We've got the results

OK. I've been wanting to wait for the extensive neuro psych report (I'll pick up later today). But I realized I have too much I want to say. So you'll get part of the results today and part of them in the coming weeks. Where to start. I realized I have only blogged lately about our trials and have missed talking about some significant improvements in Will this month. His speech. I told my mom this morning I had given up on thinking it would ever be perfect again. I somehow thought that it was "done" healing. I was wrong. Will is speaking clearer now than ever before. I rarely have to have him repeat himself and he rarely speaks too "loud or soft" as he had before. What a blessing! And as stated in early posts, we continue to see improvements in Will's executive functioning (this area has been a bear to work with, however, his initiative and performance are better all the time and not nearly as frustrating).

Now for part of the neuro psych results. Will and I sat with Dr. Mayer this past Wednesday. My understanding was last year at this time Will's parents were going over the same test results and the mood was very somber and the results less hopeful. This year it is like we were all (even Dr. Mayer) dreaming up what kind of doctor Will should become. I think this neuro psych test was more like a thousand dollar personality test. We decided Will should not go into emergency medicine, or heart surgery, etc. He is thorough and takes his time. He analyzes everything before giving his answers. Will scored very high on accuracy. Speed however was not so high, in fact we have some room to grow there before being able to resume an actual residency. He also ranked low on taking initiative. I spoke with Dr. Mayer about this and said-- I have to say I'm thinking Will might have scored low in these areas before his stroke (I should know I had to wait five years for the kid to ask me to marry him ;) Dr. Mayer agreed but said it is still lower than what he was before and I'd say that sounds right.

As far as all the other tests Will has moved from low average to average -- Meaning he is finally Normal! (As a side note Will was not being tested on his intelligence-- he continues to excel there-- Dr. Mayer said if being a doctor was just about intelligence Will could have gone back a year ago. Will is just as brilliant as he has always been.) There were even a few tests where Dr. Mayer said to me "you better not challenge him in this area (short term retention memory) because he'll beat you."

I'll end by giving you a sneak peek into what I've seen in Will. In a recent financial seminar we took personality tests. Will tested as a ENTJ (Extravert, Intutive, Thinking, Judging) these personalities are "field marshals" with great abilities to lead and initiate. I know his abilities will match back up with what is in his heart. We believe a rotation in Ohio would bring back the rest of what was lost, as most jobs inspire responsibility and initiative (much more than a nagging wife;). Keep us in your prayers as we hope next month finds us in Ohio.

ps the pictures above were taken this past weekend by Will of a buffalo a mile from our camp. A moose in our camp and our hike around Jenny O lake in the shadows of the Tetons in Jackson Hole. And yes the little dots behind Will and I in the grassy area are a herd of buffalo.