Updates on Sandy's Recovery Process

Final Post, From Sandy

2007-08-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family,

It’s time to do one final update and draw this blog chapter to a close. When Sarah initially began this blog, she focused on the positive, which I think was a wise thing to do. So that you can understand all that God has done, though, I need to give you what I now know to be an accurate picture of my original situation: I didn’t even know this until fairly recently since John and the kids wanted me to be moving positively toward recovery.

- I was completely paralyzed – both on my right and left side
- I was in a coma-like state for almost a month
- Doctors told John that I might not live (50% of patients in my situation don’t make it to week 4. When I made it to there, my chances started to improve.)
- When it became apparent that I would live, they suggested that he find me a room at a convalescent hospital because that might be all the improvement I would see
- I had four brain surgeries
- I first moved my right hand on December 9th ... about a month into this "adventure."
- I have no memories of anything that occurred between the car ride to the hospital with Jennifer and Christmas Eve.
- My first memory is a sweet one ... a Christmas Eve lessons and carols program that Sarah put together for our family. We sang and read Scriptures by a Christmas tree that Jonathan and Christopher had set up in my hospital room. Little Jonathan (our grandson) crawled on the foot of my bed. Yes - a very, very sweet memory.
- Once I began to "come to," and make sense of my situation, nights were the hardest. I so dreaded those long, somewhat sleepless times without my family around me. I knew they had to get sleep also, but nights were really long, tough times.
- When you have been paralyzed for a while, every joint in your body stiffens and tightens. We are still working to re-establish the range of motion in all of these joints – from my fingers to my vertebrae to my knees and ankles, etc.
- Also, your brain has to relearn how to do things. I have had to think my way through relearning the most simple things ... steps, crawling, sitting, standing, getting in and out of a car, writing, rolling over in bed, and so much more. It really makes me appreciate our complexity – how "fearfully and wonderfully made" we are.

When we made our second attempt at coming "home" (to the rental home John secured for us rather than our home on Lazy Dog Road):

- We used a lift to get me from one place to another. John had to get me into a sling, hook up to the lift, then lift and wheel me to a new location and lower me into place. Each step was painful. We had to spend a few minutes ranging my legs before trying to move, in order to reduce the pain.
- It was hard to sit for longer than a few minutes.
- I was extremely uncomfortable in a wheel chair, or in a bed, in fact, most of the time.
- I was taking an amazing number of meds; slowly we sorted them out and reduced the number to the minimum necessary.
- I was able to move my right leg and right arm, but was very weak. I had on negligible movement on my left side at that point.
- My peg tube (through the abdominal wall, directly to my stomach) was still in.
- I was often very confused, especially at the end of the day when tired.
- We were getting up every 45 minutes to one hour during the night to move, reposition, go to the bathroom…all through tremendous pain.

Next steps...

- As I got stronger, we started to do a few manual transfers from chair to wheelchair, or back, using a gait belt.
- I started to move my left arm soon after we got to the La Barr Meadows house.
- Over the next month, I started to move my left foot a few inches.
- We spent our days doing as much therapy as I could stand – about 4-6 hours.
- From what we read or heard, you have to learn to stand before you can walk, so John built a standing frame. I spent as much time standing up in it as I could tolerate.
- With the generous help of my parents, we purchased a used wheelchair van, so that we could get ourselves to the best neuro rehab person around, Carme. It was a brilliant decision.

So, that’s a summary of my "history." Where are we now?

- No more gait belt (affectionately called my "tail"). I wore it around my waist so John could hold on to me and prevent catastrophic falls. My balance now is good enough that I move around on my own.
- I walk mainly with a single prong cane, even in crowded places like church and stores.
- We have moved back to our Lazy Dog house!
- Most folks have a living and dining room in their home. The Palmers have a physical therapy room full of special equipment.
- I am cooking simple meals, and cleaning the kitchen and downstairs of our house.
- I am reading, writing, and typing again.
- I can walk a very short distance without a cane!
- I continue to do lots of therapy each day, but also lots of "life."
- As Sarah’s blog mentioned, I walked down the aisle at Jonathan and Jenn’s wedding... this July, which had been a very specific prayer request.

My most sincere thanks go:

- to my Creator, who knows the innermost workings of my brain, and who alone can open new pathways there.
- to those of you who helped with Christopher – especially the Fay family who made sure he got to every single mountain bike race, giving him a fabulous junior year in high school.
- to those who visited at the hospital and/or when we got home
- to the Davis family who opened their Roseville home for our family to stay in, which greatly helped them. They came to affectionately call it the "EGG House" – Extremely Generous Gift.
- to those who stayed with me so John could get much-needed breaks and get in to Autometrix, often cleaning our home while you were there.
- to those adults and children who sent cards, posters, notes, "bouquets" of Bible verses, and more. They were such an encouragement to me.
- to all our fabulous co-workers at Autometrix who have taken on extra loads so John could stay home with me and help me get well, and who have continued to reach for the goal of excellence in his absence. And to those involved in making the p.t. equipment that I needed ... it is a big reason that I’m walking today. (And, not to rub it in, but I won the race!)
- to all the nurses, therapists, and doctors who played a part in my recovery. In particular, to Carme, my incredible physical therapist, who was the first person to acknowledge the goal of walking as a reasonable goal; who not only worked me hard, but also prayed for me. And to Dr. Jensen, who practically turned cartwheels in his excitement over my progress!
- to all of you who brought incredible meals and other yummy things. (My family has higher expectations now!) Your generosity meant that John spent his time doing therapy with me rather than feeding us. Thank you.
- to all the TLC ladies who picked up the balls I had been juggling and added them to their own juggling routines. I am thrilled that it all continued so well … a tribute to your skill and dedication.
- to all who prayed ... I sincerely believe that God heard and responded to your requests. I truly think those prayers are a significant part of why I have had such an amazing recovery.
- to my incredible sisters who came to help out – and kept us "afloat."
- to my parents who, as they have done throughout my entire life, made me think I could do anything – even walk again, against all odds. And to my "second set of parents," my in-laws, who were continually encouraging me along. (Dad, I won every single "walker race"!) And perhaps the biggest thank you to you is for raising the wonderful son who has walked through this at my side.
- to my four wonderful children who all came right away. I have no memory of your visits, but I treasure the knowledge of them. Christopher homeschooled himself for the balance of the year (including trigonometry and physics – well done!!) Jonathan, Sarah, and Emily came to visit as often as possible. Sarah and Nathan got married twice within two weeks – the first time in a garden at the hospital so I could take part.
- to my best friend / husband who has fully demonstrated the fulfillment of the vow he made 29 years ago – "in sickness and in health." He has never complained – not once. He has been my companion and encourager throughout all of this. He helped me see God in the midst of everything. He fought for my best care as I was moved around among four hospitals. After we finally came home, he was up at night every 45 minutes with me for months. Again, without complaint. He has kept me laughing, while helping me do the hardest work I’ve ever done. When I’d get frustrated about something I couldn’t do, he was always there to remind me of my progress. He has designed special physical therapy equipment for me. He’s been mom, dad, husband, friend, housecleaner, taxi-driver, nursemaid, cook, housecleaner, organizer (John? An organizer? Yup! He’s learned all kinds of new things!) and so much more. He was content to take a sabbatical from Autometrix to help me recover. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without his incredible contribution. What an example of devotion in marriage you have given our kids. Thank you, Friend.

