Today was a harder day for Lydia.  She cried more, and had higher emotional needs than in previous days.  We haven't seen emotion like this since her last week at Holland Bloorview.  It impeded her therapy at a clinic in Waterloo this afternoon.  She couldn't focus.  She just wanted to be at home.  She was tired, and discouraged.  She said she didn't think she was getting better.  We cancelled her afternoon school session to let her rest and take a break.  It was a beautiful day - hopefully the sunshine was rejuvenating` to her mind and body.
I think one of the hardest parts of Lydia's recovery is that she looks so healthy and normal.  If you don't understand or know much about brain injuries, you would be tempted to think that her capacity and abilities are "normal"(not a word we like to use, but one that communicates the idea well).  This is not the case.  Lydia is unable to filter out extraneous noises.  She has super sensitive hearing, and she tries to process every sound that she hears.  To be in a busy place, with many conversations, sounds and distractions, is exhausting.  It is overstimulating, to someone with a brain injury.
On this day, my reading of Isaiah 40 has given perspective and reminded me of the faithful provision of our God.

Isaiah 40:28-31

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.