Recovery

June 2, 2004

We were able to get a mini-van for Jenny today! IT has an in-floor ramp that slides out, and it is the same basic model of van we already have. We took Jenny for a ride arond the block (and through the McDonalds drive thru) to see if she could do well in motion. She did great. Tomorrow is her first appointment away from home, so I think all will go well.

Jenny is slowly having fewer spasms in her muscles that make her tense up in painful positions. It seems to be part of a vicious cycle of tensing muscles because she is in pain and being in pain because of the muslces that are tensed up. Jenny did ask for real food again. She lacks confidence in her eating, but it is so good. Jenny rarely tries to eat, but she does tons better each time she tries. Today was tapioca pudding and angel hair pasta in alfredo sauce. Since her perspective has changed a bit, she is kind of a “eat dessert first” kind of girl.

May 31, 2004

Last night was a quite different experinece for two things. First of all, Jenny seemed to sleep a little at last. Second, we had a tornado and severe thunderstorm warning so I had to carry Jenny down to the basement. I think Jenny liked it since she had not seen the basement since coming home.

Jenny has been making small movements still. I know it is something significant because Jenny is now agreeing that she is making good progress. Her meds are still being worked out to regulate spasms and contractures that cause pain and twisting of her body. Her head is turning to the left side again, which makes head control more difficult. I am most encouraged by her respitory health. We have been plugging her trache to allow her to breathe completely through her mouth and nose. She does well considering that her airway is obstructed with a tube. It is pretty much like breathing through a straw. This just means she is getting closer to having the trache removed.

May 27, 2004

We have had a great day with Jenny. Sophia has been asking to sit on Jenny’s lap, so we gave her a chance while they watched tv and Jenny had her hair brushed. The kids love to climb in bed with Mom and they get excited when they see her body move. Jenny asks for the kids to come hug her and she loves the contact. On the flip side, it is difficult to hear the kids get hurt and the instinctive reponse is to call for Mom. Jenny wants to comfort them so bad. The kids are sometimes allowing us to bring them to Jenny when they are hurt- especially when they just need hugs.

Jenny complains about not being able to sleep much. She does not appear to be sleeping ever. She states that she has not slept more than 1-2 hours at a time since her stroke. She also reports that she tends to not sleep at nights. She doesn’t sleep days, so I’m not sure what is going on. Her muscle spasms are still gone. I really think the Botox shots were wonderful. We worked on head movements today and Jenny was able to lift her head back and forward, left to right, and truning left to right. I held the back of her head for minimal support. She gave more than slight movement. I let go several times and she could move completely by herself! I get all teary eyed when these things happen. Jenny still is not pleased with her progress, but I think she feels good deep down.

May 25, 2004

Jenny is looking so very good. She feels very discouraged and is fighting the idea of therapies at home, but she is really getting better much faster, even though she has not done much physical therapy. Her body is not experincing spasms and she was able to hold her head for several minutes without support today. Her body thermostat is becoming more normal all the time. Jenny reports that her double vision is pretty much gone and her eating/swallowing/mouth movements are better than ever. Jenny would not agree to there being improvments, but she has numerous. We are working out the bugs with nursing and routines, but I think things are going well.

I carried Jenny upstairs for a chance to see our new painted walls and our bedroom. She napped with me on our bed and the kids all joined in to hug on their mom. It felt good to have this type of experince as a family again. I feel good about the future of Jenny’s rehabilitation.

Jenny came home today!

Jenny was discharged today with the intent to continue therapies at home with home based therapists and nurses. I dared not mention the possibility of her coming home with the possible outcome of her not being able to do so again. She still has her trache and all, but she is doing well. Her first day was quite overwhelming for me since it seemed like it was more difficult to juggle Jenny and the kids at the same time. I can not deligate the things like comfort and affection that is needed of a father and spouse, but I would not want to give those jobs up anyhow. We have a home health aid and the usualy cast and crew of the last few weeks which has made things better for Jenny and I. I assume that we all will get use to a schedule and make it work to where things are second nature. I am sure Jenny will enjoy her first nights sleep free of being woke up to see if she is sleeping okay.