Each of you was Jesus in the flesh for me ... His hands and feet, so to speak. The words "thank you" seem almost trite. Know that they come from the bottom of my heart. I am deeply grateful.

We would sincerely appreciate your continued prayers. We still have a long road ahead, but like the Israelites, we can remember what God has done while we look forward to what he will do!

Once again, our deepest thanks. We look forward to the day when we can help you. (But no aneurysms allowed!)

Sandy

Lots of Good News

2007-07-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you all a big answer to the very specific prayer request I posted here a while ago.

Mom walked up the aisle for Jonathan's wedding ceremony on July 13. No wheelchair, no walker - just Dad on one arm and a cane in the other hand. If you have been following my Mom's recovery you probably know that doctors predicted she would never walk - in fact, that she would never do a lot of the things she's doing now. Isn't it unbelievable how great she looks? (Thank you, God! And thanks to all of you who have been praying for Mom!)

Here's a photo of Mom and Dad with Thomas, their youngest grandson.

Finally, we have more good news. Mom and Dad had been unable to find Mom's wedding rings anywhere since Mom's hospitalization, and they had begun to believe that the rings had been lost. While I was visiting them in California, Dad found the rings as he was packing for the trip to Jonathan's wedding in Carson City! He must have placed them in his travel shaving kit during an overnight stay in a hotel while Mom was in the hospital, and then forgotten where they were. Mom was overjoyed to have the rings on her finger once more.

Climbing

2007-06-01T20:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Mom was able to climb up and back down a flight of stairs with the help of her therapist and a single-prong cane!

Half a Mile

2007-05-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on Mom's walking progress - and a photo for proof!

Two weeks ago Mom and Dad started going to their church almost every day for walking practice. The church has long hallways with thin industrial carpet that's not too difficult for Mom to walk on (with the help of Dad and her walker). The first day of walking Mom did 1/8 of a mile and was pretty tired. The next day she did 1/4 of a mile and was exhausted. That 1/4 mile walk took almost an hour. But by the end of the week, Mom could walk a half mile. This past week Mom did a half mile every day and was able to get her time down to 31 minutes. Dad's latest email to me on the subject shows off his "coach" mentality: "Her form is also improving a lot." :)

Initially Mom and Dad assumed that Mom would need a 3-inch heel on her left foot with a flat shoe on her right foot since it's still hard for Mom to straighten her left leg. Now Dad says that things are already looking hopeful, and Mom may be able to wear matching flat shoes in another week.

Mom has a wonderful doctor who has been very encouraging. He loves the contraptions Dad and the employees at Autometrix have made for Mom, and he is very happy with Mom's progress. At an appointment last week he told Mom to keep up the good work, saying, "You're beating the odds!" He wants Mom to continue walking lots despite the pain she feels in her joints from the heterotopic ossification (If you're having a hard time keeping your medical terms straight, you can refresh your memory... I first wrote about heterotopic ossification here). Mom's doctor actually hoping that the motion from stretching and walking will challenge the ossification and perhaps stop the process.

I'll end this post with the last paragraph from Dad's recent email to me:

In what may be the most exciting news of all, Mom slept 4 hours straight last night, between 1:00 and 5:00. Previously, she had been up every 45 minutes to 1 hour for most of the night. Thank you, Lord, I need the sleep.

Steps Toward Walking

2007-05-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

I know I'm way past due for an update here! Please forgive the lack of posts. To be honest, since Mom is doing so much better now and I know that she regularly reads my blogs, I feel a bit strange writing about her. Like I imagine mothers of toddlers feel as they blog about a child learning to walk or being toilet trained, all the while aware that someday that child will read it himself. Ha-ha.

Anyway, Mom is doing quite well. Here's a recent email from Dad:

Today was a red letter day! This morning at PT [Physical Therapy], Mom started with intense stretching, but it was less painful than lately. Then I thought that Carme [Mom's physical therapist] was going to either have Mom walk with the LightGait or with a walker, but she took one arm, and I took the other, and we strolled (Mom says we lurched, and that's closer to the truth) around the room. Then Carme got a cane (the kind with four feet) and she and Mom walked around the room again. Holding Mom's arm, she had Mom actually step up onto the treadmill, about a 4-6 inch step, and stand there while she put on the harness. Getting into the LightGait used to be a 10 minute process, involving three adults. This time it was Carme and Mom in about two or three minutes. Then Mom walked 0.25 miles in 16 minutes. She was exhausted, but happy, and it was beyond amazing, given what the doctors initially told us! Mom's left leg still has a long way to go to get straight, but we're seeing progress.

After we got home, we still did our usual therapy schedule, for the rest of the day. Then tonight, Mom helped cook dinner, folded laundry, rubbed my back (a red letter day for sure) and we're about to get ready for bed.

Isn't Mom's continuing progress amazing? Please keep praying - it is a great source of encouragement to Mom and to all of us!

Here's a picture of Mom in the LiteGait:

Worth a Thousand Words

2007-04-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

On Easter Sunday Mom and Dad went to church for the first time since Mom's brain aneurysm! They also went to my Dad's parents' home for Easter dinner. Mom is able to get out of the house so much more now thanks to the new handicapped-accessible van and to the fact that she is getting so much stronger. Here are some pictures from Easter:

Mom and Dad with Kim Thompson:

Mom talking to Shayleigh Davis, a girl in the co-op (Mom loves every student in the co-op and has dedicated so much time and energy to each one of them):

Mom with two wonderful friends, Yvette and Heather:

I saved the best for last:

They sang the song 'In Christ Alone' at the Twin Cities Easter service, which has become a favorite for both Mom and Dad through Mom's time in the hospital and her continuing recovery. It's one of my favorites, too. I'm going to end this post with the words to the song:

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Specific Prayer Requests

2007-03-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

Mom has begun therapy with her new therapist, Carme (Car-may), and Mom and Dad both think she is just fantastic. She's been very encouraging about a prognosis for Mom's recovery. She's definitely going to be working Mom very hard! Mom has therapy on Mondays and Thursdays.

