“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(This is “Day 4” of Jane’s new program.

(Jane didn’t call last night. I spent the morning typing letters from Jane, Seth, and me for Maude Cardwell to send to donors. I also wrote Maude a letter of my own. I did no work on Dreams.

(The day was about 34 degrees. When I got to 330 Jane told me that Shawn Peterson had been admitted to intensive care last night with chest pains, but that the tests so far have been negative. “The nurses are sicker than the patients,” Jane said she heard one of the nurses say this morning.

(Jane didn’t go to hydro — just had her face washed. Her blood pressure never was taken yesterday. She had lots to tell me, and acted much better than she had yesterday. I felt better, too. Her temperature had been taken after I left last night, and early this morning: 99 and 97.8 — down both times. After I left she gave herself “a good talking to,” about trusting her body, and so forth, and this helped a lot.

(Jeff Karder, Jane’s doctor, visited her this morning. He was very pleased with her progress. “For him to say very good is something,” Jane said. “I’ve been getting good reports about you,” he told her. He also asked Jane about our insurance hassles. She explained as best she could, and about the infirmary. Jane asked him why her right leg was shorter than the left one, and Jeff explained that the break had healed but that the bones were out of alignment, hence the shortness. He said it would take a major operation to restore the leg, with no guarantees that it could be done. A “minor” operation could fix the leg well enough so she could sit up, he said, after Jane said she wanted to start sitting up.

(It’s hardly a coincidence, then, that one of the questions I had for Seth today, and had added to yesterday’s session, concerned her right leg and why she wasn’t straightening it out. The negative part of Jeff’s information is that he said she couldn’t sit up until the leg was fixed to some degree, at least. I’d expected that sort of diagnosis for some time. “Shit,” Jane said, “if my body can recover like it has, then it can fix the leg too.” I believe it. Jane took the visit well indeed this morning, and I congratulate her for doing so. I wanted to ask Seth about the whole thing anyhow, since he’s said several times that she’ll be able to walk normally and with some confidence.

(Jane said Jeff was plainly surprised at her improvements, but that at the same time he was condemning her to staying in bed. I said that from his position he could do little else.

(Jane had eaten a better lunch today. She was obviously relieved that her temperature was dropping. At 3:15 she began reading yesterday’s session, and did well, her best in some days. She said she tried to explain to Jeff how she was uncomfortable and impatient in hydro, but got nowhere. She could see he knew nothing of what she was talking about, so finally she just quit.

(I showed Jane the list of questions I’ve been acquiring, at Seth’s own suggestion, and told her that one of them concerned the insurance situation — that I didn’t want to mess it up by demanding action from our lawyer, say. Seth had said six weeks ago that the issue would be settled to my satisfaction, and our lawyer had said not to worry, and that’s the last we’ve heard. I added that I couldn’t imagine the hospital not demanding action before this — yet they haven’t. Seth had said the question would be cleared up without any long wait.

(3:40. At my suggestion Jane began to try writing with one of my pens. She managed to do something, resting the pad against her right knee — which is sore to the touch. She even held the pen in her right hand. I’m to bring in the clipboard tomorrow. I’m sure she can make progress here. It might free her enough so she could write poetry at night, say, when she’s alone.

(I explained to Jane my mental saying, “Sorry, Mom, but I don’t have time any more for your shaky beliefs or ideas,” as it had spontaneously grown out of Seth’s comments about why my right hand is shaky, in a recent session. The suggestion is working fairly well. I think it’s quite humorous and original, and so does Jane. It may have a cumulative effect, and I’d like Seth to comment.

(At 4:00 Lynn gave Jane eyedrops. Jeff had told Jane her eyes looked better, too. Jane wanted to get started on the session, which she felt might be longer than usual, so I told her not to wait for people to do her vitals.)

(4:07. A nurse came in to take Jane’s temperature. It was 98.3 — down again; she got Jane some ginger ale.

(4:23. Carla took Jane’s blood pressure and pulse. Jane had a smoke while I read the session to her so far.

(4.48. The aide brought the supper tray and left the door open. There was noise in the hall, but Jane continued:)

(4:57 p.m. I read the session to Jane while she had a smoke. “There’s a lot to think of — that’s a powerful session,” she said. Indeed. She’d alternately sighed and grunted and groaned as I read. I think it will help a great deal.

(Jane called, with Carla’s help, at about 10:00, as I was typing this.)