{Karlton Bontrager}

Some of the literature that we’ve been given about traumatic brain injury warns that we should expect inappropriate behavior and vulgarities. It came at us as a surprise, however, when it happened yesterday morning. One of the nurses stayed in the room to chat for a wee bit after helping to lift Karlton higher in bed (NOTE: Here in NZ “bits” come only in “wee” sizes). I mentioned that the day before he had been wanting to go home. She responded by saying something like, “We enjoy having you here with us.” Hearing that, he gave her the finger! We gasped in surprise, but he merely said, “She knew I didn’t mean it.” In the evening when a female friend of his stopped by to visit, he pulled aside the bedsheets and invited her to climb in with him!

Luckily, he’s also evidencing a sense of humor. His left eye continues its almost unblinking stare, and he seldom smiles, so humor seems unexpected, making it all the funnier. When a rugby mate was visiting and I walked into the room, he introduced us. I explained that we had met previously when Karlton was in surgery. His response was, “My condolences to both of you.” The friend added that I’d even been over to his house. Karlton soberly added, “I repeat myself.”

Rhonda is one of the cheeriest nurses on the ward. He named her “Rhonda Honda.” She playfully checked her oxygen saturation rate after she checked his to compare the two. Choy-Lang made a comment about how her saturation rate would be higher if she didn’t engage in certain habits. Karlton picked up on the implied meaning and said, “Too much pot.” Then Rhonda continued with her duties by asking the required questions about time and place. “What’s your name?” she asked. “Pot smoker,” he answered.

So in more and more ways we have our son back. That’s such a blessing! The charge nurse talked to Choy-Lang about the next step: moving to ISIS, the rehabilitation hospital. He told her that the move could take place as early as Friday. Later, the social worked stopped by in to make arrangements to take Choy-Lang and me there on a field trip today.

The move will change our logistics markedly because ISIS is several kilometers away and in a residential area. We may need to take buses to get between there and the town center. Also, restaurants, supermarkets, and the university library won’t be so convenient. But, of course, we’re happy to make those adjustments in support of Karlton.

When I got back from the university yesterday, Karlton was asleep. When he woke up, he opened his eyes. Both eyes. Well, he opened the right one only a wee bit, maybe a quarter of the way. But until then, the right lid had made no response when he opened the left one. And he clearly had been unable to open it at will. But suddenly, that’s changed. During the day it gradually opened more and more until he was opening it about 1/4 of the way. Choy-Lang covered his left eye, and he claimed to be able to see something. This is almost too much to ask for!

Over and over again we have steeled ourselves against hoping for and expecting too much. At some point, we tell ourselves, the progress will slow . . . or maybe even stop. But to date the only hiatus was over the weekend just after Karlton’s third surgery. And now he surges on ahead. We are so grateful for all of you who are supporting us with your prayers, positive thoughts, and energies. You are having a profound effect!