At her first appointment this past Monday, Mom and Dad filled out some paperwork. The last question on the form asked what Mom's goals were. Dad said he wanted to write, "Walking, running, and dancing," but Mom just had him put down "walking." When Carme read the form, she told Mom, "You want to walk again; good," and Mom backpedalled a bit, explaining that she knew it might never be possible. Carme said, "How soon do you want to walk?" and Mom answered that she'd like to walk in time for Jonathan and Jenn's wedding in July. Carme replied, "I think that's a reasonable goal. I can't make promises, but I'll do everything I can to help your 'fearfully and wonderfully made' body achieve that goal." Yay!

Lots of doctors have been telling Dad that any progress that can be made after a stroke will occur within the first 3-6 months, and that we shouldn't expect further improvement after that. Carme told Mom and Dad that neural plasticity (the ability of neural circuits to change in function or organization) is very real, and it is quite possible for other parts of the brain to take over and compensate for lost or damaged portions. She can't guarantee specific progress for Mom, of course, but she seems optimistic.

At Thursday's therapy appointment, Carme put Mom into what's called a "LiteGait." A harness around Mom's waist supports her, and the LiteGait rolls on wheels. Carme moved Mom's left leg and foot, and Mom moved her own right leg, and Dad wheeled the LiteGait along, and through all this... Mom 'walked' across the room twice! Dad reports, "It was pretty cool."

Also on Thursday, Carme asked Mom and Dad if they attended church. She then asked if Mom was being prayed for by a prayer chain. When Mom and Dad replied that lots of people all over the country and even the world have been in prayer for Mom's recovery, Carme responded that she'd like us to ask people to pray for three very specific things:

1. For Mom's left leg to be able to straighten.
2. For Mom to be able to align her hips directly over her toes when she is in the standing frame.
3. That Mom will be able to walk in time for Jonathan and Jenn's wedding in July.

Mom requested that I put these specific prayer requests here on the blog for the benefit of the prayer chain of friends and family who read here. Well, there you have it! Start praying, please!

I hope it's helpful to all of you to have some specific prayer requests in mind concerning Mom's recovery. I just want to remind you how encouraging it is to all of us in the family to know that Mom is in the thoughts and prayers of so many. Thank you.

Phone Call

2007-03-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

This evening I got to talk to Mom on the phone... for twenty-five minutes! What a change from just a month ago, when Mom would croak out an exhausted "Hi, sweetie," and hand the phone back to Dad. She sounds much stronger now!

Update From Dad

2007-03-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

Here's an update straight from Dad, written yesterday:

Mom's had a really good week. This has been our first week with no sickness or medication reactions, and it's made a big difference. Mom's sleeping well now, much less pain, so we've been able to really focus on therapy. Each day, we're doing at least 4 hours of therapy, geared toward flexibility, strength, and coordination. She's looking better and better in the standing frame, and able to spend more time standing. This morning, while Mom was in the standing frame, Christopher was playing a Beach Boys tune, and Mom started dancing to it. Dancing might be a little too strong a word, but she was bouncing, and shifting her weight between legs, and I was dazzled.

We've been out in the new van almost every day, so that Mom can get used to it. It's fun to get out of the house a little.

On Monday we have our first appt with the best PT in the area for Neuro Rehab, so I'm really excited about that.

In just the last week, we can tell that Mom is much stronger, able to move her left side more and more, and can sit and play a game for over an hour now. She can lift both feet onto the lift, and she can do standing transfers easily now.

It's been a very encouraging week for both of us. Keep praying, I think it's starting to work.

Here's a picture of the van Dad mentioned. As you can see, it's wheelchair accessible, and it's made it possible for Mom and Dad to start getting out and about! They've even taken the van to briefly visit my grandparents, and to go grab sandwiches at Arby's. They also use it to take Mom to therapy appointments.

Contraption

2007-03-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of a standing frame to help Mom practice standing and stretching her legs. Dad emailed me pictures last night and I sure enjoyed seeing them - I hope you all will, too. The frame lets Mom stand up much straighter than she's been able to before, and it allows variable amounts of weight to be lowered onto Mom's feet as she progresses in increments. This is just one of the frames Dad and the guys at Autometrix have designed and built.

Dad reports that Mom is able to achieve a little more motion on her left side with each week that passes. She can lift her left foot about two inches now.

Here's Mom with her number one caregiver and therapist - Dad:

Answered Prayer

2007-03-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

These days there isn't as much daily progress or news to report as there used to be when Mom was in the hospital in the earlier stages of her recovery, but I do have an answered prayer to share with you all. In this post I mentioned Mom's prayer that she would be able to hold Thomas, her new grandson, when she met him. Well, my sister Emily is visiting Mom and Dad right now with her new baby, and Mom has been able to hold him often!

It seems that being in a home with Dad and Christopher is working out well for Mom. Her nights are more peaceful now than they were in the hospital where she frequently had panic attacks. Mom is continuing with lots of therapy, and Dad is staying busy designing and implementing (with the help of the guys at Autometrix!) creative new feats of engineering specifically to help Mom in her therapy and recovery. I may be able to post a picture of one of these contraptions soon.

A Long Overdue Update

2007-02-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hi Family and Friends,

My apologies for not updating the blog recently. For a while, the news was not good, and I always have a hard time bringing myself to write bad news. Good news, however, I love writing about, and there's plenty of that lately.

I'll try to briefly summarize the past few weeks:

The day after my last post was written, Mom was taken back to the hospital. She had become very sick while at home and eventually could not keep down any of her meds - meds that controlled pain, anxiety, and depression. As you can imagine, things were spiralling downhill rapidly. Back in the hospital, some initial scans caused concern that there was another bleed in Mom's brain. After a couple of different hospitals and a lot of worry and concern, there was good news! No new bleeding after all. Mom stayed in the hospital for a while to stabilize. It was determined that it was a virus that caused her illness. It also caused her to relapse; she got considerably weaker (to the point where she was no longer able to assist in transfers) and backslid in other areas as well.

We were expecting Mom to remain in the hospital for some time, but this past weekend, Dad took her 'home!'...home to the house he is renting, a house more central to town than our house out on Lazy Dog Road. The doctors told Dad that Mom could recover just as well at home as at the hospital, given the right in-home care. Right now it's important that Mom not catch any more bugs, so visitors are encouraged to keep visits between 5 and 10 minutes and to keep children and sickness away.

The news from home is mostly good recently. Mom and Dad seem in considerably better spirits, and are enjoying the freedom of being outside the hospital. They're both glad to be making home-cooked meals again as opposed to hospital fare! I've talked to Mom on the phone several times, and her voice is the strongest it's been in a long time. She and Dad continue to ask your prayers for recovery. Right now, it's nice to see how prayers are being answered in so many ways.

