Merriner Family Blog

We are sorry to inform you that this will be the final posting to this site.  The reason is simple, but not one that we wish to discuss here. We do wish to thank all of you who have used this forum to follow Pam’s progress. Margaret and I appreciate your love and concern for her more than you could know.  Pam continues to remain stable and our decision to discontinue the postings has nothing to do with her condition. If you have been praying for her, please continue to do so.   RICHARD AND MARGARET

Pam was dressed in a Green and White MSU Spartan outfit today.  Nurse Debbie said that Pam opened her eyes while they were doing range of motion today.  We always like to hear those things.  We spent time with Pam while waiting for Ron to arrive, which he did, with two new Student Assistants, Derek and Jenna.  They all worked together, with Debbie’s assistance, in putting Pam through the paces…sitting, leaning, standing, etc.  Pam got a good workout today.

After Church we went to visit Pam.  She looked good and was attentive.  At one point, while Mom was holding her hand, Pam squeezed one of her mother’s fingers so tight that Mom had difficulty getting loose, and Mom’s finger was left red and hurting all the way into the knuckle.  Mom didn’t mind,though.  Of course Pam didn’t mean to hurt her; and we’re happy that she has so much strength in that hand and arm.

Just think, one week of the new year is already past.  Where is the time going?  We’re sure you’ve asked yourself that question before.  Pam was doing fine today when we arrived.  She seemed attentive as we talked, sang and prayed with her.  We can not know for certain how much she comprehends, since we have no verbal feed-back, but we sense that she “gets” a lot of what’s going on around her.  And we’ll keep thinking that until she can respond and tell us herself.

We visited with Pam today, but anything we’d say about how good she looked and acted would be redundant.

Pam had a doctor’s appointment today, so we did not visit her.  David said all went well with that.

After a couple of hours working at the “He Cares, We Care” today, we went to visit Pam.  She was very calm and quiet.  Ron arrived and did some right arm rotations.  While working with her left arm, Pam held up her right arm high and held it there for a short period.  He also did some neck relaxing procedures on her and she seemed to truly enjoy that.  Sitting her up, he leaned her from right to left and back and forth.  Then he had her standing on her feet.  It was a very good workout and a very good day.

During our visit today, we (Mom and Dad) noticed a subtle but definite difference in Pam’s appearance and demeanor than what we had been seeing in the recent past.  Today as Mom talked to her, Pam smiled and otherwise had a very pleasant look about her.  She seemed to listen to every word spoken and to the songs Mom sang to her.  She was definitely different, in a good way, but it is difficult to explain how.  We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent with her.

Pam was again having a good day today.  A couple of times as we talked and sang to her, we would notice a smile on her face.  Twice, when Mom was talking to her, Pam just lifted her right elbow and arm an inch or two in the air.  It was like she was saying “See, I can do what Ron has been asking me to do.”  We rejoice in seeing her act with intention that way.

Pam went on an outing today with her immediate family, David’s parents, David’s paternal grandmother, us and Pastor and Wanda Napier.  We’re certain she was happy to get away for a while from her daily routine.  She seemed quite pleased.