Up, up and away!

Well, Mom is upstairs on the 12th floor, in direct answer to our prayers.  She spent the afternoon being evaluated by her new doctor as well as members of her therapy team.  They have developed a pretty aggressive plan for rehab, and we are excited.  Beginning tomorrow morning they will get her up and dressed, and then it's off to some pretty intensive therapy.  They will develop a routine and schedule for her which should be very helpful.

The therapy room is absolutely beautiful.  It has big panoramic windows that look out over the south part of the valley and you can see clear to the point of the mountain.  It will be good to have such a breathtaking change of scenery.

Today Mom was pretty loopy.  The doctor wants her to sit up in the wheelchair more than she is in bed, and she was quite out of sorts for several hours.  We have discovered than when she is uncomfortable, she can be quite incoherent, so we are trying to find out exactly what hurts and take care of it.  Later on this evening as she began to feel more comfortable, she was her sweet self again and had a nice conversation with Ariane.  It is quite the adventure trying to figure everything out. 

To be perfectly honest, it is hard to watch when Mom is off in her own world.  I have discovered than if I sing hymns or Primary songs right into Mom's ear, it distracts her and calms her down.  She also sings herself at times, and we think it's one way she copes with what is going on.  Another method she uses is to go to sleep, but we need her to be alert and participate in therapy.  What a vicious circle!!!

We truly need your faith and prayers.  As we look forward to another fast Sunday this week, we also ask that you include Mom in your fast.  It means so much to us.

Hang on for the ride!

Today we got a special surprise. My childhood friend from Ohio, Gretchen (Keck) McCulloch, was in town and went to see Mom at the hospital. Mom recognized Gretchen right away and was so happy to see her. Gretchen has lots of experience caring for her disabled son, so she knew just what to do and how to help. She jumped right in and was so loving and helpful to Mom. I really appreciated her insights and ideas about Mom's situation and how to help. She reaffirmed how important it is to be Mom's advocate and to be there as much as possible. Thanks Gretchen! We love you!

Ariane brought her violin today and played some more beautiful music for Mom. She started off with several hymns, and then played some classical music as well. Mom cried and said the music was so beautiful. One of the patients down the hall is in the Utah Symphony, and Ariane played for her as well! That really brightened things up on the 7th floor!

Mom was a bit more alert today except when she hurt. At those times she would retreat because of the discomfort, but we could see a pattern in her behavior. We had lots of fun with her when she was more comfortable. Mom ate her entire dinner as well as some yummy vanilla ice cream which Jim Jr. shared with her. She really loves that! Dad is so sweet as he feeds Mom, and when he has to hide a pill in a bite of food so she will eat it, he always apologizes for tricking her!

Tonight as he was leaving, Dad bent down to tell Mom goodbye. The bed was horizontal, and she was laying flat on her back, but somehow she managed to sit straight up into a vertical position all by herself!!! Needless to say it was quite an unexpected surprise! Way to go, Mom!!! The down side to this is that we are afraid she will fall out of bed. (Today when Dad arrived he found Mom with both legs hanging off one side of the bed.) They are having a sitter stay in Mom's room tonight to make sure she doesn't try to go exploring on her own!

We are looking forward to an exciting day tomorrow. It will probably be exhausting for Mom to move upstairs, but we are thrilled about the possibilities. We will be praying mightily for Mom, specifically pleading with Heavenly Father that she will be alert enough to participate in this new experience. We humbly ask for your faith and prayers as well.

Super Saturday

We're still riding high about our exciting news from yesterday!  Dad received a call telling him what we should provide for Mom up on the 12th floor.  They want her to have several outfits, so today I went shopping and found a few possibilities.  It was exciting to picture Mom wearing real clothes instead of a hospital gown!  One of the things they do in rehab is have the patients get dressed each day.  (That, in and of itself, would make anyone feel better!)

The doctors and nurses are excited for Mom too.  Her situation is quite well known, and even those who don't know Mom personally, know about her and are rooting for her.  One of the nurses told Alan that she has never seen a patient have more support than Mom.  That made us feel good!

One of the sad parts about moving upstairs will be leaving behind Mom's different therapists, nurses and aides.  They are so thoughtful and encouraging and patient, and have truly been a blessing in her life, as well as ours.  We are so grateful their love, kindness and professionalism. Tonight as we were leaving we passed a bulletin board filled with thank you notes from patients to various staff members.  Dad commented  that we need to fill out a few of those before we go upstairs.  Indeed we do!

These next two weeks are truly a gift from Heavenly Father, and we acknowledge his hand in our lives.  When we look back to where we were two weeks ago, we are amazed at the progress Mom has made, and thrill to think of where she might be in the next fourteen days!  However, our excitement is tempered by the difficulty of the hurdles that must be overcome.  We need the fog to lift from Mom's mind so she can clearly see the path that lies before her. We are pleading with the Lord to help Mom make the most of these next two weeks and ask that you join your faith and prayers with ours in her behalf.  We have seen many miracles thus far and have faith that we will see many more in the days ahead.  Thanks for joining with us on this journey.  Your faith and prayers lift and sustain us.

Happy (early) Birthday, Mom!

We got the most wonderful tender mercy this afternoon!  Mom gets to go up to the TWELFTH floor for rehab starting on Monday!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We got our miracle after all!  We acknowledge the Lord's hand in this turn of events and know He is watching over us.  

Mom didn't actually qualify, rather they are allowing her a 14 day trial period after which they will reevaluate the situation.  But, hey, we'll take it.  We are going to boldly petition the Lord to wake up her mind and help her be more alert so she can fully participate in this experience. From our observations and the things we've been told, they are miracle workers on the 12th floor, but Mom will need to work hard. We ask for more faith and prayers on her behalf for this miracle to occur.    

Now for some more "Mom"isms.  Tonight during a mundane conversation, Mom quipped to Dad, "Oh, Jim, don't panic!"  A bit later she retorted, "You know, Diane, I know more than you'll ever know!"  (She really meant, of course, that she is more aware of our conversations than we think.)  

At times Mom realizes that she's not making sense.   "Let's see . . . what am I trying to say?" And then tonight she opened her eyes, glared directly at us and said, "I thought in all my ramblings, I made some valid points."   Now that's the Mom we know and love! 

Happy (early) birthday, sweet Mom!  You deserve this chance!

Lorraine, Lorraine, Lorraine

Today Mom's sister, Lorraine, came to visit. That is always a fun change of pace for Mom. It was good for the staff to meet the person whose name Mom says probably a thousand times a day! She even calls one of the nurses Lorraine, and the nurse is a super good sport about it. As a matter of fact, Mom calls ALL of us Lorraine, with some Louise's (another sister) thrown in for good measure. When I say, "Mom, this is Diane," she sometimes replies, "OK, Lorraine."

