy machine that turns on a dime and lets him tip himself into different positions so that he can relieve pressure on his body. Once he is out of bed he seems to be much happier because he can move around the facility as he wishes.

Graham has regular visits from people here so that hardly ever does a day go by without one or two visitors.

I am being well cared for by Marj and Jim Friestad (thanks to you both) again. Also, Craig has been coming by to the center as he is currently underemployed. He has been very helpful as we start this transition period. Thanks, Craig.

Graham's television is great. Big screen and can play both videos and DVDs. This was a gift from Ron at Clio when Graham first arrived.

Graham has a lovely memo board at the foot of his bed which is filled with cards and pictures and must give him comfort when he is lying in bed.

That's it -- short update but with lots of info. There is a lot to do in the next 10 days.

update on 13th January

We had a meeting with some special helpful people yesterday who are with the California State Department of Rehabilitation and the Indepdendent Learning Resource Centre. They will be people who will help Graham to get into the new apartment and it be all set up properly for him. They will also help to find him some financial help to pay for some of the stuff he needs. They can help find caregivers as well. This was, of course, excellent news. I see them doing what I would do if I stayed here, only doing it better as they know the system! It was a great relief to meet Susan and Carol. They really know how to get things done. They were very reassuring in saying that Graham will be able to cope, as others have done so, and they will help him every way they can.

Craig and I went and talked to Flora the apartment manager as I mentioned before, and they are already talking about how they will modify the new apartment so that it meets Graham's needs. The floor will be covered with industrial carpet, easy for his powered chair to get around but also warmer than tiles or linoleum. Graham has said he might take the living room as his bedroom/main room and have one bedroom for his study and the other for his caregiver. This makes a lot of good sense. He will be able to have some of his beloved books with him, but I have suggested he consider that the dust they will collect would be difficult for him to deal with -- both in terms of cleaning and also in that he can't sneeze and help himself! There are lots of other things he has in storage as well, so I think he will have to consider a cull in the near future. One day at a time, of course.

I have been writing post cards for Graham, sorting out some of the worries he has, finding things and so forth. By the end of the day we are both very tired!

We have arranged for him to go to Church on Sunday. I will go to BVCC at 8:30 a.m. to make sure he is ready by 9. The van will come and get him at 9 for church at 9:30 and will collect us again at 12 to go back to the center. I think it is important that he get to church again. It does not seem all that great a distance actually so that when he is more confident and used to his chair, we all think he will be able to roll there without use of a van.

OK, enough for now -- I need to get myself ready to go there again.

Have a good day everyone.
Kind regards,
Linda