Prayer request from Dad

2007-02-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

Well, the transition to living at home hasn't been going very well for Mom so far. The doctors changed Mom's meds/dosages the day of the transfer, which didn't end up working out at all - Mom was in a great deal of pain, and suffered from extreme anxiety as well. Consequently, the whole family spent three sleepless nights and days trying to help Mom adjust. Mom's also developed a bug and hasn't been feeling well at all. When I spoke with her on the phone last, I could barely hear her squeak out sentences. Poor Mom! Sometimes, when you think things can't get worse... they do. She did ask me to pray for something specifically: that her arms would get stronger so she can hold Thomas! (Thomas is Emily's baby, expected to arrive any day now! Emily will be taking a trip up to visit Mom and let her meet the baby shortly after he's born.) That prayer request was spoken in a very sad voice. I know it would mean a lot to Mom, so add this small thing to your thoughts and prayers for her.

I received the following email from Dad this evening, which pretty much summarizes the situation with Mom at home:

Hi Sarah,

Things aren't going as well as we hoped when we brought Mom home. The doctors changed her meds on the day we came home, and it took us a couple of days to get that sorted out. New doctors wanted new meds, and with all the changes, Mom spent three sleepless nights (so did the rest of us). We thought we were making progress on that, then Mom developed a cough, then thrush, and couldn't swallow anything because of the pain, We thought that was getting better, but tonight Mom started vomiting. She's too weak to do a transfer, so it's a good thing we bought the electric lift.

We're experimenting with med changes, and hoping to make progress.

This is way way harder than I ever imagined. Ask people to pray harder.

Love you,
Dad

Home

2007-01-31T08:42:00.000-08:00

Mom is going home today! This is both exciting and terrifying, to tell the truth. Dad has gotten a lot of new things to help make the transition easier - things like a hospital bed and a lift in our house. Mom will be transported by ambulance back to our house on Lazy Dog Road. Please pray that the transition goes smoothly, and that Mom will be able to keep her spirits up as she returns home to a life very different than it was when she left twelve weeks ago.

Walking!

2007-01-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today we have two praises to share!

First of all, the insurance company is going to provide for Mom to stay at the hospital for six more days. She'll be going home next Wednesday, but these six extra days should help a lot.

Second, Mom kinda-sorta walked today! She had one therapist on one side and another one behind her helping. Mom would pick up her right leg and transfer her weight, and then the therapist would help her with the left side. With one hand on a dining table, Mom 'walked' all the way around that table. Dad said that this is the first time Mom has felt hope that maybe someday she will really walk again.

What a day!

A brief update...

2007-01-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

The insurance company won't give Mom more than a few days at a time in the hospital - they won't commit to an extended period of time. However, they did provide another week; we had thought last week would be the final week they would cover. Now it's looking like Mom will be going home very soon - possibly this week. Of course, this is both exciting and scary... big changes.

Please keep our Dad in your prayers; his health is truly suffering from the emotional strain and stress Mom's situation has put on him.

I'm back...

2007-01-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

Dear family and friends,

My apologies for not updating this blog recently. As most of you know, in the past month I got married... twice! Well, just one marriage, but two weddings. So things have been very busy. The first wedding was at Auburn Faith Hospital so that Mom could be with us. It turned out to be a very popular event: several news crews showed up! You can watch news clips here and here.

Prior to the weddings, we all had a nice Christmas as a family right in Mom's hospital room. For Christmas Eve I made a CD of some favorite carols and planned a service of Lessons and Carols for our family; we took turns reading the Scripture lessons and we sang carols along with the CD. Christmas Day we opened some presents at the hospital and then helped Grandma and Grandpa fix Christmas dinner, which we took to the hospital. Mom enjoyed having "real" food.

Mom is working hard at her physical, speech, and occupational therapy, but she has been experiencing a great deal of pain in her joints - particularly in her hips. The pain seems to be hindering her from making the progress we all hoped she would make.

Several days ago the doctors began to suspect that her joint pain was more serious than the normal discomfort or stiffness they had assumed was from lack of motion. An orthopaedic surgeon examined some X-rays and determined that Mom has heterotopic ossification in her hips. It's an extremely rare condition - which is probably why no one caught it any sooner - that is occasionally brought on by a stroke. It basically means that the muslces and tendons in Mom's hips are calcifying and growing bones. Sounds like something out of Harry Potter, doesn't it? Needless to say, it's an extremely painful process, and unfortunately the doctors are prescribing the same 'WaitAndSee' treatment that Mom's been getting a lot of. Unless the doctors can come up with a good treatment, they'll wait until Mom's body stops growing these bones and then remove them surgically. The doctors don't want to use any medication for fear of side effects that could complicate her stroke recovery or compromise her bones. In the meantime, the doctors have increased her pain med levels so that she will hopefully be able to make progress in therapy without being so hindered by pain. The meds help a little, but Mom is still in pain. She needs to keep trying to move and being moved by Dad and by nurses in spite of the pain, or her joints will become stiffer.

Please pray that Mom's doctors will find good and accurate information in their research on this condition. Pray that a treatment will be found that will work for Mom. Pray for Mom's pain management. Pray that Mom will be able to stay in the hospital until she has the treatment and therapy she needs. Even though we think that Mom is making progress, it doesn't seem to be enough for our insurance company; they plan to stop paying for Mom's stay in rehab very soon. Dad is being trained in wheelchair transfers and other ways that he and Mom will make life work when she leaves the hospital. He's also been talking to doctors about long-term therapy at home, but we really hope Mom can stay in the hospital a while longer.

And finally, my parents really need prayer emotionally as well as physically. Dad stays at the hospital with Mom for most of the day every day, but of course he can't be there all the time. Mom has been having panic attacks at night. I think sometimes she forgets where she is, but even when she remembers exactly what is going on, I'm sure the reality of her situation is incredibly overwhelming, frightening, and discouraging.

The good news is that Mom has begun using her left arm as well as her right! With support under her elbow, she can move her hand from her waist to her face. Dad says he's hopeful that this is just the beginning of her left side beginning to "wake up" as her right side has been doing.

Thank you for your comments, thoughts, prayers, cards, and visits. Mom loves knowing that her family and friends are thinking of her and praying for her so constantly. Thank you.

