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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Almost Like a Person

Yesterday morning, Bob told me, "I feel almost like a person."

Of course, he didn't come out and say this in one fell swoop.  The conversation went something like this:

Bob:  I feel... almos lie... gurple.

Me:  Huh?

Bob:  I feel... almos like... gerpons.

Me:  OK. You said, I feel almost like-- something. I can't understand the last word. Say it again.

Bob:  I feel... almost like... gerbles.

Me:  You feel almost like gerbils?

Bob:  No!

Me:  OK, say it again. Slower.

Bob:  I... feel... almost... like.... a.... purspin.

Me:  Purspin? Purse pin? --um-- person? You feel almost like a person?

Bob:  Yes. I feel almost like...a person.

Me:  Well, that's silly. Of course, you're a person. You're certainly not a cat.

Later, I thought about this little conversation. And you know, it rather broke my heart. Because how did he feel before? Like a non-person?

And why does he only feel almost like a person?

This morning, I am still thinking about that conversation. Though now I'm thinking it's a good sign. That Bob is coming back to me. That his brain is healing and he is feeling "more normal"...

Just my thoughts.





6 comments:

Rebecca Dutton said...

Perhaps Bob is becoming more confident about his speech. An ethereal comment about being a person is a leap up from barking "you."

Anonymous said...

Love it...He is coming around..
Alice

metalgirl162002 said...

I suppose he doesn't feel /completely/ like a person because of the things he still can't do or do on his own. When I was first diagnosed with Asperger's I didn't feel like a person either, more like an alien or something. It takes work and time to feel like a person sometimes.

Anonymous said...

I suspect he's saying just how he feels at this time. It's a big step and says a lot about how he sees his progress. Just one example is Bob being able to express himself in a full sentence now compared to what he could say just a few months ago. Your dedicated and hard work is paying off. Hugs, Dan

Elizabeth, John, Jack, and Luke said...

Sounds like great news. I remember the first time I felt "almost normal", it was a fleeting moment....but glorious! Its so hard to describe the daze I live in most of the time. Still waiting for the clarity to be permanant.

Anonymous said...

Yes, yes, yes! It's a complete, meaningful and thought-provoking sentence!