“Okay, I agree that Thomas needs to know. I’ll listen to what you and the doctors have to say, but when I finally tell him, it will have to feel right.
I’ll know when the time is right.”
They all assured her that it would be her call and offered to help in whatever way they could. To that end Emily suggested, “I suggest that we ladies schedule a meeting with Doctor Jensen to get his take on it. He can do the checking with Doctor Freenold. After we get their input, I think that the five of us should meet at least twice a week to develop plans for getting this done. Maybe there are things that can be done to make everything easier.”
She turned to Miriam, “Thank you for letting us be a part of this. I realize that it won’t be easy telling Thomas about yourself, but I firmly believe that it is not only the right thing to do, but will ultimately bring us all together as one big happy family.”
CHAPTER 62
“Well, Thomas, looks like another successful session this morning. If you keep this up, we’re going to have to rewrite the medical journals for the ‘Thomas Mortinson Protocols’.”
Dr. Freenold was referring to the results he had just received on Thomas’s morning session with the Physical Therapists working on his motor skills.
“That’s okay with me, Doctor. I’ll be happy to set new records from here on out. I was surprised, though, when they insisted on sticking to their prescribed exercises. I made a few suggestions like you said, but they told me that they had to stick with the procedures laid out for them.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that. The new discipline that we introduced yesterday only applies to the work done following the Turnwell Convention. The morning exercises are a totally separate part of the rehabilitation process. I should have been specific about that.”
“That’s okay, it’s not a biggie. I was just surprised.”
“Okay then. Let me take a few minutes to explain what we will be doing this afternoon. First of all, I will be participating on the floor for the duration of your Convention treatment. What we will be doing from now on could impact the recoveries of hundreds of future TBI patients and I want to observe every minute of it. Your participation in the decision-making process is now an important part of your rehabilitation. Try not to over exert yourself as we go through the steps. It is normal to want to want to please the Therapists, but I want you to exercise restraint if you are asked to do something that is beyond reason. Your participation is a two-way street. You not only will be expected to make recommendations, but in cases where you can’t improve on the way a step is done, you must also point out why we shouldn’t ask you to do anything that you feel is wrong. Does that make any sense to you?”
“It does. I think I understand what you are saying. The second day when I couldn’t do some of the exercises it was because I was afraid that I would hurt myself if I tried. I didn’t know how to express it at the time except to break down…and that’s what I did.”
“That’s good, but for the future, when you get that feeling, you need to tell us. That will provide an opportunity for us to evaluate that step and either modify it or eliminate it.”
Freenold put Thomas’s file on the table.
“Let’s talk about you for a few minutes.”
“Sure, what do you want to know?”
“Well, for one, I’ve been working with you for a couple of months, now and I never asked you what name you prefer to be called by. Is it Thomas,
Tommie, Tom or something else?”
Tomas cringed, “Definitely not Tommie: I hate that name, it sounds so juvenile. For some reason most people just naturally call me Thomas, so I’m good with that.”
“Okay, another thing I’d like to know has to do with your casual time activities. For instance, do you play golf, bowl, jog or ride a bicycle?”
“Basically, I’m a couch potato. I was very active when I was in high school. I played softball, I bowled and played some soccer. I was pretty good at most of them, but since high school I haven’t done much of anything when it comes to athletics. I lift some weights at least twice a week to keep toned.” He got quiet for a few seconds and added, “I guess I won’t be doing any of that stuff when I get out of here.”
“That’s not the case at all. As long as you avoid activity that could possibly result in a head injury, there is no reason why you can’t be physically and sexually active. Golf, bowling, walking all would be in the safe category. Anything that would involve physical contact or the potential of being struck with an object or falling would be out including soccer, football, baseball, softball, cycling and ice skating,”
“Well, then it doesn’t look as if I’ll be making any sacrifices in that department.” He couldn’t hold back a grin as he asked, “Does that mean that rough sex is out? “
The Doctor broke out laughing. “That’s the first time a TBI patient asked me that. Well, I would go easy on that for a while.”
“I’m just pulling your leg; that’s not my style. What else do you want to know?”
“The next question is rather personal. You don’t have to answer if you don’t wish to, but it would be helpful to me in planning the rest of your rehabilitation.
“Fire away, Doctor.”
“It’s not unusual for adult TBI patients to become very dependent on their family. It comes from the feeling of being out of control that is normal after an accident. The feeling is exacerbated by dependence on the family during the therapy. That being said, have you given any thought to what you will do when you leave here? You will have your fiancé, your foster parents and the volunteer Mrs. Walton, all wanting to play an active role in your post-rehab life. Sometimes this support is overwhelming for patients who have finally broken free of dependent care.”
