another mom update

Yesterday she got moved to a rehab facility. I was not happy with it yesterday for many reasons, but today was better. I think they are going to take care of her, but yesterday I wasn't so sure. When I got there today, they had her up in a wheelchair, she had had a bath, and her bed was made and changed. She had already seen the weekend therapist. I talked with the therapist and I am feeling better now. Next week she will get evaluated by all the therapists and get her hair did~! She is happy about that!

Mom update

My sister-in-law and brother brought Thanksgiving to the hospital today. They brought dressing, corn, green beans, fruit salad and a coconut pie. Mom enjoyed it and we fed the two nurses on duty. There are 5 patients there now, but Mom is leaving tomorrow to a new facility. I still have not been to look at the new place, but by all accounts, it is a lovely rehab center. She got frustrated today trying to talk to me, but I told her it's ok. I asked her if she was going to give up when she gets frustrated and she emphatically said, "NO!" She can say a few words.

Yay!

Mom's doctor came by tonight while we were helping her with dinner. He thinks she will get her movement back and her speech back in due time. It will be slow and there are no guarantees, but he is optimistic. I told her that her assignment was to be able to tell me Happy Birthday tomorrow! What a great birthday present that would be! She will be moved to another rehab facility on Friday. It is a brand new facility associated with a local nursing home. Her speech therapist at the hospital highly recommends the speech therapist at that facility, which is why we chose it. She said Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists procedures are about the same, but speech is different and this therapist works really hard with her patients. Her bowels and bladder have to be re-trained as well, but one has to be able to walk to go to the bathroom......AND they have a beauty shop at this facility. She will be happy to get her hair done. It has been being washed in rehab, but not styled.

Another update

For the first time, I am encouraged. Today Mom had a swallow test and had improved enough to get off that pureed food and move to a soft modified diet. Her eyes have also readjusted to prestroke levels so her glasses actually are working now. She looked at a magazine tonight and looked at all her cards. She also walked 12 feet today with lots of help. They are helping her move her right leg, but that is re-training her brain connections.Still no talking, but she is trying to move her right arm with limited success.

Update

I took Echinacea with Goldenseal and it knocked my cold almost completely out! My brother has it worse now, but he is taking it as well. I made Mom some real mashed potatoes and gravy with real butter and cream. She ate it with a smile on her face. She is sick to death of their pureed no taste stuff. She still has some swallowing issues, but she seemed to swallow better when it was something she liked! :) Tomorrow the other two patients on the rehab floor are moving to the next level, so unless they get new patients, she will be the only one, and she will have her own personal R.N. I keep hearing stories of people who came back from strokes and it gives me hope. Keep those stories coming.

Progress!

I did not see Mom today because I am sick with a cold, but my brother was pretty excited to see her very alert and he even saw her move her right arm. He said she talked up a storm, but, he didn't know what she was talking about. I hope that will come back. They say that stroke victims heal from the bottom up, so speech would be among the last thing to return if it is going to. I'm going tomorrow. I won't get close to her, but I have to see her.

Discouraged!

Today was a total set back. Mom wouldn't or couldn't eat any lunch for me. The speech therapist was there and she told me Mom was holding food in her mouth and not swallowing. Her brain is not getting the message to her throat to swallow. Without much to eat (such as it is...pureed, no salt diet) they put her back to bed to rest. This evening when we went back, I took her part of a smoothie that I had made for her. She drank it right down, but when we tried to get some dinner in her, it came back up. The nurse got something for nausea and once again they put her to bed. She is very pale and lethargic. So...tonight, I am once again afraid for my mom. I just want her back!

Encouraged!

I am feeling slightly encouraged this evening. Several people have told me stories of their own parents who had strokes just like this (all the same parts affected) and they came back...not ever completely, but functional and talking. Also, at lunch today and dinner tonight, Mom was able to use her left hand and get the food to her mouth after we put the food in the spoon. Still no use of the right  arm and hand, but the doc said she does have good reflexes in the arm..also, I was told that when the brain is healing itself, the body is very sleepy, which explains why she is so sleepy. I will take whatever I can get in the way of encouragement! Also, learned that after a stroke, healing takes place from the bottom up, which explains why she can move her right leg now.

More Mom

Mom  was moved to rehab from ICU on Friday and we can see a few basic improvements. We just hope for more. More than anything, I would love to see her be able to talk again so I would know what she needs. The droopiness is gone from her face and her smile is back. I just wish she had something to smile about. That doesn't stop her; she smiles anyway. What an awesome woman and mother she is.

More Mom

Mom  was moved to rehab from ICU on Friday and we can see a few basic improvements. We just hope for more. More than anything, I would love to see her be able to talk again so I would know what she needs. The droopiness is gone from her face and her smile is back. I just wish she had something to smile about. That doesn't stop her; she smiles anyway. What an awesome woman and mother she is.