Mom is doing well. A general overview:
On Saturday A.M. Mom slumped over the stove while cooking
breakfast (no burns). Dad got her to the floor and called 911.
It has been determined that she has a hardening of a blood vessel in the left
side of her brain. There is a little blood that seems to be getting
through, but the blockage caused a stroke. Her blood levels were low for
clotting purposes (meaning she could have thrown a clot anytime) so she is on meds
for that and for her high blood pressure. Both of those things are stable
now.
At this point Mom is able to use her left hand and arm
and move her left leg and foot, she seems to understand simple questions and
commands, she will squeeze your hand in order to answer yes to things like
"do you want to sit up more?". She is able to follow some
commands like comb your hair and raise your arm. She looked at the moon
outside her window last night when I pointed it out and has been watching the
rainbows on the sheets from the crystal that Paul rigged up in the
window. She is also able to swallow - YEAH! - and is eating pureed
foods. What a blessing from Saturday when she was mainly
unresponsive. Mom is not able to usefully move her right arm, hand, foot
or leg, and she is unable to speak.
As of today she is receiving speech, occupational and physical therapy.
There is hope that she can regain some movement on the right
side since there seems to be a small flow of blood getting by the blockage but
whatever happens, it's going to be a long row to hoe. The staff at
Chambersburg Hospital is dynamite. They are all friendly, loving, and
professional, treating Mom as if she was their own mother. What a
blessing.
Dad is doing well. He spends the day at the hospital,
encouraging Mom and harassing the staff (they like him). We are all
trying to take good care of ourselves so we can help to take good care of
Mom. We all know how Mom cooks and freezes stuff...now I wonder if she
was preparing us for something like this. With her, I wouldn't be surprised.
Needless to say, if we complain about eating too many hot dogs, pop tarts or
ramen noodles, it's our own fault for not opening the freezer door.
Continue to keep praying and sending good thoughts Mom's
way, she is making progress and that is a great thing. I'll try to keep
up the email reports, please forward this on to anyone you don't see on the
list.
Much love,
Peggy Anne
No comments:
Post a Comment