We try to get Mom outside a couple times each day. Tonight Randy was the wheelchair driver, and chauffeured Mom around for about half an hour. We tried to coax her to open her eyes and see the sights, but she was pretty tired. Although she holds herself up well in the wheelchair, and doesn't have to have a "seatbelt," she didn't want to look around. That's OK - we think getting her outside is very important.

Mom continues to use her right arm and hand more and more. She can now lift both hands and arms over her head, and can frequently be found with her head resting on one of her arms. She is also eating most all of her meals, which gives her much more energy. Her nights are still very restless, so she continues to doze off during the day.

We are still checking out different nursing homes. (This is really not fun.) It looks as if Mom will get a new place to live for her birthday (one week from today.) The place we are leaning towards does not have private rooms, which is a real drawback, but it does have a great reputation for rehab, which is what we want.

Keep praying for us as we navigate through this process. We appreciate your love and support!

Shake it off

(I know it says Thursday on the blog date, but I haven't gone to bed yet, so this still qualifies as Wednesday!)

Jim Jr. arrived early this morning to find Mom laying on her side with both knees bent about 90 degrees! This means she is MOVING HER LEGS! Yahoo! It must feel so good to be off her back! She has also begun lifting her RIGHT arm above her head, and can squeeze with her fingers on that hand! In fact, she is so mobile that the nurses are afraid she will fall out of bed, and are watching her carefully to prevent that from happening.

Mom had some pretty intense therapy today, which included standing with a new contraption which has straps around her hips to keep her upright. She wasn't sure she liked that, but we think it is wonderful!

We've also been checking out more facilities, including taking a tour of the intensive rehab facilities upstairs in the hospital. It is a thousand times better than any other facility we have seen, which only makes us want that for her all the more. We need her to be as awake and alert as possible to make that happen.

Today Mom alternated between being aware of what was going on around her, and being agitated. It is hard to watch when she is so upset. Sometimes we can change the subject, clap loudly, talk softly into her ear, or play music to calm her down. Other times she repeatedly calls out to her sisters and her mother and thinks we are them. During one of those moments tonight, Jim Jr. said, "Mom, shake it off." She responded by raising her left arm up in front of her and literally shaking it. Then she started laughing. Goodness gracious!

Tonight we were telling Mom that her birthday is next week. Dad asked how old she was going to be and she responded, "Over the hill!" Never a dull moment with Mom these days!

Step by step

Today we asked to meet with the team that works with Mom, along with those who determine her eligibility to stay in the hospital and qualify for intensive rehab.  We really appreciated their input and perspective as well as the opportunity to share our thoughts and ask questions.  I especially enjoyed hearing the doctor share a synopsis of Mom's situation.  He reiterated his feeling that she has come a long way and that she has a lot of progress still to come.  He feels that in a year from now we will be surprised at how well she is doing.  We have had some well-meaning staff advise us to accept how our Mother is (as if she will not progress any further) so it was wonderful to hear the doctor express his opinion that she will continue to make great improvements.  

It appears from our meeting that Mom probably won't be discharged until Monday, so that buys us some precious time.  We spent the evening visiting several nursing facilities.  Although the first two were very unappealing, the last two had some real potential.  It was a relief to discover that some acceptable options might actually be available.  (We were beginning to wonder!) Since we met with them after hours, we don't know if either facility has an opening, or if Mom will even qualify for their programs, so we have some work to do tomorrow. We also got some referrals from Louise and Lorraine tonight that we will check out.  We like options!

After we met with the team, Mom's doctor spent 10 or 15 minutes talking with her.  Mom was very alert and the doctor was pleased to see such improvement.  He was very forthright with Mom, and explained that she has a lot of work ahead of her.  She told him that she is willing to work, even though it will be painful.  Later on tonight, Mom recalled the conversation with the doctor and told us about her decision.  It felt like we had our Mom back!

Mom looks more like herself everyday.  She actually ate all of her dinner tonight and seems to have more strength.  She even said the family prayer as we gathered around her bed before leaving, and sounded like Mom.  She also has more movement in her right had than yesterday. So, little by little, step by step we are getting there.  We are heartened by her progress and pray that she will continue to make improvements.    

No go

We are sorry to report that, despite some amazing progress, Mom did not qualify for intensive rehab during the evaluation this morning. Although at one time or another we have seen her do most everything they are requiring, she didn't perform well enough during the evaluation. The hospital feels she is stable medically, and doesn't require further hospitalization. The only other option they offer is intensive rehab and they don't feel she has the stamina required. They have given us until Wednesday to choose another facility. We spent this afternoon visiting some nursing facilities, but don't feel we have found the right place yet.

Mom, on the other hand, had a pretty great day. Dad took her out by the fountain for almost half an hour, and then she stayed in the chair for quite some time after returning to her room. She was also able to move her feet for the therapist as he stood her up, and she ate quite a bit of her meals. In addition, she has begun using the fingers on her right hand!!! She looked so comfy with both of her hands tucked under her chin instead of laying flat at her side.

We think she looks and sounds more like our Mother each day. Today was Randy's birthday, and although she saw him at the hospital earlier in the day, Mom wanted to call and wish him a Happy Birthday again tonight. She had a great phone conversation with him, and then talked with Jim Jr. and me for another half hour. Today's alertness is in sharp contrast with a few days ago. Last Friday, we requested that they stop giving her the sleeping medication, and as of tonight we requested that they stop giving her the "wake-up" medication as well. (The list of side effects includes drowsiness, hallucinations, mood swings and depression, to name a few. Sounds like a great way to wake up, now doesn't it?) Hopefully she will be even more clear-headed as a result.

Thank you for all your faith and prayers. Although the evaluation doesn't reflect it, Mom is progressing in leaps and bounds. Upward and onward!

I feel my Savior's love!

This might go down as one of the happiest days of our lives! This afternoon Mom was Mom!!! The physical therapist said Mom could go for a ride in the wheelchair and that we could take her OUTSIDE!!! When he got Mom out of bed and into the wheelchair, she totally cooperated with him and tried her best to do everything he asked. She thanked him for his help and was so appreciative of everything. We could hardly contain our excitement as we wheeled her outside. The weather was perfect and a warm breeze was blowing. We sat outside by the fountain and Mom was so happy and gracious to everyone. It was thrilling!!!

When we got back to the room, Cheryl and I helped the aide, Stacie, give Mom a real shower and shampoo! (Stacie deserves a medal -- she was a real trooper!) Mom was so happy she cried. At first we thought she was upset, but she told us it felt wonderful. She even hummed as we shampooed her hair! But she was exhausted by the time we finished, and it was all we could do to get her back in bed. Stacie brought warm blankets and Mom snuggled up all clean and comfortable.

