A Visit From The Comptons

We have just visited Paul and Penny at the impressive Schmieder Clinic in Allensbach, near Konstanz, Germany. Konstanz is on the border of Germany and Switzerland, a fascinating medieval town on the shores of the Bodensee Lake, just over an hour from Zurich. Paul's clinic is a complex of smart, modern buildings overlooking the lake and surrounded by peaceful farmland and fields of alpine flowers. This is not a hospital but a centre of excellence, specializing in neurological recovery. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly.

Paul and Penny come and go as they please. They head out on walks across the fields, take the train to Konstanz to look at the boats, sightsee and eat out. They go to bed early and rise at 6 or 7 every morning.

The day we visited, Paul had been on a bicycle ride for the first time since his accident. He has a vigorous program each day. We sat in on his session with his neurophysiologist and they discussed maps of Konstanz (triggering Paul's short term memory), did word games and Paul spent about half an hour doing computer games: shooting colored balloons; landing a hot air balloon and memorizing patterns. The games required visual and mathematical skills as well as co-ordination. He did extremely well, remembering his previous scores and concentrated hard to beat them. He also corrected deliberate spelling mistakes.

Paul has physiotherapy, handwriting lessons (his brain is working too fast for his hand to keep up - something that requires a new learning technique) and he has other sessions. He proudly showed us baskets he is making in the fantastic arts and craft workshop. He walks everywhere at a good pace; the old determination very evident. One sign of his accident is his walking with a slight stoop and shuffle and he is still very thin and fragile - compared to his old self.

We had lunch in a cafe down by the lake. Paul hungrily demolished steak and chips while Penny tried to avoid the horrible sauerkraut lurking beneath her salad! Paul then took us to see an amazingly colorful patch of wild flowers and Penny showed us her simple accommodation in the relative's wing and took some laundry down to the basement.

We returned to Konstanz for a couple of hours as Paul was supposed to have a handwriting lesson, which was cancelled because the lady was ill. This disappointed Paul as he is keen to get to grips with his handwriting - again showing his amazing determination. Paul and Penny joined us for an early dinner on the waterfront. As the day finished Paul was clearly exhausted, but happy. He had experienced several new things that day alone. He was uncomfortable crossing a highish bridge over a road and a bit confused by the multi-storey car park. He needed the handrail to descend steep stairs. But as we drove them the 12 kms back to Allensbach Paul directed us faultlessly.

Mentally Paul was in good spirits; laughing and joking on occasion, remembering things from the past (except the details of the accident). We were thrilled to see very definite signs of the old Paul but lacking his exuberance still. He tires easily and at times was just happy to sit back and listen to us and Penny chatting. Of course he has bad days, when he does get depressed. This was not one of them.

He clearly has a lot of work ahead but we were amazed at his progress to date. His fitness, energy, drive and intelligence must surely be contributing to his miraculous recovery as of course, with Penny's totally dedicated and faultless care over the past six months.

Paul is not remotely angry or bitter. He just accepts his circumstances and is working hard to try to get back to normal. We came away thinking he is in the best possible care and is trying to move forward with all his might.

We loved seeing him.

Rick and Lucinda Compton
23rd July 2009