Day 16

[Guest guest]

Well today I thought I'd try something different. It's Saturday and I

thought I would just let Mel do what 'she' wanted to do today and not

what I would like her to do today. She woke up in a very happy and

chatty mood once again and really ready to get her day started.

After eating her breakfast which of course now always includes

nutriiveda, she went and sat down and said she wanted a movie. I

asked her if she wanted to work on her computer and she said " no no

no " while shaking her head. I thought ok so I told her I was going

to go and get the laundry done and for her to enjoy her movie.

The minute I went upstairs she went over to her computer and turned

it on and went into one of her programs and began working(!!!) This

is incredible! She really wanted to work on her computer but without

me! She worked on her computer until it was time to leave to pick up

Tom as he has been working in the Cleveland, Ohio office this week.

When Tom got in the car Mel started right away talking to him and

tapping him on the shoulder. He was amazed at what he was seeing and

hearing and also her facial expressions as he has been gone for the

past week and has only heard about Mel, but has not seen her.

When we were alone he said to me he could not get over the change in

. He said she is very animated now and overall different. He

was impressed that she no longer wants to sit on the sidelines of

life but be a part of it that she is really trying to figure out how

to communicate and be apart of our world. He said after 25 years of

going from doctor to doctor and to therapist to therapist he thought

we would never see a change in Mel. When he was telling me his eyes

were tearing and said what a wonderful change Nutriiveda has done for

our . I still can't believe just 2 weeks on nutriiveda has

had such a profound impace on our daughter who most would just

consider an adult who would never change. I don't know why this is

happening, I just am so thankful that it's beyond words. This

product has changed my daughter's life, has changed our lives.

is using new phrases and new words as well. This afternoon

she said " i want a drink please " I told her to go and get a cup and

get water from the refrigerator door. I said it very matter of fact

just to see what she would do. Well she got the cup and said " mom I

am getting my water now " very clear as her sister also heard this

and both of our expressions were of shock and Tom said did I hear

what I think I heard. Mel has never said the word getting or used it

in a phrase before today!!

Not only that it was like she was aware of what a breakthrough this

was. After that one time, first time in 25 years, everything she was

getting for the next few hours she would use that word " getting " .

Well with the winter storm it took Tom over 25 hours to get home and

he has been up all night so this afternoon he was trying to get some

rest but just could not as Mel kept talking and talking and talking

to him.

So I found myself getting Mel and her sister and we went shopping for

a few hours so Tom could get some rest. I have never had to do that

before. While at the store Mel tapped my chest softly and looked

right into my eyes and said " my daddy is home sleeping " and I said

yes because you are now and she finished my words and said

" talking " . I have tears coming from my eyes writing this. I said

yes you are now talking a lot and even though we are extremely

grateful for your new found speech your dad still needed to get some

much needed rest. Did I ever think the day would come for my 25 year

old daughter that I had to take her out of the house to let her

father sleep because she was talking too much?

So now Mel's new habit is tapping me on the chest to make sure she is

getting eye contact with me while she is speaking to me. Mel's

speech is still limited but she is saying new words and new phrases

each day. As I sit here and type this e-mail Mel is busy telling Tom

that Tomi is sick and I hear both of them trying to hold a

conversation. Yes it is a simple conversation but it is a

conversation that I am sure Tom will soon not forget. I know that

since