When I first arrived today, I told Mom about the temple dedication, and how beautiful it was. She got tears in her eyes as she told me how much she wanted to attend. I explained how I had thought of her all during the dedication and told her that she has more faith than anyone I know. She thanked me for having faith in her and expressed hope that she would get better. When I asked if she felt discouraged, she replied that sometimes it is so hard. I told her that we love her so much and would all be there to help! It was a tender conversation.

We are hoping for the best with Mom's evaluation tomorrow. We're crossing our fingers that they will do it in the morning, as she still drifts in an out of current conversation very easily when she is tired. We are thrilled beyond measure with her progress today, and know it is a direct answer to everyone's prayers for a miracle. Thank you for your love, support and faith. It means the world to us!

I love to see the temple!

I just returned home from attending the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication. As I listened to the talks and music, I was flooded with thoughts of my beautiful, righteous mother, and her unfailing example of love and dedication. She is one of the most faithful women I know! As I reflected on her example and teachings, I was filled with peace and hope for the future. I will be forever grateful that I am her daughter. Her guidance and example will continue to bless countless generations. Heavenly Father knows and loves this righteous mother of mine. I love you, Mom! We can do this!

Up and down and around we go

Today was a better day.  Ariane and Cheryl helped Mom eat yogurt, applesauce, and scrambled eggs for breakfast.  We are thrilled she no longer has a feeding tube, but there is also a down side -- she now has to swallow some yucky tasting medicine instead of having it just go in the tube.  But we'll take it.  Who would have thunk a few days ago that she'd be eating real food this weekend?  We just might get our miracle yet!

The MET team doctors are monitoring Mom's blood levels carefully every four hours, much to her chagrin.  Mom truly disliked having her blood drawn before the surgery, and she definitely hasn't changed her mind in the past four weeks!  She could now qualify as a human pin cushion, but at least things are holding stable from last night.  We'll take that too.  Another tender mercy.

As of this morning, Mom now has matching toe nails.  Nancy and Derek came to visit, and Nan persuaded Grammie to let her finish the pedicure she started last week.  Since last Sunday, Mom has had orange nails on the left foot and light blue nails on the right one, because it's hard to hold those cute feet still for too long!  Last night when the MET team converged on Mom's room, in the midst of all the excitement one of the doctors commented on her nail polish!  The new light blue polish matches Mom's hospital gown and the blanket on the bed.  She's such a fashionable patient!

This morning Mom was quite talkative, almost like last Sunday.  At times she just jabbered nonsense, but at other times her comments were quite lucid.  Some of them were downright funny.  One time Jim said something silly back to her.  Mom looked at him and said in all seriousnes, "Listen to him jabber."  Then we all laughed together.  

Later, Dad asked Mom if she were coming to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication with him tomorrow morning.  She replied earnestly, "I probably ought to go or they'll call me a slacker." No chance of that, dear Mother!

  

We told Mom that the family reunion was today and talked about who would be there.  When we mentioned Uncle Charles, we asked Mom if she remembered when he fell off the horse last Thanksgiving.  She looked at us like we were crazy and said, "How could I forget that?"  

Despite eating breakfast, Mom refused three requests from the nurse to have some lunch. However, when I arrived back after the family reunion I offered her some food and she ate it. We've decided that the key is to just give it to her, not ask if she wants any.  

Every few hours the nurses do a neurological check, asking Mom questions to see if she is cognizant of her surroundings.  Around noon, Mom was able to tell the nurse that she was at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah.  That's the first time she's been able to remember!  We've been helping her cram for the test on Monday, and were so excited she pulled it off.   However, when they asked again at 4 p.m. Mom couldn't answer the same questions, but hey, she'd had a long day!  

She is still convinced the therapists are trying to kill her when they move her legs, no matter how we try to explain things.  She calls loudly for her siblings to help, going through all their names:  Lorraine! Louise! Johnny! Helen!  And if you're the unlucky person who happens to be visiting during therapy, she is very upset with you.  Poor John Kasteler got yelled at for several days!  

We also think Mom occasionally pretends to be asleep when she doesn't want to do something.  A couple times we have said, half jokingly, "Mom are you faking it?" and she starts to laugh.  Hard to tell, because other times she falls into a deep sleep mid-sentence.  

It's quite a roller coaster as sometimes we definitely have our Mother back, and other times she is quite unpredictable.  One minute she thinks everyone is annoying, and at other times she thanks them for their help.  How confusing it must be to have gone into the hospital for new knees and when you finally wake up, you can't move your limbs or do anything for yourself. Sometimes, when asked to move various parts of her body, Mom comments that nothing works.  She has also mentioned a couple times that she has a new reality.  We're all praying that it's only temporary.

But just when things get discouraging, Mom says some really sweet things.  Among today's favorites are, "I just seem thankful for my dear family," and "I don't know how to do this, but my dear husband does."   We love you, our dear Mother, and pray for you constantly.  

Freaky Friday

GOODBYE FEEDING TUBE!!!  WaHoo!!!  Today Mom passed her swallow test and is cleared to eat soft foods.  This is exciting!!!  She had more applesauce today as well as some of Jim Jr.'s ice cream from lunch.  Beginning tomorrow morning she can have soft foods, such as scrambled eggs, hot cereal, pancakes, baked potatoes, pasta, etc.  After almost a month without food, this is a milestone.  Mom was asking for peanuts, her favorite, so it's a good sign that's she interested in food.  

Also today, she had therapy and they bent her knees more than 100 degrees.  It's pretty brutal to hear her calling out for help as they bend her knees, but we know it must be done.  She also went for a ride in the halls in the special stroke chair.  It's so exciting to have her out of the room and seeing different sights.  As we passed another room, someone was having a coughing fit, and Mom said, "What is going on?"  Jim told her, "Mom, we're in a hospital and there are sick people here."  She seemed genuinely surprised.  

Tonight as we were leaving, we had a family prayer. Dad asked Mom if she wanted to say the prayer and she said she would like that.  It was very tender to hear her faith as she thanked Heavenly Father for all her blessings and the joy in her life.  When she got stuck, Dad helped her finish.  What a sweet experience

Now for the freaky part.  On the way home from the temple later tonight, Randy and Cheryl stopped by the hospital to see Mom.  The nurses were just finishing giving Mom a bath, and noticed quite a lot of bleeding from her ulcerative colitis.  They were alarmed and quickly decided to call the MET team (medical emergency team).  Randy said it was nothing short of spectacular to watch this team of about 25-30 medical experts suddenly converge upon Mom's little room and go to work assessing her situation.  There were several doctors, along with specialists of every kind.  He likened it to when the Life Flight team arrived up at LDS Hospital to transport Mom, except that there were 10 times as many people this time around.  Anyhow, they decided that the blood thinners Mom is on for the heart procedure are most likely causing the problem, so they are adjusting the medications she is receiving.

