Paul

My room mate is Paul. Paul is a chef and a consultant on restaurant design and management. He has suffered a stroke which affects his left side but not, thank God, higher-level functions. Using the rehab unit to receive therapy is in training to deal with his disabilities. Paul can walk with the aid of a walker but about half the time he uses a wheelchair.

Paul has been estranged from his family after a very ugly divorce. The most ugly incident involved a court hearing about the fate of his children. Paul went to the wrong courtroom and because he did not show up he lost custody of his two boys. He has a good relationship with his niece and nephew on after that hearing he ran away and never tried to contact his boys again. One of the goals I set for his hospital stay was to have him call his oldest boy who is grown, married and living in Las Vegas. I failed, he never managed to find the kid’s number but he did promise to make the call.

One night, practicing his cooking skills, Paul may pasta with meat sauce for much of the rehab floor. We tried it and it was excellent. About two weeks into my stay Paul was sent home and I hope that his home, or perhaps that of his nephew has good enough facilities to keep him and nurture him during his recovery.