“No, I haven’t given it any thought, but I see what you’re getting at. I just thought that I’d rest up a month and then get back to work. You know…business as usual. Actually, I would expect that everyone would be glad when that happens. I know this whole thing has been very trying for each of them. It’s sort of taken up their whole lives.”
“Yes, that’s true. Well, if no one has said anything about your post-hospital plans, we’ll just have to wait until it happens. Of course, you will have to have a six month and twelve-month checkup, but I know several very competent
Neurologists out your way that can complete the
Post-Therapy examinations.”
Dr. Freenold took a few minutes to reflect on the discussions so far and followed up with, “So you are certain with regard to your family and friends expectations?”
“No one has said anything so far. They all just want me to be back to normal and put this whole experience behind me.”
“I’m happy to hear that, but promise me that if you see a situation building and don’t know how to deal with it, that you will speak to me immediately. Sometimes a dispassionate view from an outsider is helpful. That goes even after we’re through here and I’m back home.
Agreed?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, Thomas. Well, I think that will do it for now. I’ll see you at the next session this afternoon. We will be concentrating on getting you back on your feet unaided by crutches or a walker. It may not be as easy as it sounds. For some TBI patients the lower extremities pose a special set of difficulties; a loss of muscle strength in the thighs and legs. It has something to do with certain neurons being disrupted and it sometimes takes a period of time to get them back on track. Often, we need to use mild electrolysis to stimulate them back in line. It’s nothing to worry about though because if that is true in your case we’ll know it right away and we’ll take immediate action to correct it. So, I’ll see you in a few hours. In the interim, get some rest.”
“Thanks for the heads-up, Doctor.” “That’s what I’m here for.”
* * *
Dr. Jensen’s office looked cluttered with the extra chairs that an orde
rly brought in from the lounge. They were brought there for a meeting that Emily had requested.
“Do you know what this meeting is about,
Frederick?”
“I haven’t a clue, Arnold. I just know that my secretary got a call from Mrs. Peyton asking for a meeting with us. She said that she, Mrs. Walton and Ms. O’Neil would attend.”
Exactly at noon, the ladies strode into the office.
“Please have a seat, ladies. What can we do for you today?”
Emily began, “We’re here because we have a specific problem that we don’t think we should handle alone. She nodded to Miriam.
Miriam said, “I’ll get right to the point. I am Thomas’s birth mother. I came to Owensburg on a search for my son and discovered, for sure, that it is Thomas. We all believe that he should know about his birth mother, but we realize that with the seriousness of his injury, it is a delicate situation that must be well thought out.”
Dr. Freenold answered, “I sensed that there was more to your involvement than that of just being a volunteer, but I didn’t want to pry. You were right to speak to us. This is a situation that needs to be handled carefully.”
Dr. Jensen asked, “You say that you’re all agreed about telling Thomas about his birth mother.
Does that include your husband, Emily?”
“Oh, yes, definitely. He has agreed to let the three of us work with you to find the best way to do it.”
Dr. Freenold took a sip of water before he commented. “I can’t say that interjecting a personal issue into a TBI rehab program is new to me. I had a case a year ago where the patient’s wife decided to divorce him while he was still in rehabilitation. The patient went into a depressive state and we had to suspend our sessions while he worked with a psychiatric team. It set us back four months. I’m not saying that that will happen with Thomas.
“As luck would have it, he and I had a discussion about personal matters this morning and I find him to be pretty level minded when it comes to his expectations about post-therapy life. At the moment I can’t give you any advice as to how you should approach telling him about Miriam. Obviously, it is an emotionally charged issue that must be handled carefully. I think it would be best if you didn’t do anything at least for a few days. Let me discuss this with Dr. Jensen and have some exploratory conversations with Thomas.”
He saw concern on their faces and added, “Don’t worry, I’ll be very discreet, but I want to get a feel for how he would handle a surprise of this nature.”
Emily assured him, “Louise and Thomas discussed the subject of his birth mother on the day of the accident. He seemed willing to do some exploratory checks with her on the web. When he was a young child, when we asked him if he would want us to adopt him, he said no so that he would be open to someday finding out who his birth mother was. So, I don’t think it would be a total shock to him. He’ll be surprised of course, that’s to be expected, but we believe that he will welcome her with open arms. The fact that it turns out to be Miriam should make it easier for him to accept.”
Freenold looked at Miriam and then back at Emily. “I hope you’re right. In any event, give us a few days to think it over. Let’s meet again at the same time on Friday.”
