[nowheretorun]

I know all your prayers and good thought have made big difference, I've said it before, but here it is again.... What a GREAT group of people you all are

Grams Condition: Weak but stable; the stroke was in the cerebellum and showed it's impact in her throat; She's having difficulty swallowin and speaking is like a child just learning to speak, you have to listen for the form of the word more than pronunciation to understand, she has to repeat most of what she says, but she won't stop talking either...

Today I was talking to my mom across the room and holding a wet cloth I'd used to soothe her eyes. As I was speaking, I was sub-conciously swinging the cloth in my hand.... Gramma set up such a fuss and we all freaked, wondering what was wrong... the third time she said it, we understood..... I was spraying her with water from the cloth... poor woman !

All the family has been there at different times... it's been good. Usually we're a pretty dysfunctional group, but it felt good today... we had some laughs, and gramma even joined in on the fun.

Mentally, she seems fairly alert, if her body doesn't double-cross her, and with some rehab, she might just be ok.

Thanks again for all your thoughts... I hope you all are well

Darrel

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time we fall." Confucius

[hey_hey]

What a relief to hear she's doing a little better... Thank God....

Best,
Toni

[i] What our mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve.

[SeptemberMorn]

Your grams is an amazing woman, Darrel! I'm so glad that the damage wasn't all that bad.

All of you will still be in my thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourself.

<font color=blue>This above all: To thine own self be true. --Shakespeare</font color=blue>

[Rapunzel]

I just want to tell you something about stroke victims. I used to be social serviced director at a nursing home. We had a man come in on a Friday night - when I talked to him he was completely oriented and communicative, told me his SSN from memory, had lots of tales about his travel and experiences. Over the weekend he had a stroke, and after that he couldn't talk hardly at all. It was so frustrating for him, especially since people started treating him almost like he wasn't there. I was so glad that I had the chance to talk to him before the stroke because otherwise I would never have known who he really was. He was still all there mentally, but just couldn't communicate very well. You should have seen how relieved he was when I told him that I knew he was still the same person and acknowleged that I knew he knew everything that was going on just like before. It wasn't long after that before I moved away, so I don't know how much communication he got back. Recovery from strokes is difficult and slow, and I hope that your grandmother hasn't lost that much of her ability to communicate, but I just wanted to tell you that it will mean a lot to her to know that you still have as much respect for her as you always did, and that you know she's still there.

Best wishes for all of you, especially your grandmother,
Wendy

<font color=purple>"The real problem of mental life is not why some people become insane, but rather why most avoid insanity." -Erich Fromm</font color=purple>

[heidu]

I am so glad!!
Heidu


The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.
John Ruskin

[nowheretorun]

Rapunzel... thank you so much for the info, I was hoping someone would have some firsthand knowledge about it

I've done just what you've said.... I treat her as much the same as I did before... I've always been gentle with her, but when she pushes the wrong buttons, she get's the "real" me... no games.

I seem to understand her better than anyone else right now when she talks and I keep in mind it's difficult and I hate to ask her to repeat because I know it frustrates her, but I want her to know, in my responses to her, that she's not getting "baby" treatment, she wouldn't like that, so I'm straightforward just as, or more, than I've always been.

We had the living will discussion. My mom wasn't able to handle it, but gramma could. She said "I'm not afraid to die, but I want to live."

I'm keeping in mind that she's in a fragile condition and it ain't over... she could be struck again at any moment....

This is actually her fpurth attack in the last eight months. Thanksgiving last year was the first, and it was serious... since then, she's had two minor (I guess they call them TIA's, but I don't know what it stands for), and then this one....

We're all just hoping and praying......

Hey hey, Heidu, thank you both

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time we fall." Confucius

[heidu]

Darrel,
Maybe Grandma needs me there to keep you in line? That poor woman!!! I can see her in my mind and I bet she is one great lady :O)
I'm really glad you got to share in some laughs with her. They are so precious at a time like this.
Continuing to send my best wishes for her recovery.
Heidu



The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.
John Ruskin

[Peanut61]

Keeping you and your Gram in my thoughts and prayers, (((Darrel)))... Warmest regards, Peanut

<font color=blue>HI FROM PEANUT </font color=blue>

[darkeyes]

Hey there
That is good news, my sister-in-law's dad had a stroke about 2 years ago but more than just his swallowing and speach was affected, all one side of his body had been paralyzed.
With physical and speech therapy he is up to a faint whispering talking ability but the great thing is that he can communicate, laugh, smile and even ***** if he wants to, he is also on soft baby type foods and no longer needs the feeding tube inserted into his belly.
He is just so happy to be alive and has made this progress, to not be able to talk is hell, so while gram is re-habbing just be good coaches of encouragment while it is hard for her right now, but I am sure you will be an inspiration to her anyway
May you all take care now,
** hugs for health **
"darkeyes"

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON