Thursday, April 3, 2008

The First Time...

I saw Ada was last August and she was working at Naked Tchopstix. I was there having dinner with my two sons and some friends from Korea. I had been to Naked Tchopstix quite often and I knew most of the staff but over towards our table and I did something I never do...I said "Wow, what a beautiful girl I wonder when she started working here?" Ada came over to take our orders and very shyly looked up at us from that great hairstyle she has and as she walked away my son Kyle who had just been offered a job there said "I think I'm going to go to work here"and he did. Ada and Kyle became great friends. Among other things they shared a commonbond of growing up Asian in Indiana not always the easiest thing to do. Every time I saw Ada I liked her more....she has a soft way about her and as Kyle said "she's no phony, what you see is what you get."
Throughout the next few months Ada would come into our home and actually stopped long enough to talk to me or sit down and watch whatever I had on the tv. She was so sweet and genuine not like so many young people that feel that have to speak in order to get past me to get to see my sons. Many mothers can relate to that.
I looked forward to getting to know Ada better when she came home from Paris and during the last four weeks I have gotten to know her better if not from Ada herself from all her caring friends and family. I only knew the Ada that made my son smile...now I have had the honor to be by her side and try to take care of her family the way she would if she could.
Kyle had told me many times how much her parents and her brothers meant to her. Ada's parents know how determined and strong she is, so we will all be with her while she works at getting better. I am not a patient person but through Ada and her mother I am learning to have patience.
If anyone should ever wonder where Ada gets her strength...it is from her mother. There are no words to describe Ponsawans strength and resolve in the face of her worst nightmare. I wish with all my heart we didn't become friends because of this but it is a friendship that I will always treasure.
And since the first time I saw Ada and every time since... my thoughts are the same, "Wow, what a beautiful girl" and now I know Ada Silapiruti is beautiful inside and out.
posted by Ardis Hendrix
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ardis,

I love your beautiful writng. I feel privileged reading about your world of friendship and connection with Ada and Ponsawan. Thank you.

Despite a minor fact that we are complete stragers, you are so real and genuine to me.

Ponsawan,

Thank you for all humanity, beauty and inspiration you created and added to our lives.

Another bouquet is on its way. Have a better sleep tonight. Tell Ada we love her.

Yui

April 3, 2008 at 6:44 AM
Anonymous said...

Ardis,
I have truly enjoyed getting to know you over this past month. You are one of the most helpful and genuine people I have met and your kindess inspires me.
Love.

April 3, 2008 at 8:45 PM

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UPDATE ON ADA

9/20/08
Now that Ada is home. I will not be blogging as often. She is strong and healthy, not too many things, health wise, to worry about. If you want to visit her, please call me at 640-7096. We should be at home, and hopefully she will get to go to RHI for therapy soon.

6/23/08
We went to see Dr. Callahan today. He is Dr. Jude replacement. Needless to say, they are just the same. May be this is so typical for Neuro doctor to act this way. We had scheduled Ada to have her bone flap put back on Thursday, July 3rd. I was laughing because I used to metion that we will get the best view of the firework display on 4th of July from the roof top of Methodist Hospital and we will be there. Ada will love that. Some say that many patients do get better after putting the flap back on. We sure hope so.

6/8/08
Back at the nursing home now, I trying to learn the new feeding and her med schedule. Ada get a slow feeding from 8 to 8 so when she has to go somewhere, she won't miss the feeding. She actually gains 2 lbs this month. She can communicate through her eyes and she makes all kind of faces to let you know how she feels or what she wants. Can't wait to see what she can do next week.

6/1/08
I made a mistake on my airline reservation, so I will stop in Hong Kong with Yui for a couple of days. I'll be home on Thursday, I promise.

5/15/08
Here is the address for American Village
2026 East 54th Street, Indianapolis, In 46220
If you want to visit Ada, please me a call (317) 640-7096 or call Ardis at (317) 871-4800
I will be gone for 2 weeks but feel free to come by or bring lunch to Ardis

4/4/08
We settled down at American Village this afternoon. She got her private room and they rearranged the furniture just for her. She seems to be more carm and peaceful. Strang place to be for me since I have nerver been to the nursing home before. I hope they take good care of Ada.

4/1/08
Ada moved into room 4039 on the 4th floor today. It is a step down. No monitor in her room which means no more munber to worry about. She is not in critical condition any more. It is more laid back on this floor. I got a roll bed to sleep on. Slepping on the chair for a month, I'm not sure I can sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I will visit a few nursing homes to see if they will accept Ada.

4/1/08
Yesterday they told me that Ada will be moving to 5th Floor, Neuro unit, but she might go down to 4th floor today. Who knows, may be the nurses on the 4th floor heard about the candy. We have to look for the place for Ada to stay after she gets out of the hospital. She can't go to Rehab yet, a nursing home, may be. This is very fustrated and confusing process, I just want to take her home.
She is doing fine today.

3/31/08
It had been a month already and we are still waiting for Ada. She can be completely off the vent or oxygen at this point. This is good for her but we run into the problem that she won't be qualified to go to Seton. We have to find another facilities for her, may be Rehab Center. One thing is, they won't throw her out of the hospital, promise.
Ada moves her right hand and fingers more. I am working on it, she must be tried of hearing me telling her to move her fingers by now.
Various music from several IPods are playing all day. I also read out loud from Win's book, and Abby comes in the evening to read Harry Potter to her.

3/28/08
Friday afternoon and Ada is breathing on her own without the ventilator. The nurse also put her up on a chair. Kudo for Jennifer, she is brave enought to do this with the help of other nurses on 6th floor. Everyone is so happy including Ada. :)
More good news tomorrow, I hope.

3/28/08
She slept well last night, must be some medicine they gave her. This morning she moves her right arms and her right hand more. Left arm will be trapped in the splint off and on all day. She also be able to breath on her own more and more. No word of when we will be moving to Seton.

3/27/08
The brain is still swallon, so no surgery this week. Imagine having one surgery each week, I don't think people my age can handle that. She is strong and fighting. The nurse gave her a bath today, so was sleeping peacefully while I left.

3/26/08
The doctor took all of the staples out of her head today. She was pretty mad, I can tell. They took her down for c-scan, she might get her flap back on her skull on Friday. Which mean another round of staples on her head. Her left arm is getting stiff, so the adjustable cast will be put in her arm to keep it straight. We need to start excercise her arms, other than that, she is pretty much the same, may be more alert.
Seton will have a bed for her pretty soon so we can move out of the hospital. Maybe early next week.
Hugs
Ponsawan

Ada&Eliana

Ada&Eliana