A Change of Scenery

2006-12-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon Mom was transferred to Sutter Auburn Faith hospital where she will begin acute rehabilitation. We are all really excited about this new chapter in Mom's recovery process. Mom doesn't seem quite as excited as we are, judging from the fact that she slept soundly through the entire transfer process: changing from the hospital gown into sweatpants and a T-shirt (her first time in 'real' clothes in 6.5 weeks!), being loaded onto a gurney, an ambulance ride from Roseville to Auburn, and then the transfer into her new room (acute rehab room 5). Mom hadn't slept well the previous night, and she was just exhausted. Today she began her rehab evaluations, and she'll begin her regular therapy schedule next Tuesday.

This past Wednesday, Mom began making slight movements with her left hand! She can lift her index finger and squeeze it together with her thumb. Dad says that this is how she began moving on the right side of her body; a little bit at a time. Right now, she can squeeze her stuffed penguin's foot with her thumb and finger. We are all hoping this is just the beginning of recovery of motion on her left side.

An Adventure

2006-12-20T22:35:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I asked Mom's speech therapist (a wonderful lady!) if she thought it might be possible for us to take Mom for a little walk in a wheelchair. Mom regularly spends time sitting up in a chair now, and I thought a change of scenery might be good for her. The speech therapist said she thought that would be terrific, so when the physical therapists came, we asked them to get Mom into a wheelchair. We were able to take her for a short walk through the hallways of the hospital and even out into a courtyard so she could breathe the fresh air. Aunt Susan and I alternated pushing the wheelchair and taking pictures of the expedition, while Dad pushed Mom's IV pole. The nurses were wonderful; many of them waved and cheered for Mom as we went by. They called her by name and asked her to smile, to wave, and to say hello. Mom lifted her right hand in a little wave that looked like the "Miss America" wave, and the nurses unanimously agreed that Mom looked ready for the Rose Parade.

Mom has a small stuffed bear in addition to her penguin, and today she was playing little games with them as she worked to regain use of her hands. She could pinch the bear's paws together to grab the penguin's beak. Mom likes setting little challenges for herself and trying to meet them. She's very determined to recover use of her limbs. Please continue to pray for her physical progress, and particularly that her left arm, leg, and hand will begin to progress as her right side has.

Hopefully Mom will be transferred to Auburn Faith on Friday.

Back in California!

2006-12-19T22:13:00.000-08:00

I'm back in California for Christmas, and I got to see Mom today! She is doing so much better than the last time I saw her. It's encouraging to see how much progress she's been able to make. Her eyes are bright and alert, she's talking, she can feed herself with her right hand with a bit of help, and she can reach up and wipe her face with a washcloth. She enjoys cracking jokes with the physical therapists and the nurses, and we all had some good laughs together. Lou and Melinda came to visit today, and it was obvious that Mom really enjoyed their company.

Mom qualified for acute rehabilitation several days ago, which was very exciting news. In fact, we had been hoping that she would be there by now, but she is being kept at Sutter for another day or two because she has developed a few infections. She is being treated with antibiotics, but she won't be moved to acute rehab in Auburn until she is more stable.

Slings and Chairs and Penguins, Oh My!

2006-12-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

Mom's trach tube has been removed! She is doing very well. Today when the physical therapists sat her up on the edge of her bed, she was doing so well that they decided to use a sling to move her into a chair. When I spoke with Dad, Mom had been sitting in the chair for half and hour, holding herself upright and holding her head up. Mom's sense of humor is definitely intact; when Dad told me on the phone about the sling they had used to move Mom into the chair, Mom said to him: "It's like the slings they use to move beached whales back into the ocean."

A friend gave Mom a small stuffed penguin, and she uses it to practice holding, grabbing, and moving. She can reach for it and lift it up to her face with her right hand. Dad is hopeful that Mom can move to an acute rehabilitation center within the next few weeks.

"The Race is On!"

2006-12-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

Dad reports that today was a good day for Mom. The doctors have done CT scans of her lungs to make sure that there are no blood clots there, and the scans came back looking good. They also say that the clot in her leg is dissolving, and the physical therapists should be able to resume their work in moving Mom around a lot by tomorrow. This morning they put a cap over the trach tube, so all day Mom has been breathing regular air completely on her own! She's been doing very well with that.

Dad took an audio recording of a Jeeves and Wooster book to the hospital with him today, and he and Mom listened to it. Mom seemed to really enjoy listening to it, and she laughed at all the funny parts. Dad talked to Mom about some of his goals and timeframes for things at work. He related those timeframes to his hopes for Mom's timely recovery process, and Mom replied, "The race is on!"

Negligence

2006-12-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Mom is being transferred back to Sutter Roseville. She has developed a blood clot in her leg due to negligence on the part of the nursing staff at Kindred Hospital. The nurses are supposed to move Mom's arms and legs every two hours, and they are also supposed to put special stockings on her legs that continually massage her to keep the blood from pooling. Today, we learned that she was not moved for 8 hours. The stockings were not put on her legs. No one knew the nursing staff was not doing their job properly, and Dad especially feels pretty helpless - and angry.

The staff at Kindred discovered the clot through an ultrasound which was ordered by a doctor yesterday but not actually performed until 3:30 this afternoon.

If the blood clot breaks free and moves to Mom's heart, lungs, brain, or anywhere else, it could obviously do a lot of damage. The doctors are giving her blood thinners and considering doing a surgery to insert a shield that would prevent the clot from moving.

I asked Dad if Mom knew what was happening; he thinks she does. I asked if she was scared, and Dad replied that he thinks Mom is beyond fear at this point. Please pray that the doctors at the good hospital will be able to remedy the situation caused by extreme negligence at the bad hospital.

Now seems like a good time to present an idea I had recently: I'd like to make a Map of Prayers for my Mom. You can see an example of what it can look like here. That's a map of states I've visited, but I'm hoping to make a map of all the places where people are praying for my Mom. So leave a comment including your location, and I'll make a map. If you have friends praying in other locations, mention them here as well. I think we have people in California, Massachusetts, Iowa, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania who have been praying for Mom. I'm sure there are many others as well, but I can't remember them all, so... that's where you come in!

Change of Scenery

2006-12-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon Mom was moved to a transitional care facility at a hospital in Folsom. She no longer needs to be in trauma neuro intensive care, but she's not ready for intensive rehabilitation yet. Dad reports that the new hospital is hideously ugly - not as uplifting an environment as the really nice hospital in Roseville where Mom has been thus far. Of course, family and friends can always make an ugly room a lot brighter! So please do visit Mom if you're able; Dad says she really brightens up every time friends come to see her. (I'm already counting down the days until I can see her again.)

Dad told Mom he was sorry the new hospital location is not as nice as the former one, and Mom replied that she would keep her spirits up if he would, too. They are both hanging in there... together!