So much for a restful evening.  However, Randy said he felt at peace as he watched the situation unfold.  We're just glad he and Cheryl were there.  More tender mercies.

Will the real Dr. Seuss please stand up?

Today Mom came up with some silly rhymes and nonsense words. I told her she was sounding alot like Dr. Seuss and she thought that was pretty entertaining! We're convinced that the sleeping medication is throwing her for a loop, so we're having them try an even lower dose tonight. We're pretty anxious to have her alert enought that she can qualify for the intensive rehab upstairs, and they have given us a deadline of Monday as her final evaluation. If she doesn't qualify we will have to move her to an off-site facility, something we are not anxious to do. We are praying for an outright miracle, and invite you to join us in petitioning the Lord in Mom's behalf.

Our big news today is that MOM ATE REAL FOOD!!! OK, OK, it was a few bites of applesauce along with her ice chips, but we'll take it. That is her first real food in 25 days - definitely something to celebrate! Tomorrow they will be doing a swallow evaluation, and we're hoping she can be cleared to eat a few simple things. (Who knew swallowing could be so complicated?) Mom also sat up in a special chair for quite awhile, and went for a ride around the halls. Mom's sister, Lorraine, came up this morning, and for the rest of the day, Mom called for Lorraine. She also threw in a few Louise's too! There's nothing quite like a sister!

Mom came up with some sweet one-liners today as well. Tonight Mom told one of the nurses that she needed to thank everyone for their care and testimony of the scriptures. She also mentioned that maybe she would wake up tomorrow and find all her aches and pains had been left by the side of the road. We're with you on all counts, Mom! We're all praying for you!

A hands-on kind of family

Today was a roller coaster. When we arrived this morning, we couldn't get Mom to wake up. When she did talk, it sounded as if her mouth was full of cotton balls, and her speech was slurred. I was alarmed, so I asked the nurse to call the doctor. After he arrived and began to speak with Mom, she started to wake up. In a few minutes she was more alert than she has been since Sunday. (Kind of like taking a sick child to the doctor, and as soon as the doctor comes in your child seems normal.) It appears that the sleeping medication they gave her around midnight last night hadn't worn off yet. Needless to say, they will be reducing the dose tonight.

Anyhow, we were able to voice some concerns to the doctor. As a result of our conversation, the doctor has spoken with all the different therapists and asked them to be a bit more aggressive with their therapies. This afternoon the physical therapist bent Mom's knees beyond 90 degrees, much to her chagrin. Despite Mom's reaction, we are encouraged about this plan. From our observations, increased therapy results in increased alertness. We have also asked if they will put Mom in a wheelchair each day. We are anxious to get her out of bed and give her a change of scenery.

Towards the end of the conversation, I commented to the doctor, "You've probably noticed that we're a hands-on kind of family." He deadpanned, "No, I hadn't noticed," and we all got a laugh. I remember Mom telling me that she never wanted her children to be mousy or timid. I think you got your wish, Mom! Hang in there!

Does anybody really know what time it is?

Today was another grind-it-out day. Mom slept a lot and didn't want to cooperate with the therapists too much. The doctors are planning some medications to help her get a good sleep at night and be more alert during the day. It is hoped that by being more awake she will participate in therapy more readily. Being in the ICU really messes up a patient's sense of night and day, so hopefully these new measures will help straighten things out.

It is also not uncommon for a patient to resist therapy. It is a bit disconcerting for us, however, as this is not Mom's personality at all. We usually can't keep up with her!

Thanks, everyone, for your love and support. It means the world to us! Please join with us in praying specifically for Mom to understand the importance of participating in therapy. I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers!

Dr. Samuelsen, the doctor who performed the knee replacement surgery, came by again tonight. He has been out of town for a couple weeks, and it was so good to see him again. It was also helpful to hear his perspective on how much Mom has progressed since he saw her last. We have to remember to look at how far she's come and not get bogged down in the day to day ups and downs.

Hang in there, sweet Mom. Get a good snooze and we'll try again tomorrow!

Different room, same view

This morning we arrived to find that they had moved Mom to a room down the hall.  She is now in 716.  The bummer of it all is that when they moved her early this morning, they didn't move all her things.  Alan spent about an hour trying to track everything down this afternoon.  He was able to find some of it in the old room, but not everything.  Nothing valuable, but special to us.  (He did meet the new occupant of 724, a fellow BYU fan!)

Travis came in to help Mom stand up again, and speech therapy helped her eat a few ice chips. The nurse practitioner was excited about Mom's progress too.  Mom is very involved in asking questions and wants to know what everyone is doing to her.  She asks intelligent questions, but still doesn't fully connect what is going on.  She continues to get pretty feisty when people move her legs.  If one of us is in the room we can sometimes persuade her to cooperate when she doesn't want to.  She says she doesn't like anyone to tell her what to do!!!  (Is that a Whitehead Woman, or what?!!)

Bryce made a special copy of Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary DVD so that it loops continuously.  We put it on this afternoon and she has watched it over and over.  She remembers most of the pictures and events, and it is really sweet to have those memories playing.  I don't know about anyone else, but I still get choked up watching it.  What a wonderful life she has lived this far, and we still have lots of wonderful memories ahead of us!  

Sweet Serenade

Today we had SIXTEEN people in Mom's room.  Ariane brought her violin and played some beautiful hymns (not hers) for Grammie.  She started out with a special request, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," and went on to play quite a few more, including, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives,"  "Adam-ondi-Ahman," and "Because I Have Been Given Much."  

Mom was in fine form, laughing at everyone's jokes, including her own.  One of the funniest was when Mom said she wanted to play Ariane's violin.  Dad asked Mom if she could make her fingers work, and Mom replied, "Is the Pope Catholic?"  It was so unexpected that we were all laughing, including Mom, who laughed so hard that the bed shook.  

With 16 people in the room, it got a little noisy between songs.  We jokingly suggested that Mom tell everyone to listen.  We were all a bit startled when Mom announced, quite loudly, "Will the family please be quiet?"  Everyone, including Mom, got a kick out of that one.

Mom was beaming to have her family gathered around.  She talked to everyone in the room and called them by name.  When Nan, Bryce and Derek arrived, Grammie said, "Hi, little sweetie!" to Derek.  She told RJ, "Grammie loves you."  When I asked if she felt loved, she said, "Yes, I do." Mission accomplished!

