Sarah Communicating

Now that the major surgeries are less frequent, the family has decided to have this blog focus more on big updates, stories and memories from family and friends. We have created an Instagram and Facebook page dedicated for more of the day-to-day status updates. You can access those by clicking here.

For today’s post, Sarah’s brother Mitchell took some time and put together an amazing explanation of how Sarah has been able to communicate with us so far while in the hospital. Enjoy!

Since Sarah’s accident, she has been undergoing numerous surgeries. In order to breathe while she is put under, they have her intubated with a breathing tube. This has not allowed her to speak since being in the hospital. We can’t imagine the frustration of being fully conscious yet unable to communicate through speech, but it has been inspiring to watch her progression in her communicative abilities. 

After the initial major operation, she was aware but strapped to all kinds of cords, hindering her mobility. However, mom and dad knew that she was trying to communicate something to them because she would attempt to lift her hands up and bring them together somehow. “Are you in pain?” Shakes her head no. “What are you trying to say?” After over 15 minutes of trying and failing to communicate this one simple message, she was able to finally use her left hand to push down her middle and ring fingers of her right hand forming a signed “I love you.” “I love you??” Nods her head yes. Our sweet Sarah was simply expressing her love to her mom and dad and didn’t quit until they got the message. It truly demonstrates who Sarah is as a person that the first communication she worked so hard to complete was this message of love. This sign of love has quickly became a “logo” of sorts for her and her journey. Amazing.

Over time, her motor skills in her hands improved, thus improving her methods of communication. For example, sometime Friday night we Facetimed her as a family to say hi. She was fully conscious and gave the cutest reactions to comments and yes or no questions. “Love you so much Sarah.” Hand sign I love you. (This repeated for everyone in the room). “Do you like all this attention?” Big nod. “I hope you like Minky blankets, because we’ve got tons waiting here to take to you.” Eyes open wide (which is a struggle). “We’re making a playlist for you of all the Ben Rector and Dan and Shay songs you like.” Eyes open wide. At one point, she started pointing down with her finger. “Turn in down?” Shakes her head no. “Something down…. can you write it?” Nod. She grasped a pen and on a piece of paper wrote: “feet.” “You want us to see your feet?” Nod. They pulled back the sheets to reveal her discolored feet. (She must have known what was going on even though no one had officially told her). What a cute, Sarah-like message to send over pen and paper. 

It was Saturday morning when she and dad discovered their favorite way of communication: hand lettering. Whenever she wanted to communicate something, dad would hold out his hand and she would spell letters into his hand. Dot means end of a word. Hand swipe means start over the word. He would talk, she would listen, then she would respond with her cute hand lettering. Her first message was: “Bobby pin in the back of my head.” Apparently, a cord or something was poking her head that she thought was a bobby pin. Who knows how long that had been bothering her? 

Dad and Sarah spent the entire day Saturday together in and out of surgeries (this was the day her legs were amputated). She would ask questions like “How is Brooke?” “What day is it?” “How long have I been here?” “What time is it?” “Will I be able to talk?” And the most heart wrenching of all: “Do I have feet?” My dad told her that everything is going to be okay, her body is fine, and that he and mom will explain everything to her when the time is right.

The hand lettering was fun to take part in personally when we FaceTimed on Saturday evening. The whole family and some extended family were in the room telling her how much we love and her and how many thousands of prayers are supporting her. She spelled “thank you.” She then spelled “sign language” and did the hand gesture for “thank you” in sign language. Smart. A little bit later she spelled “mom,” simply wanting to hear her mom’s voice of comfort. Later, Emily had the phone and told Sarah to watch her make the funniest face she can. Sarah strained to open her eyes, but saw Emily contort her face, then signed a “ehh, so-so” with a wiggle of an outstretched hand. Maybe next time Emily. 

It is so comforting to see Sarah’s cute personality come out in all these forms of communication. It helps us know that we are going to have our Sarah back – not any less than before. The same sweet Sarah. Our strong, strong Sarah.

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