Mrs._Paladin wrote on 05/05/10 at 21:47:31:Went and visited him today. My daughter and I took over pictures for him too look through. Of our cars, dogs and his beloved Thumper. He perked up when he saw his thumper. He couldn't pronounce what it was initially. I handed him a pad of paper and he wrote down the names of our Jack Russell Terriers. He couldn't pronounce them, but knew how to write them down. Later on, he wrote "Thumper". But he became agitated because he couldn't remember Suzuki Savage.
Again he recognized our youngest daughter. But he couldn't remember her name. And he knew that calling her our oldest daughter's name was a mistake.
The speech therapist came by and did some exercises with him. He recognized a dollar bill. Couldn't pronounce it, but knew it was worth more than the quarter she held up. Later on, I showed him a South Dakota state quarter and he looked at it and said the word "Southern". He also knew that it was different from your run of the mill quarter.
When my brother-in-law came by, Mike first called him Doug. But later, called him Dan, which is his name. Dan visited him for half and hour and could see Mike making improvements. It's just going to take time.
It's alright, Mrs. Paladin (sorry I have to keep on calling you like this, it's the only name I know)
Ask Paladin if he remembers meeting a couple from Italy in July 2008, shortly after 4th jyuly, at Michael (Verslagen's) place.
That was my wife and I, and our 10-y.o. boy. He's 12 now.
We all had burgers, Paladin and Verslagen had a ride in the neighborhood swapping bikes, then we all went to the local racetrack to see Michael's brother race in the 1/4mile oval
(Or maybe Paladin had already left by then)
Whichever, we have a picture of my wife sitting astride Paladin's thumper, and another one of the three of us with the two bikes.
I had no bike, had flown across from Italy to visit California, so I had a rental car (Dodge Durango)
I remember he showed me how to make a clamp-on stand for a cheap digital camera and record his rides.
If you (or Verslagen) can find that picture, see if he remembers anything, Verslagen to say the least.
If he can read, find his favorite boyhood novels, be it Tom Sawyer or Robin Hood or Treasure Island or whatever.
The language and vocabulary are easier than "grown-up" novels and the stories are actually more exciting to read.
Also, fish out all the nice pics from places he visited, that should help remember things.
His brain is alright, really, let's simply say that a few wires got crossed and now he has to -literally- learn to rewire everything.
It's like rehabilitation after major surgery, you start very slowly, and progress improves as it goes on.
Just don't worry, and most of all explain to him that it's just a bunch of brain cabling that got crosswired - with his job, he should understand the principle.
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