Holly writes:

Yesterday, when we were with Barbara, two strapping physical therapist nurses came and got her, much against her will, to stand up and walk down the hall with a walker. She walked slowly and not too surely about 30 yards. I told her she had done well, and she threw me an amused glance and said "You lie!" The old Barbara! We saw Barbara today and there was a significant improvement over yesterday. Barbara was vertical and doing exercises when we arrived this morning. She was talking more lucidly than yesterday. She was eating better also. Her sense of humor is undiminished. We had a lovely time with her.

The doctors think the shunt was successful in helping her ability to talk.

Ed spends as much time with her as he can. We have not been successful in luring him out for a meal. He says he doesn't feel like having even a little bit of fun with Barbara so helpless. But he is affectionate and open with friends and medical caregivers as well. Barbara lights up when he enters, and to see them together is a pleasure to behold. Mimi is unflaggingly generous with her time and care, and Ed & Mimi work together to schedule caregivers taking shifts.

It is sad to see her thinking and struggling to find words and knowing that she cannot. She clearly feels frustrated and knows that the future looks bleak. But she is responsive and happy to see friends. She tires easily. She will have an MRI soon to assess whether or not the chemotherapy and radiation did any good. If they have, she will have another round of both, perhaps, starting in a few weeks.

The Sloan Kettering is a noisy place. Barbara shares a room, and the roommates come & go, as do a flow of nurses, doctors, therapists, etc.: some are attentive & caring, others are brusque & officious. Some are sloppy. It's a bit of a circus there.

Still no word yet on getting her into a rehab hospital. Ed & her case worker are working on this; Rusk at NYU is first choice.