The ladies looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
* * *
The two doctors sat in Dr. Jensen’s office reflecting on the Miriam Walton news.
“Boy that sure came out of left field. It’s almost like one of those hospital soap operas.”
“Yes, except we don’t have a script to work with. We’re going to have to ad lib the whole process.” Freenold sat back in his chair and took a sip of water. “What’s your take on this?”
“I know that this type of thing is happening a lot these days, what with the States opening up their files, but I don’t have any personal experience with anyone it’s happened to. I realize that once the cat is out of the bag, we’re going have to deal with any repercussions, good or bad. That’s the problem with issues like this. They are deeply emotional and there is no way of knowing on which side of the
Emometer they will fall.”
Emometer? What the hell is that?”
“That’s my word for an emotional gauge that I operate in my mind. The needle sits on zero. Depending on a person’s reaction, the needle will move left if it’s negative and right if it’s positive. The grade either way is from one to one hundred.”
“It sounds like one of those Scientology meters.”
“No, it’s not that complicated. In fact, I’ve used it for nearly thirty years and in the absence of any other scientific tools; my patient files are replete with Emometer notes.”
“That’s the damnedest thing I’ve ever heard; and yet it’s so creative. So, what does your Emometer tell you about how Thomas will react to news of his birth mother?”
“That’s a good question. Of course, this is new to us, but my first thought is that Thomas will react with a positive thirty or forty when he first hears of it and move higher to a seventy or eighty as he assimilates what it will mean in his life.”
“On what do you base your readings?”
“First of all, Thomas’s current mental state is good. Even in the face of defeat with his therapy, he maintained an optimistic attitude. He has accepted our protocols without any resistance, demonstrating his willingness to accept life as it comes along. Apparently, he has exhibited an interest in finding out about his birth mother. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he wants to be in contact with her, but it’s a start. He has developed a friendship, probably even a liking for Miriam Walton, but again that may be only because she is giving of herself to help him get better. How will he react when he finds out? As I said before, I think it will be mildly positive.”
“Interesting. I must say that I concur with most of your analysis. One thing is for sure, those women are going to have their way. Thomas is going to find out about his birth mother and it’s going to happen on our watch. So, we must assure that it is an event that happens under our auspices; no surprises”
“They seem to be amenable to that, or else they wouldn’t have come to us in the first place.”
“That’s a good point.”
“Okay then, do you have any ideas as to how we can go about this? I would like to have a plan that we can present to the family so that we can weave it into our therapy schedule.”
“You know, Arnold, this is a bit alien to our backgrounds. I’m thinking that we should set them up with the resident Psychiatrist. He or she should have a lot more input than you or I would have.”
“You make a good point. Who do we contact?”
“I can handle that part. Let’s you and I determine what we expect them to do and then set up a meeting with the family.”
It took twenty minutes for them to outline their request and another five to set up the meeting.
* * *
The meeting with the Staff Psychiatrist, Dr. Philip Dalton took over two hours. By the time the family left, they felt comfortable with the plan laid out for Miriam to break the news to Thomas. Basically, it called on waiting until Thomas regains control of his motor skills and passes a psychiatric exam. Once the go-ahead is given, the family would be free to approach the subject with Thomas in whatever way they deemed best.
They met in the Family Room to make plans.
Emily spoke first, “Miriam, I think you should take the next visiting time and have a oneon-one with Thomas. Your therapy involvement ended yesterday so it would be natural for you to visit him in his room.”
“I think you’re right. It would give us a chance to get to know each other. I need him to like me as a person before I drop the bombshell on him.”
Louise and Walter nodded in agreement.
“Then it’s settled. The next visitor’s slot is yours.”
It looks as if we’re getting closer to moment of truth.
CHAPTER 63
After Marge Nelson took attendance, Peter
Westlake introduced their new Council member, David Cooke who was the owner of the town’s most fashionable restaurant. David joined the Council to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Wendell Philips at Tiecher Park. Before getting down to business, Peter addressed the crowd of onlookers.
“Before we get down to our official meeting, I would like to apologize to you for the series of closed meetings. As you can imagine, much of the content of our meetings had to do with private and sometimes confidential information that the Council decided was best kept within the confines of these four walls. I would also like to remind you that the rules of conduct for these meetings require that any members of the public attending these meetings abide by the Council rule that only allows public participation during the question and answer period at the end of the meeting. Any disruption during the meeting will result in ejection from the hall. I assure you that there will be sufficient time for your questions.”
The new and old business sections of the meeting took forty-five minutes to complete.
Tenderly Beats the Lonely Heart Page 20