ADHA Center for Lifelong Learning and the 89th Annual Session, update on Esther Wilkins, ADHA Standards
The meeting will not be the same without our beloved Esther Wilkins. Esther is making remarkable progress after fracturing her skull. She has a subarachnoid hematoma and a blood clot in her right inner ear that has caused complete deafness in that ear and problems with her equilibrium. She still has dizziness if she moves her head or changes position too quickly. She uses a walker, her mind is still sharp, and she is getting back to her old self! I hear she is “bossing" the nurses around in her own special way. While her memory is good, Esther sometimes is reported to be at a loss for a word or a name, but she can usually recall it after a short while. Of course, we have all been there without the excuse of a skull fracture! According to good friends who have visited with Esther, the rehabilitation facility is excellent. It opened this year and has exceptional staff and the best equipment. Esther has four hours of physical therapy and one hour of occupational therapy every day with excellent therapists. Esther is thrilled with the cards and notes she is receiving every day. She remembers every person who has sent her a card and keeps them all in a special basket. She really appreciates the flowers that have been sent by several of you. She looks forward to her mail every day and is saving every card and note like a treasure. She is not able to access her email in the hospital. No visitors are allowed, and she is supposed to be in rehabilitation another week or so. Dr. Esther M. Gallagher, New England Rehabilitation Hospital, 1071 Varnum Avenue, Room 125A, Lowell, MA 01854. As well, her home address is: Dr. Esther Wilkins Gallagher, 151 Tremont St, Suite 12N, Boston, MA 02111. Thanks to Anna Matsuishi Pattison, RDH, MS for keeping all of us updated! I had the pleasure of speaking with Esther today (Monday, June 11, 2012) and she was in good spirits and is improving daily. Our mutual friend, Pat Cohen, was with Esther. Pat told me that Esther has a huge basket of cards and reads and treasures each one. She immediately thanked me for sending a card, her mind is still sharp! I understand there might be some sort of video at the ADHA meeting about Esther, but I am not sure where or when!
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS
To read previous RDH eVillage FOCUS introductions by Editorial Director Maria Perno Goldie, go to introductions.