Nan also brought some nail polish to give Grammie a pedicure.  Nan had previously painted Mom's toenails on the 4th of July, in anticipation of her upcoming surgery.  At that time Mom was a bit concerned that she was too old for painted toenails, but went ahead and chose orange polish. Six weeks later, those toes are in need of a touch up coat, and this time around Mom chose light blue to match her hospital gown.  Nan got the polish off the toes on one foot and had just started painting the big toe when Mom got pretty wiggly.  We managed to finish the left foot, but the right one still has orange polish.  That ought to get some silly looks for a few days!

All in all it was a magical couple of hours!  This sweet lady is very well loved!

Tender Mercies

Today deserves a second entry.  Tonight Dad, Jim Jr., Randy, Cheryl and I all ended up in Mom's room at the same time.  Mom was getting sleepy but was still awake enough to carry on an extended, incredibly detailed conversation.  Mom is slowing becoming aware of, and is inquiring constantly about what happened to her, and her current condition. We were telling Mom about all the tender mercies that have been showered upon us over the past three weeks. We reminded her about the blessing she was given the night before her surgery, promising that she would see the hand of the Lord throughout this procedure . . . and shared some of the miracles that have happened to her while she was still in a coma.  

Then, who should walk into our room but Danielle, one of our earliest tender mercies, the nurse who helped us get Mom moved from LDS Hospital to the neuro ICU here in Murray.  She ended up being Mom's nurse tonight, despite the fact that she usually works in ICU.  We were so excited to see her and thank her again for all she did for Mom and for our family. Then we shared with Mom some of the events she's been through.  Mom bore her testimony several times about how blessed our family has been through this whole ordeal.   

Her nurses assistant tonight, Ruth, has taken special care of Mom.  Mom kept calling her Betty, and we were wondering what Mom was thinking.  Dad finally figured out that Ruth looks like someone they served with at Adam-ondi-Ahman named Betty!  

It has been a special treat to have been in Mom's presence tonight and the Spirit was there in abundance.   We closed the evening with a family prayer around her bed, and left feeling peaceful and calm.  So this was the biggest tender mercy of all, and reminds us all that this is what families are all about!  

Goodnight, our dear, sweet Mother, wife and friend.

 

Out on the town!

EXCITING NEWS!!!  Mom just went for a ride in a wheelchair, away from her bed and her room! (OK, OK, not really out on the town, but this is huge!)  They wheeled her to the therapy room where they strapped her to the table and got her standing up again.  When they wheeled Mom back to the room, she remained in an upright position by herself in the chair for about half an hour, without so much as a strap or seatbelt!  How wonderful is that?!  She is so awake and alert and has been chatting away with lots of different people.  

Wow!  She just started talking about her condition and knew a remarkable amount about what is going on.  Alot of our discussion about her condition must have registered over the past few days.  Her logic and reasoning and vocabulary were definitely Mom.  Although some of the facts were a bit disjointed, we were impressed.  She connected sentences and thoughts into a cohesive paragraph. Amazing!

p.s.  John and Sharon Kasteler just came and Mom told them, "Well I guess all I can say is that things evolve over time and turn out the way they need to be."  Now, that's our Mom!

OK, OK, OK

"OK, OK, OK."  This is a phrase Mom repeats quite often as she tries to process what has happened and what she needs to do.  It's also appropriate for this week as she has had so many procedures done. Thankfully the colonoscopy did not reveal anything new.  As far as her heart is concerned, things seem to be functioning well, so we are ready to move on. We're hoping and praying that we can be finished with all these detours and get focused on rehab.   

Today has been a bit discouraging for Mom.  She is noticing that things just don't work the way they used to, and tries to make sense of this new reality.  Last night she commented that she needs to figure out what works and what doesn't work, and she has mentioned a couple times that she needs a new leg.  She is fiercely protective of her knees and tells anyone who tries to move them that they shouldn't do that again.   She also said she needs to go home, and we definitely agree!

The therapists sat her up on the side of the bed again today, as the special table wasn't available.  Mom also got a new feeding tube and began getting nourishment again after a 48 hour break for the other procedures.  She says she isn't hungry and is not in pain, so that's a blessing.

The highlight of her day was visiting with her sister, Lorraine, for a couple hours.  They talked back and forth, and Mom listened as Lorraine read excerpts from some of the sweet letters Mom has received.  Mom recognized each person's name and told Lorraine how kind everyone was.  Later on in the afternoon, Mom talked on the phone with both Randy and Scott, which she really enjoyed.

OK, OK, OK.  Upward and onward! 

No fun

This has been a rough day.  We left Mom sleeping peacefully last night, and arrived this morning to an emergency colonoscopy.  I don't know about you, but my memories of having a colonoscopy rank up right up there with chemotherapy.  As if that weren't bad enough, she has to have ANOTHER one tomorrow.  When the neurologist who ordered the test checked in this afternoon, I asked him if he has ever had a colonoscopy, let alone TWO in a row.   He got a sheepish look on his face and admitted that he has another five years to go.  Ah, youth!

On the bright side of things, today Mom is more aware of what is going on than she has been since her surgery.  (Kind of ironic, since today would have been a good day to sleep through.)  We wonder if it is because of her heart procedure, but whatever the reason, we'll take it!

On a hugely upbeat note, the other exciting thing is that she is moving her RIGHT arm tonight!!!  It has been so hard to watch her be in such discomfort, but I had to smile when I saw her right arm slowly, but surely, moving up and down a few inches at a time.   Another tender mercy,  just when we needed one!  

They also stood her up again today on the special table.  It was breathtaking to see her upright, and her feet were planted quite squarely on the ground.  They also worked her arms and legs for a bit today.  The therapists were so wonderful with her.  We are so grateful for their caring and expertise.

Tonight, in the midst of her discomfort, I got out the headphones and she loved listening to Joshua Creek again.  Later I put on the violin music that Ariane brought.  It was so soothing and comforting.  During the song, Beautiful Savior, Mom even hummed along for a few notes. Although we couldn't see them, angels were in the room with us.

Hang in there, dear, sweet Mom.  We'll have awesome things to share tomorrow!

The Thing

Earlier today after a peaceful night's rest in her new room (including hot blankets) Mom's alertness startled us.  Among the unexpected, yet perceptive, remarks were these:  "Jim, I just don't know what to do;"  "This really bothers me;" "It's going to be okay;" "We're on the verge of new things,"  and when dad asked, "How's my favorite wife?"  she answered, "Doing Great!"

