Hope For Christy

The "Butler" Pose - "How may I help you?" (6 months old)

Prior to Windsor arriving here from Kansas, I described Windsor in jest as to how he would be my “butler.”  Rather than asking a person, my butler, A.K.A. my service-dog named Sir Windsor B. Derby, assists me as much as possible.  Sir Windsor helps provide me more independence. 

Now that my “butler” is here, I thought you might like to see him in action.  In the first video, Windsor, “The Butler,” demonstrates service dog tasks as he helps me to prepare HIS yummies.  Windsor decreases some of my physical difficulties by picking up and carrying his bowl, by tugging open the door which is often painful and sometimes impossible to do, and by closing the door behind me which keeps me from being dizzy.  In the second video, the butler helps me prepare MY yummies.  (Sidenote: “Busy” is my word used ALOT when I get confused and struggle to think or find the right word.)

My reading a paragraph is dedicated to my “Special Reading Buddy,” Hailey Dugas!  She’s another trooper working to read and speak the words outloud!  We can both do it!

This is a “first” for me.  It’s my first time to reveal much of my speech which takes great effort.  It’s a first to read outloud on video.  All week, I practiced reading the paragraph to prepare for this debut.  For those who knew the “Old Christy,” “New Christy” sounds different.  It’s common for brain injuries who learn to speak again to have a high pitch.  As I’ve progressed in my healing, my pitch is lower at times and higher at other times.

You’ll also witness “Little Brain.”  I have involuntary speech.  As far as we know, I’m the only patient on the Brain Protocol who has this unique reaction.   “Little Brain” is my “Happy Brain,” the “Cheerleader” you’ll hear.  It bubbles out of me and reveals my true spirit.  I’ve cheered myself on through much of my struggles to heal.  I love to cheer on others in their lives too.  As I continue to heal and normalize more, my involuntary speech decreases, but inside I’m still thinking, “Yea for me!  Yea for you!  Wheeeeee!”