It seems like it’s been such a long day, but I think part of that is simply how long it’s been since I’ve been in my own room. The specialist that Dr. Laurie had consulted didn’t see anything on my MRI scans that needed immediate rescanning, which was a relief. They still need to compare it to past scans and see if they can find what might have caused my loss of balance, but that’ll take time and doesn’t require me to remain monitored. I still had to complete another session of physical therapy. Mostly they wanted to make sure I knew how to do things correctly, that way I could do them on my own here at home.
Physical therapy didn’t happen until after lunch because Dr. Laurie wasn’t able to meet with Mom and I until 10:30, so I wasn’t able to leave as soon as I’d like. That said, I ran into the missing hiker at the cafeteria. At first I didn’t know it was him, but he seemed familiar. He must have thought the same, because he approached me and asked if he’d seen me at the museum. I admitted that I was a cashier there. Turns out he’s an intern from the University in the Anthropology department. His name is Halvis, Hal, and after I asked about why he was here, that’s when I learned he was the missing hiker. That certainly explained his appearance, and why he was dragging an IV bag around with him. We weren’t able to talk for long, ‘cause I had my therapy session, but he promised to bump into me at the museum some time.
And while I was at therapy, Sam showed up looking for me interestingly enough. He waited patiently for me, and at first I wasn’t aware that he was there. Once I did notice him I started looking around for Candace and was confused that I couldn’t find her. It wasn’t until I was finishing up and gathering my stuff that he approached me, asking if I could stop by Candace’s room and spend some time with her. I told him I was being released, but he insisted and explained that I had been a relaxing influence on her. I promised I’d stop by, but I couldn’t stay.
So before we actually left, I made sure to stop by Candace’s room. Sam was right, she needed some calming, she was irate when I got there. I guess staying in the hospital was taking it’s toll on her too. When I got there she ordered Sam and the nurses out, then greeting me warmly she apologized for her behavior.
Candace is definitely a puzzle. There’s a warmth in her, a concern for others that I recognized while we were talking in the cafeteria yesterday. Some of the topic’s I’d brought up certainly caused her concern for how people have been treated in the past. And even looking around at the other patients at the hospital, she often smiled at those whose gaze would wander our way. It was a warm and genuine smile, and it always received a smile in return. But then when I catch her in her room, or like at the therapy session when I first saw her, she has this petulant side to her that seems so childish. She treats Sam like dirt, and the nurses for that matter. I have to wonder what her relationship with her husband had been like, or if she was like that only now with her amnesia. Maybe it was just being cooped up in her hospital room, I don’t know. I know I was getting testy myself and wanted to get home.
I asked how she was doing, and she said she wanted out. I probed a little bit and found that it wasn’t like she wanted to leave, as much as she wanted to be outside. She was actually kind of scared of leaving, and mentioned that the doctors were only waiting to get a scan of her brain before they released her. Turns out she was waiting on the MRI machine that I had been scheduled for. I let her know that I was leaving today, and that seemed to sour her mood. She asked me to visit her, but I told her that I had work and life to get back to. I wasn’t sure I’d have the time. She then shooed me out almost like she had Sam.
Outside her room, Sam caught me and thanked me for stopping by. I mentioned that some fresh air would probably do her some good, that she really just wanted to get outside. He said that made sense, and I would have asked about it, but I was really starting to run short on time. Sam knew I was leaving, but he asked if he could get in touch with me later. He said that I had been very helpful, and that with her amnesia, he didn’t know who he could contact of her friends or family. He asked if I’d be willing to visit after she had been released.
He was right, and I knew it as soon as I heard him say it. Between the doctors, and her in-laws, she didn’t have anything. I told him I work, but that on my days off once in awhile it might be nice to get to know her. So we swapped numbers and he promised to text me to let me know how she was doing. I said I’d let him know when I have a day free, and we could make plans for then.
I do hope she is released soon. Maybe familiar surroundings might help, with her attitude at least if not her memory. It’s not late, but being home I find myself just wanting to sleep. Mom said she’d been in contact with my boss at the museum and let him know what was going on. I’ll need to call in tomorrow, but since there’s not much in the way of physical requirements, I should be able to return to work soon. Dr. Laurie did make sure to give me a note to turn in, dating it through tomorrow so I can spend a day at home before going back to work. If I have my way I’ll sleep the entire day, maybe get up for a banana split or something. His instructions though for work are to take it easy, and if I need to take a break I should. Keep the stress low for a few days. I’ll have to keep that in mind.
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