When Diane asked what mountain she could see out the east window, after a hint, Mom matter-of-factly replied, "Mount Olympus."

But my favorite part of the day was when she looked over at Dad and said, "Hi, Love."  

Mom also had a full (seated) shower and got her hair shampooed for the 1st time in 2+ weeks. And then the therapists strapped her to a special table and got her standing up on her feet (completely weight-bearing).  Mom said it felt really good, and though this wore her out, it was well worth it.

She is obviously more aware of her surroundings, but perplexed (and bothered) about just what is going on.

But here's the exciting news.  About 5:30 p.m., Mom had a "thing" installed in her heart . . . at least that's what the nurse called it!  We think it was highly appropriate that she referred to it as a "thing" because Mom uses that word frequently, often leaving us to wonder exactly what she means.  The "thing" is technically a helex septal occluder, an umbrella shaped device which clamps off the hole in the septum from both sides.  (By the way, the doctor said the opening was about half an inch (13 mm) at it's widest part.)

As I type this, we are crowded in Mom's recovery room down in the cath lab where the procedure took place.  It's kind of like seeing how many people you can cram in a phone booth.  I think this hospital will be really relieved when the Whitehead family is discharged.  (But not nearly so relieved as we will be!!!)  

Theories are just that . . . theories

Today was a day of change.  First off, we have a different neuro specialist who has a different theory about what caused Mom's stroke.  (There are 3 neuro specialists in the ICU, and they rotate amongst all the patients.)  After studying her chart and reviewing all the tests, he came to the conclusion that small clots from the surgery made their way through the hole in Mom's heart and scattered in the brain.  He feels strongly that the hole needs to be closed in order to prevent further strokes.  His ideas made sense and we feel good about having the procedure done.  It is usually done on an outpatient basis, and takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. Mom is on the schedule for late Wednesday afternoon.  

We also had another tender mercy today.  The nurse assigned to Mom this morning usually works in the Cardiac ICU, so she was able to explain the heart procedure to us and put our mind at ease.  She also got Mom an air mattress which makes things a bit more comfy for her.   

The biggest change of all is that MOM IS OUT OF THE ICU!!!  Medically she is doing well, and no longer needs such specialized care.   She was transferred to the 7th floor about 3:30 this afternoon.  It is a neuro/ortho floor, which is perfect for Mom's situation.  In some ways it was a bit disconcerting to have her unhooked from all the monitors, but it was exciting at the same time. She will still have the same physical, occupational and speech therapists, so that will give us some continuity.  We were also grateful to learn that the neuro specialists will continue to be her doctors even though we are not in ICU anymore.

Mom had a couple hours today where she was very alert and talkative.  She even spoke in complete sentences for the most part.  Everyone on the floor commented on how well she was doing.   Moving was pretty exhausting for her, and she slept alot this afternoon, but was awake and talking this evening.  

Our goal from here is to get Mom's strength and stamina built up to the point that she can qualify for the intensive rehab floor.  In order to be transferred there, a patient must be able to sustain 3 1/2 cumulative hours of therapy per day.  The doctors hope that by getting Mom out of the ICU she will get more rest at night and be more alert during the day for therapy.  She keeps saying, "I just don't know what I need to do," so we explain that she needs to work hard with the therapists when they come to her room.  Her response is usually, "OK, OK, OK."  

Although she is awake, she doesn't really understand what has happened.  She realizes that something is not quite right, and this morning she surprised Randy by saying, "I just don't know what my prognosis is!" Despite her condition, she's starting to get antsy about lying around, and told me today, "OK, Diane, we need to get out of here."   That's the Mom we know and love! 

You've Got Mail!

Today Mom was pretty alert and talkative.  We've discovered that if we sit her up in bed she stays much more awake, so we make it a point to raise the bed and prop her up on pillows when we're there.  Yesterday at church the Primary kids and Relief Society sisters all wrote notes to Mom.  Dad read them last night and brought them to the hospital today. He warned us that they would bring tears to our eyes, and he was right. It was so special to share people's sweet and tender feelings about our Mother.  What an incredible lady!

Today Mom did a couple things we weren't expecting.  While I was putting lotion on her hands, she looked at the whiteboard hanging across the room and read some things out loud that were written on it! Shortly after that, Jim Jr. brought up a scoop of ice cream from the cafeteria and jokingly asked if she wanted a bite.  To our complete surprise, Mom nodded her head!  That is the first interest she has shown towards food.  Unfortunately she can only have water or ice chips, and only from the nurse, so ice cream was not even an option.  

This afternoon they took Mom for another MRI.  It did not show any further damage in her brain, which is great news!  However, we did get some other disconcerting news today.  From previous testing up at LDS hospital, we know that Mom has clots in both of her lower legs as a result of the surgery.  This is not unusual, and it isn't much of a concern as long as the clots stay below the knees.  Well, they have done further testing and discovered that the clots in her lower left leg are gone.  That might seem like good news, but clots do not disappear that quickly, so what it really means is that the clots are moving.  

In Mom's case, clots are dangerous.   From all the testing done after surgery to find the cause of the stroke, it was discovered that Mom has a hole in her heart which has been present since birth.  In the womb, everyone has a hole in their heart between the chambers.  As soon as a baby takes its first breath, the hole closes.  However, in about 20% of the population, the hole doesn't close all the way.  Normally this wouldn't cause a problem, but since we are dealing with strokes, the plot thickens.  In a  normal heart, blood returns from circulating throughout the body and then goes to the lungs for oxygenation.  Any clots floating around are stopped in the lungs.  However a hole in the heart can allow clots to escape before reaching the lungs.  The clots then head straight to the brain where they can cause strokes.

We know Mom has a moving clot.  We also know she has a hole in her heart, so there is a danger that the errant clot can cause further strokes. We are anxious to eliminate this possibility!  Therefore, the doctors have scheduled a procedure to close the hole on Wednesday morning. They will access Mom's heart through a vein in her leg, so she won't have to undergo anesthesia. (Thank heavens, because I'm not sure any of us could handle that!)  We are hoping and praying that this will be a relatively simple procedure and will prevent further strokes.

Thanks for your continued faith and prayers on our Mom's behalf.  We know we are being watched over and we truly appreciate all your love and concern!

Look at that airplane!

Sweet past couple of hours!!!  We sat Mom almost upright in bed and she has stayed sitting for two hours.  She is positioned so she is looking at us over by the window and she seems to be cognizant of our conversations. The speech therapist came about half hour ago and we got Mom eating lots of ice chips, something else she hasn't done since Thursday.  

As I'm typing this, Mom just said, "Look at that airplane!" as she gazed past us out the window.  This is exciting!!!

