Brain Damage

In a Walking Group session, Angela (a stroke patient) compliments Charly’s violet eyes and explains that birth control pills caused her stroke. During the session, Charly shows minimal progress walking with assistance. Angela then points to the arm sling that Charly is wearing, but because of severe left-side neglect, Charly is unaware of the sling; she can’t even perceive her left arm. Jamie, who is unusually quiet, is discouraged and refuses to participate until his therapists coax him into walking, but he shows little improvement. Later, Charly sees Dr. Greenberg prescribing medication to treat Jamie for depression and observes that the staples in Jamie’s head have been removed.

During occupational therapy, Charly’s confusion is obvious when she tries to comb her hair with a toothbrush. Dr. Greenberg confirms her diagnosis of left neglect. Her therapist, Valerie, jokes about amputating Charly’s unresponsive limb, which frightens Charly until the doctor reassures her and suggests electrical stimulation therapy. Later, during a demonstration of the device on what Charly is told is her own left arm, she feels a buzzing sensation and sees her fingers open, but she can’t voluntarily make a fist.