Everyone should read Lou's comment on my last post. He remembers some specific things Mom said when he last visited her. Lou, thanks for your visits to the hospital and for your comments here on the blog! It really brightened my day yesterday to see your post and know what Mom had been saying. "They say a little; I say a LOT" sounds like Mom is keeping a positive outlook!

Hanging In There

2006-12-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Mom has ups and downs in this recovery process. On the down days, I usually don't post anything, because frankly, I only like to post with good news! But yesterday was an "up day!" Definitely worth sharing.

The doctors are able to put a valve on Mom's trach tube that enables her to pass a bit of air past her vocal cords so she can speak. When they first put the valve on, Mom was actually too tired to talk at all, but yesterday she was able to speak to Dad in a whisper! Of course, it was so good for Dad to be able to converse with her after a full month of not really knowing what she was thinking or feeling. She tires very easily, but Dad was able to get in some good conversation time with her yesterday. Dad asked Mom a variety of questions which she was able to answer. She said that she is only really able to do one thing at a time; it takes her full concentration to either talk, or to squeeze with her fingers, but at this time she is unable to do both simultaneously.

Dad explained to Mom what the next steps in her recovery will be: she will likely be moved to a hospital in Folsom within the next week or two as an intermediary place before she begins rehabilitation. Dad asked, "Can you keep hanging in there?" and Mom replied, "I can hang in there."

Later in the evening the doctors put the valve on again. Mom was tired by this point, but she could say "yes" or "no." Dad told her that Nathan and I will be getting married in the hospital so she can be there, and she said "yes," which I think was her way of conveying approval. Dad told her he'd pick out a nice hat for her to wear, and Mom said "yes" again. She still needs lots of rest, but when she is able to be awake, her mind is quite alert.

Good News

2006-12-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Over the past few days, Mom has continued to be able to move very slightly. Dad reports that when he rubs her hand, after several minutes she is able to exert a bit of pressure back to his hand - a small squeeze. She has also made slight motion with her right foot.

The doctors will be putting a valve on Mom's trach tube soon that will enable her to voice these words that she has been mouthing. We are very excited that we'll soon be able to understand what she's trying to communicate!

Motion

2006-11-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

Today as Dad was holding and rubbing Mom's right hand, she was able to move her fingers slightly when he asked her to!

This is great news, obviously, and we hope just the beginning. The doctors have been doing MRIs to try to discern why Mom seems unable to move. There are certainly areas in her brain where damage has occurred, but the doctors aren't convinced that any of the damage is the sort that would prevent her from moving her limbs.

Mom's ability to move her fingers today is very encouraging to all of us. We've all been a little (okay, a lot) worried... including Mom.

Mom is still mouthing lots of words and sentences. It'll be great when the trach tube can be removed and she can start talking.

"I'm ready now."

2006-11-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

Today Joy Waggoner, a woman from church who reads lips, visited Mom in the hospital. What a wonderful ministry she was able to provide to Mom and Dad through her ability! Unfortunately Mom wasn't at her most talkative during the time that Joy was there, but she did talk a little, and Joy "translated" for Dad.

A few good tidbits:

Joy: "Lou Douros was in this same Intensive Care Unit a while ago, and now he's fine!"
Mom: "Lou's never been 'fine.'"

(At least we know her sense of humor is intact!)

Dad: "The next step for you will be to do rehab at an acute rehab facility. But before you can be accepted, you have to be ready to do at least three hours of rehab each day."
Mom: "I'm ready now."

Our Mom is a very determined woman!

She did an hour and a half up in the chair today. Dad is very anxious to see her begin moving her arms and legs soon, as we still haven't seen any signs of that.

We're so grateful that Joy shared her abilities with our family today. Mom's been mouthing words for several days now, and I'm sure she was glad to finally be understood.

Smiles!

2006-11-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

Dad reports that as of yesterday, Mom is giving little smiles! The physical therapists keep her up in the chair for up to two hours a day now, and she's also been mouthing more and more words and sentences each day.

She hasn't been moving her arms and legs since the three surgeries that occurred after she first woke from her coma. Please pray that she'll regain the ability to move her appendages soon.

Friends and Hymns

2006-11-26T23:14:00.000-08:00

The latest from Dad is that today was a great day for Mom! Maybe even the best so far. Mom was mouthing a lot of words (including the names of us four kids), and seemed very alert fairly frequently. Lilly and Kim went to the hospital to visit her and got to go in and see her. When Mom saw Lilly come in, she clearly mouthed Lilly's name. I'm sure Mom's glad to see friends. Kim and Lilly sang the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" for her.

The doctors seem to believe that it will take a long time, but Mom will be able to make a good recovery.

Progress!

2006-11-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a hard day. Mom had her eyes open, but didn't seem responsive for the most part. It's been tough to see her backsliding after the progress she was making a week ago, but today I have good news to report! Physical therapists have continued working with Mom, and today they had her held up in a chair for an hour. They move her limbs for her to send reverse signals to the brain to help it "wake up."

Dad found Mom significantly more responsive today than yesterday. He asked her if she could mouth words for him, starting with the word "hello," and he is fairly certain that she mouthed the word clearly. She can't talk yet because her vocal cords are swollen from the breathing tube that has been down her throat for the past two weeks, but it's great news that she can mouth words!

The doctors need Mom to be able to cough strongly to loosen anything in her lungs before they can remove the trach tube. Whenever Mom coughs, we encourage her to cough more and cough harder! This afternoon Dad was encouraging Mom by saying, "Come on, cough really good!" Dad is almost certain that Mom--ever the Grammar Queen of the Palmer household!--looked at him and mouthed the word "well." And finally, my older sister Emily visited for Thanksgiving, and she clipped Mom's fingernails for her and put lotion on her hands. Mom mouthed, "thank you."

I guess our Thanksgiving just came a day late; Thursday was a low point for Mom (and thus for all of us), but today has shown us progress! We're thankful.

Surgery #5

2006-11-23T09:48:00.000-08:00

Last night around 6 pm Mom went in for her tracheostomy. (The procedure is reversible.) I'm in Pennsylvania right now, spending Thanksgiving with my fiance and his family, but Dad called me last night to report that the doctors said the surgery went well. I'll continue posting updates whenever I hear news from Dad.

Surgery #4

2006-11-21T22:27:00.000-08:00

This morning Mom underwent surgery to insert a permanent shunt. They haven't yet done the tracheostomy. The anesthesiologist reported that this morning's surgery went well, and a few hours after the surgery, Mom was awake and making eye contact with each of us again. We had been concerned that this surgery might leave Mom back in a coma for a few days, so we're very grateful that it didn't prove to be much of a setback.

More surgeries...