Today, instead of thrashing her head and neck to and fro, she has begun moving her entire upper body back and forth.  At times she sits straight up for just a second and cranes her head to the right to look directly at us.  She is also moving her left arm quite a bit, something she has not done since surgery.   

Her long term memory seems to be intact since she instantly recognizes people she hasn't seen in some time.  We were telling her that some of her relatives are following this blog from Greece. We were trying to say their names, and weren't sure if she was even following the conversation, when she piped up and told us how to pronounce one of them!  

All in all, this has been a great day so far!

Life's Like That

Today was a quiet day.  Mom has been sleeping more and been less talkative.  She didn't respond to the doctor's questions this morning, so he ordered an EEG to rule out seizures.  As far as we know the test was normal.   

She did enjoy listening to music today.  Ariane brought some violin CDs, and the beautiful music was really relaxing.  Later in the day I asked Mom if she wanted to listen to Joshua Creek (some of her favorite music)(Bryce's Dad's band) and she nodded her head.  Mom likes to lean to the left side of the bed, so we could only get the right headphone on her.  I wore the left one, and we both listened to music together.  One of my favorite songs, "Life's Like That," couldn't have been more appropriate. 

The highlight of the day was a surprise visit from one of Mom's nurses, Diana, who watched over Mom so tenderly and expertly in the recovery room after her knee surgery at LDS Hospital.  Diana knew something was wrong right away and remained persistent until Mom got the care she needed.  We consider Diana one of the Lord's tender mercies and are grateful she heeded the Spirit as she cared for Mom that day.  The fact that she has been praying for Mom and would go out of her way to visit shows what a special person she is.  Her visit really buoyed our spirits.  

Other than that, it's been a grind-it-out day.  We know we will have many of these, but it was still kind of tricky.  

Big Piney, Wyoming

Well. . . today Mom told us she was in Big Piney, Wyoming(!) and when they moved her legs, she told them that her Mother would not be happy if they did that again!  (Her Mother really was from Big Piney, so she was accurate on that count.)  (But it was rather random!)

They told us it is normal to take 2 steps forward and 1 step backward, and we think today was just that.  She has been more quiet than yesterday, although earlier today she did tell Jim Jr. or Dad, "You know, Jim, I think I need to figure out what I'm going to do."  Not bad . . .  a remarkably coherent 15-word sentence!

So, we continue to make small, measured steps.  Hang in there, Mom!

While you were sleeping

Today Mom has been quite alert.  She is much more aware of her surroundings, and seems to be trying to figure out what is going on.  She says, "I've got to get going," and "I've got to get out of here."  We've decided that the reason she has been moving her head from side to side so much these past few days is because she is trying to wake up and figure things out.  However, she has really been pretty calm today.

This morning when her sister, Lorraine, was here, the occupational therapists sat her up on the side of the bed.  They also worked her arms and legs as she laid on her back.  She was in a lot of pain when they bent her knees, and tried to resist.  We were glad to see that she could!

Around noon she finally opened her mouth for the speech therapist and sipped a few spoonfuls of water and ate an ice chip.  She seemed to really enjoy that.  She is very leery of anyone trying to put anything in her mouth, especially when they try to swab it out every few hours. We think it reminds her of the breathing tube.  Who could blame her for that?!

The best part of the day was that she carried on a conversation with several people.  She knows her full name, and calls everyone else by name as she speaks to them.  She can also see the television and what is going on out in the hall.  Late this afternoon she looked up at the television and said, "It's Pakistan."  I looked up, and sure enough, there was a map on the screen!  Way to go, Mom!

Later this afternoon she told Alan that she wanted a sip of water through a straw.  We sat her upright in bed and she took several sips.  It was her first drink of water in a week and a half!!!   

The doctor said she is very stable medically and their focus now is on rehabilitation.  He thought perhaps she would only need to be in the ICU for a couple more days.  

When we look at how far she has come it is downright miraculous.  We truly appreciate your faith and prayers on her behalf and know that Heavenly Father is surely watching out for her.

I count my blessings!

Joani was just talking to Mom and said, "It's good to see you awake after so many days." Mom's response was, "I count my blessings." Now that's our Mom!

Wonderful Wednesday

Today Mom has been talking quite a bit. She is quite restless and keeps saying "Oh my gosh," and "I've got to get out of this mode." When we ask what mode she means, she just says, "I don't know, I just don't know." When we ask if she is in pain she gives us a very firm "No," despite the fact that she acts as if it is really hurting. But she recognizes us, calls us by name and answers our questions. She also turns her head and looks at us while we are talking. We can see her personality today in her responses and actions.

The doctors are quite amazed at her progress. Our neuro specialist told us today that bad stroke cases sometimes have to be on a ventilator for a month, so the fact that she got it out on the seventh day is remarkable. He also told us that the fact we have seen such rapid progress is quite unusual and that this trend of early recovery is very encouraging. He said that her progress to date is due to the brain actually repairing itself and not as a result of decreased swelling. We were really excited!

We are having trouble with the continuous passive motion machine. It doesn't really fit on the bed without being jammed up too tightly against her thigh, but if we take the footboard off to give it more room the machine keeps working its way off the end of the bed. So, Dad and

Jim Jr. engineered a strap out of some twill tape (which they normally use to keep the ventilator tube in place) and solved the problem. They actually tied the machine to the bed in two places to prevent it from moving. Our sweet nurse said she might have to hire us! Her name is Diane too, so we told Mom she has a nurse Diane as well as a daughter Diane. That brought a smile to her face.

May I have this dance?

Although she was sleepy this afternoon and evening, she spoke to several visitors. She said, "Hello, Lorraine," to her sister and called her granddaughter "Ariane Love" just like she always does. When her granddaughter Dani asked Grammie how her day was, she replied, "Fine . . . I think." So there was quite a bit of conversation taking place today.

The occupational therapists sat her up on the edge of the bed twice today, for about 10 minutes each time. They tried to stand her up this afternoon, but she was just too tired, despite the fact that Dad promised to dance with her if she stood up. She must have been pretty exhausted to pass that up, since she's wanted to dance with Dad for 57 years! Maybe tomorrow!

Good Morning Sunshine!!!

Mom spoke her name outloud to the doctor this morning!!!!!!  The oxygen mask is no longer needed.  Her cough is more pronounced, showing that she can manage her airway.  All incredible news!  But the best news of all is that the doctor said she can see out of her left eye, and possibly a bit out of her right eye!!! How cool is that?!!!

She is also responding to questions.  When asked if she wanted to raise her bed, she replied, "Not right now."  When asked if she wanted to sit up in the bed she said she was OK.  When the therapist moved her leg she said "Oh, my leg!"  She even smiled at me!  What an incredibly sweet smile!