2006-11-20T21:03:00.000-08:00

Dad, Christopher and I just spent a good afternoon with Mom at the hospital. Her eyes were open quite wide today, and she looked at each of us for long periods of time as we held her hands, patted her arms and legs, and talked to her. She could squeeze her eyes very tightly shut when the nurse asked her to, and she could also stick her tongue out on command. These probably sound like silly little things to be excited about, but this is a big improvement from just a day or two ago.

They didn't do a tracheostomy today, but they have determined that the procedure will unfortunately be necessary. Before doing that surgery--which leaves an open wound--they need to do the surgery to insert a permanent shunt (an internal "brain drain," if you will). They'll be doing that tomorrow.

We are hoping and praying that the doctors will be able to arrange the tracheostomy directly after the shunt surgery tomorrow, so that Mom only has to go under the anesthesia once. We're so glad to have had her so awake and alert today, and the repeated surgeries seem to cause setbacks in that process. However, it may not be possible to have the surgeries occur immediately in succession.

This morning Dad got to be at the hospital when physical therapists came in to work with Mom for the first time. They moved her to a sitting position in a chair! She's not able to move or sit by herself right now, but the therapists told Dad that the fact that they are beginning the therapy process is a good sign.

Thank you all for your comments, thoughts, and prayers. It's so meaningful to all of us to see how much Mom is loved.

Trachea

2006-11-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning a doctor will be sending a small camera down Mom's trachea to see if the swelling in her trachea and vocal folds has gone down enough to remove the breathing tube. If the swelling hasn't gone down, they still need to remove the breathing tube at this point, so they will have to do an additional surgery called a tracheostomy. Please pray that the swelling has gone down when the doctors inspect Mom's trachea tomorrow morning! We've seen how additional surgeries cause more setbacks in Mom's recovery.

The good news for today is that Mom is definitely responding with eye blinks when we ask her to. We are really hoping that a tracheostomy is not necessary so she can continue healing and improving.

Sleeping

2006-11-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hand squeezes and blinks are few and far between since the third surgery took place. Mom is mostly unresponsive. Please pray that there will be better news to report soon.

Surgery #3

2006-11-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Mom had to undergo a third surgery. This one was to remove the first drain from her brain and insert a new one in a different location. Since the surgery, Mom has been in a deep sleep again. This afternoon the doctor re-positioned the new drain and made some adjustments to alleviate the pressure in Mom's head. By evening, Mom had awakened just enough to open her eyes a little and squeeze Dad's hand again.

Dad's still her main squeeze

2006-11-14T22:26:00.000-08:00

Dad's latest report: Tonight, Mom was able to squeeze Dad's finger pretty hard with alternately both her right hand and her left hand when he asked her to.

These times where her eyes are open and she's communicating with us or moving are few and far between, because Mom still needs a lot of rest. She can wake up for about fifteen minutes at a time before she falls back into a deep sleep. But each day seems to bring more waking hours and more new things Mom can do.

Determination!

2006-11-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

This morning, my determined mother reached up and pulled her breathing tube all the way out of her throat! She was being moved after having a routine CT scan performed, and I guess she decided to take the opportunity (while her hands weren't restrained as they usually are) to really let us know how much she dislikes that tube. Her trachea is still swollen, so the doctors had to re-insert the tube. We know that process is uncomfortable for Mom. However, I can't help thinking it's encouraging that Mom can move her arms and has the strength to yank that tube out -- even tearing the tape around her head that was holding it to her mouth.

In the afternoon, I got to spend some time with Mom while she was the most awake she's been so far. She could open her eyes much wider than yesterday, and Dad was coaxing her to communicate "yes" or "no" with eye blinks. I really think she hears what we say and is trying to respond. Dad asked her if she was in pain, and other questions like that. When I came into the room, Mom lifted her right hand up a little, and moved her eyes to look at me. I asked her to just blink if she loves us, and she blinked four or five times really rapidly, just fluttering her eyelashes. I guess it could have been a coincidence, but we're pretty convinced she's able to do these blinks intentionally to respond to us. Isn't that exciting?

One week

2006-11-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Today marks one week now since D (Disaster) Day. After showering this morning, I came down to find a typewritten note from Dad on the kitchen table. The page contained details for today's schedule from beginning to end. Dad is trying to pull things together for us--into some semblance of normal life and organization--and he's doing a great job. We're all remaining optimistic about Mom's recovery. If you know my Mom, you probably know that it's hard not to be optimistic about her! It's hard to imagine anything other than a good recovery. She is such a very determined woman.

Dad has dubbed the house in Roseville the EGG. That stands for Extremely Generous Gift, but it also represents new life -- the gift of Mom's life gradually coming back to us after such a close call. Isn't my Dad clever? Christopher and I will be spending lots of time there. He can do school there, I can fix lunch for all of us, and I can even do some work for my Dad's company on a laptop while we're there each day. Most importantly, we'll be really near Mom.

Waking up

2006-11-13T21:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the first day the doctors began to let Mom awaken from her induced coma. They reduced the level of the medication that was keeping her asleep (propofol), and watched her vital signs to see how her body responded. Her blood pressure rose too high at that time, so the doctors waited until Sunday to try again. By the time we got to the hospital on Sunday morning, Mom was completely off the propofol, and was beginning to be responsive! By last night, she was opening her eyes slightly (she can open her right eye wider than her left right now), and moving her limbs a little! She moved her toes, and even slowly scooted her foot over to cross her legs at the ankle. We have been so relieved to see that she seems capable of motion on both sides of her body, and seems to hear us, too. The aneurysm occurred in or near the part of her brain that controls hearing, vision, and motor control... so we're understandably thrilled to see her opening her eyes, hearing, and moving!

Sunday afternoon, Kim came to visit us all, and she got to go see Mom and sing to her. She sang "Be Thou My Vision," which is one of Mom's favorite hymns. I hope Mom was able to hear and enjoy it. Later that evening, Lou came to the hospital too, and got to go see Mom as well. It's been a real source of encouragement for our family to know that not long ago, Lou's life was saved in the very same hospital unit where Mom is right now.

Last night, Mom was able to lift fingers when asked to by a doctor, and she could open her eyes on command as well. Mom seemed to respond best to Dad; when he talked to her she would turn slightly toward him and try especially hard to open her eyes. One of the neatest things to see happened as we were getting ready to go home for the night. Dad told Mom it was time for us to go home and get some sleep. As he let go of her hand, Mom distinctly lifted her hand off the bed toward his. Of course, after seeing that, we stayed longer. :)

This morning, I asked Mom if she could lift her right index finger for me. I had been holding her hand, and I rubbed that finger a little. She lifted the finger on command! I wondered if I had imagined it, but when Dad and Jonathan came in to see her too, I asked her again and she repeated it.