They just finished washing her hair, so life's looking up.  They have also given her some pain med, so she is a bit sleepy right at the moment, but it has been an amazing day so far!! 

Welcome back!

She's waking up!!!!! This is so exciting! They took out the ventilator about 3:30 p.m. and she has been wiggling around non stop since then. She moves her head from side to side almost constantly, licks her lips (she has a pretty brutal cold sore from the breathing tube) and opens her eyes. Although she's not looking at us, she seems to recognize our voices and even smile at times. Her legs are moving constantly as well and she seems to be trying to move her torso. She is moving her head so much that we can't keep the oxygen mask on her face. We are excited that she is breathing well on her own and can cough and clear her airway. What an exciting hour and a half!!!

It has been a great day. From the time we arrived she has been moving alot. The doctor was anxious to get the breathing tube out so she wouldn't develop pneumonia, but there was a very real chance it might have to be reinserted if she couldn't cough and keep the airway clear on her own. Everything went very smoothly, so we are thrilled!!

Hurray!!!

Fast Sunday

Later yesterday afternoon, the occupational therapists 'picked up' mom under the shoulders from the back and they rotated her around, lowered the bed and placed her in a sitting position at the foot of the bed and began trying to hasten the 'wake-up' process from the coma she has been in the last 6 days. She opened her eyes and stared forward, in a way she hasn't done since Post Op Recovery. Very encouraging minutes!

The nurses are so patient and facilitating, working her limbs, planting her feet flat on the floor and had her sitting up (with assistance). They stimulated her hands and put her in a weight-bearing position, having her lean on them on the edge of the bed. She started to twitch and rotate her feet, ankles and legs on the ground. Some 20 minutes of this had us cheering her on and not wanting all this to stop! It also appeared she rotated her upper arms.

After putting her back in bed, and placing her legs on the CPM (continual passive movement/motion) machine (which keeps her knees from scarring and getting her knees to become bendable and flexible), she became somewhat restless. So, this is a positive sign she can arouse from this crazy coma...

We are measuring the progress in tiny, but gratifying steps. The objective is to get the ventilator removed. With it, time is our enemy because of the risk of infection (and pneumonia). On the other hand taking it out would allow her to aspirate fluid into her lungs where it would fester and have the same result. So getting her conscious and 'protecting her airway' is the immediate goal. Keeping her slight fever in check with a stream of antibiotics is a priority as well. This is a delicate procedure because she is having a hard time with coughing and the irritation caused by the ventilator crammed down her throat. Then they have to siphon the fluid out of her lungs every so often and that action evokes a most painful grimace and writhing of her head back and forth for a few seconds. Ouch!

Today, the Occupational Therapists repeated their procedure and stimulated mom some more. She opened her eyes for sustained periods of time and peered forward, but not responsive to light or movement at this point. She seems to respond a bit to commands after repeating and assisting her to respond to the command. We are working on saying no or yes by moving your head accordingly.

So that is the current state of things. Every day raises the bar just a bit.

Many visitors have buoyed us up and sustained us this Fast Sunday. We are grateful for your heartfelt prayers and petitions on her/our behalf. We are also very mindful of the Lord's hand in this process.

Chapter One

On Monday, July 27, 2009, our beautiful, sweet wife and mother, Pauline, became the proud owner of two brand new knees. She had been suffering with severe knee pain for decades, and bone-on-bone pain for the past few years, but was always worried about having the surgery because of possible complications. A few weeks ago she announced that she had scheduled the surgery and was looking forward to enjoying life without worrying about her knees any longer.

The knee replacement part of the surgery went extremely well, accomplished with just a spinal block along with conscious sedation, similar to what you would experience in a colonoscopy. Mom had been told to expect to be up and walking the day of the surgery. However, the recovery nurse noticed right away that Mom had weakness in both arms. After a couple hours of monitoring her, they asked if we would come to the recovery room and observe her. She was able to speak to us but was unexpectedly groggy. When she still hadn't improved five hours after the surgery, they ordered a battery of tests and finally sent her up to ICU. By evening she had lost her eyesight, but could still recognize our voices and provide short, belabored responses to our questions. We gathered the family together and gave her a blessing which spoke comfort and peace to everyone.

By Tuesday morning she was no longer conscious. As the day wore on it became evident that she needed more specialized care. Our family prevailed upon the hospital to immediately move her to the brand new Intermountain Medical Center in Murray where they have a Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit. Although she probably doesn't remember any of the excitement, it was quite the scene early Wednesday morning when the Life Flight team arrived to transport her to IMC by ambulance. It has been so comforting to have her in this new facility where they know what to do and are giving her superb care.

The neuro specialists here are baffled by how this happened, and told us that the chances of this occurring are literally one in a million. The doctors have been able to determine that the stroke was caused by low blood pressure during the surgery, despite the fact that her blood pressure remained within acceptable levels all throughout the procedure and everything appears to have been quite routine. For some unexplainable reason, the blood pressure levels that work for most everyone else must not have been adequate for her, and blood was not able to flow to all parts of her brain. The MRI's show numerous, widespread mini strokes in the watershed areas of her brain and expected swelling around those areas of damage which developed over the course of the next two days. Although the damaged areas are permanent, as the swelling subsides she will likely regain much of the functions impaired because of swelling. Because of the dispersal of the mini strokes, there is a good prospect for neighboring areas of her brain to take over and help restore much of the lost functionality.

One of the spots of damage is in the area of the brain that controls consciousness, but there is also swelling in that area. They expect that once the swelling subsides she will be able to regain consciousness. We are hoping for the same thing with her vision, since early on she did have her sight, but lost it several hours later, hopefully as a result of swelling and not permanent damage. It appears that the worst is past and she is on the mend. Changes will be slow, but steady, incremental improvements are expected.

On Sunday night when everyone gathered to give my Mom a blessing before the surgery, she was told in the blessing that she would be able to see the hand of the Lord through this experience. Although we never imagined that things could have turned out this way, we have indeed seen the hand of the Lord these past few days, and know that He is aware of us and in charge of what is happening. So many people have appeared at just the right moments to guide our path, and we are grateful for the help we are receiving.

We are holding a fast for her tomorrow, on Sunday, August 2nd, and invite you to join with us in fasting on her behalf. Although we don't know how much she is aware of her surroundings, we think she can hear us and is becoming more responsive. We know she would love to hear from each of you and feel of your love and friendship. Please feel free to post a response below by clicking on the "COMMENTS" link at the end of this entry. We will read the comments to her.

Thanks again for your love and support. We'll keep you posted.

Grammie & Grandpa Whitehead

Now these are awesome Grandparents :)