It's Monday evening now, and Mom's already made a lot of improvement today. She's opening her eyes wider than before, and seems to be shaking her head "no" to answer yes or no questions. The doctor started this with her by asking questions and seeing if she could respond. She really does seem to be communicating this way for now. While Emily, Christopher and I were in the room with Mom, I got concerned that maybe we were bothering her or keeping her from resting. I held her hand and asked if she'd like us to leave for a while and let her get some rest. She turned her head all the way to one side, and then all the way back to the other side. We were pretty happy that she wanted us to stay. She's been stretching her legs out, moving her arms a bit, and lifting her hands. She can also hold her eyes open for longer than she could yesterday.

Mom is still on a respirator, which is obviously bothering her a lot. She's actually been initiating most of her own breaths since Friday or Saturday, and by Sunday she was initiating all her breaths. The respirator just helps her finish those breaths deeply enough. Today they tried to remove the tube from her throat, but they found that her trachea had become so swollen that it was very difficult for her to breathe. Unfortunately, they had to re-insert the tube, which I know is really uncomfortable for Mom. They have restrained her hands so she can't reach up and grab it out of her mouth -- but she still keeps trying! She also resorts to trying to push it out of her mouth with her tongue. We sure hope the swelling will go down soon so they can get that painful tube out of her very soon. She has a bit of bronchitis right now, so we're praying for that to heal quickly too.

Emily, Little Jonathan (my nephew), and Aunt Susan are heading back down to Southern California tomorrow. Emily has an appointment with her midwife that she can't miss. Jonathan leaves to return to school in Texas on Wednesday. I'm sticking around to help in any way I can for as long as I'm needed. (I'm fortunate that my music students have been so flexible and understanding about my sudden departure and leave of absence.) Right now, all of us in the family are kind of taking things a day at a time. We're glad to see her waking up slowly, and anxious for her to continue in her recovery. We sure miss having our wonderful Mom in her full and usual capacity - full of energy, loving us and talking to us, and living life to the fullest.

The first few days...

2006-11-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, November 7, shortly after noon, my Mom suffered a burst brain aneurysm. The bleeding in her brain caused her to have a stroke. She temporarily lost most of her ability to speak, and began to lose use of her limbs. She was immediately taken to the hospital in Grass Valley, and she was shortly flown by helicoptor to a hospital in Roseville. She has been in the Trauma Neuro Intensive Care Unit since Tuesday evening. She has undergone two surgeries - one to insert a temporary drain for the blood and fluid beneath her skull putting pressure on her brain, and another more extensive procedure to find and repair the burst vessel. She has been in a coma since Tuesday night. Today (Sunday) she is gradually beginning to wake up, but we know it will be a slow process.

Of course, after hearing the news about Mom, all of us kids wanted to come home from our various parts of the country. On Wednesday, I flew from Boston to Sacramento, and Jonathan flew from Dallas to Sacramento. Melinda, a family friend, picked us both up and brought us to the hospital to see Mom. Dad was really glad to see us walk in. We got to see Mom right away. People keep telling us that she's in the best hospital she could possibly be in, and we believe them. Her doctors and nurses are wonderful about letting us spend time with her. They're also very gracious about answering all our questions. If we sanitize our hands and wear gloves, we can hold her hands and touch her to let her know we're with her. We talk to her when she seems to have the energy to listen.

Emily and her 19 month old son Jonathan drove up from Southern California with my Aunt Susan, Mom's sister. So, we've all been here as a family, spending each day in the hospital lobby and taking turns seeing Mom. Emily and Susan are heading back to their homes soon, and Jonathan will return to school. I'll be staying to help out for a while.

Now, for the good news about Mom's condition. Mom is doing really well, all things considered. A number of things contribute to her current condition being what it is, and we're really grateful for how God takes care of His children even when circumstances are difficult. First of all, my Dad had just returned from a business trip to Florida. We can't imagine much harder this would have been if Dad hadn't been here when this happened. As it was, Dad was able to be with Mom really soon after it happened, and sit with her in the hospital. I'm sure his presence provided her with a lot of comfort, as she was still conscious at that point. Secondly, Mom was already in town when the vessel burst. She was having lunch with a wonderful friend, who did all the right things. She got Mom to the car while she could still move, and drove her straight to the hospital. If Mom had been at our home with Christopher when this happened, it could have taken three to four times longer for her to get help -- we live quite a ways out of town, and Christopher doesn't drive yet. Third, while Mom was waiting for a bed to open up at one of the three hospitals that can deal with this kind of neuro trauma, the first hospital with an open bed was, we subsequently learned, the BEST place for Mom to be right now. Finally, Mom is a great candidate to make a good recovery from the stroke. She is otherwise healthy and fit, very determined, and basically just a tough nut to crack!

Our family has been absolutely surrounded with the love and prayers of friends. It's been really amazing to see how much my Mom was loved. I always knew she was the best ever, but I didn't know how much everyone else loved her, too! Mom's pastor and his wife have come to see us at the hospital, Lou and Melinda have been there several times with us, and Matt and Amber, along with Emma and Gregory, came up and spent a day at the hospital with us. My Dad's general manager at his work happens to be an M.D., and he's been an invaluable resource to us for both information and encouragement. My Mom has given so much to so many in our community - particularly to the home schooling families in our area. All of these families are showering us with really tangible ways to express their love and concern. The phone calls, the offers to help, the meals... it's incredible. Most of all, we're grateful for the prayers.

Believe it or not, people have even offered us a HOUSE (and cleaned, furnished, and stocked it for us!) just about ten minutes away from the hospital. Using this house will let us be really near Mom while she needs us. We know the recovery process is going to take time.

Prayers are appreciated, friends. Thank you.

Introduction

2006-11-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

I want to use my first post on this blog to briefly introduce myself. I know that my Mom's circle of friends has changed enormously in the years since I've moved away from California, due largely to the creation of the homeschool co-op. Many of you may have never met me! Well, Sandy is my amazing Mom, and I'm her second oldest daughter (I'm 23 years old). Although I've been living in Massachusetts for the past three and a half years, I'm going to be back here in California for a while to try to help my family in any way I can while Mom recovers. I've been keeping a personal blog for several years, and now I've started this blog as a convenient way to keep everyone up-to-date on Mom's recovery. My family has been overwhelmed by the concern shown by so many people who love and care for Mom, so we wanted to provide a way for all of you to hear first-hand how she's doing. You'll be able to leave comments or share memories and stories about Mom if you want to. When she is awake and alert, I know she'd be encouraged by any comments or prayers you leave here.

I hope this is helpful to you all, my Mom's friends. Thank you for the many ways you've expressed your love and concern for her in the past few days.