Post by reTrEaD on Dec 23, 2020 23:18:56 GMT -5
We see Russ every day at supper time, like clockwork at 5pm. When he didn't show by twenty after, we pretty much knew something was wrong. Went to his house. His car was in the driveway but no lights were on. I have a key to his house so I went in to check. He was on his bedroom floor and had dragged the covers off the bed to cover himself. All I saw was one foot sticking out from under the covers and feared the worst.
As I called to him, he began to stir. (Big sigh of relief from me.) He was cognizant and able to speak, although his speech was somewhat slurred. He was unable to get off the floor even with my help. Called 911 and he was taken to the hospital. There they performed xrays and mri and diagnosed a stroke. He's having a procedure right now to attempt to remove a blood clot.
If you believe in the power of positive thought, send one his way and let's all hope for the best.
Thanks.
UPDATE:
The doctors successfully performed the procedure to remove the blood clot.
Bad News:
He's lost feeling and most of the motor activity in the left side of his body.
Good News:
He's alert, articulate and in general good spirits, although his speech is slightly slurred. Some of the feeling and motor activity is beginning to return. He's now able to eat and swallow with quite a bit of difficulty but we're hoping that will improve with time. Not sure how close to 'normal' he'll eventually get or how long that will take. But progress is progress, right?
2020 sucks harder than a Hoover plugged into a 220v outlet. But it could have been much worse, so I'm very thankful it wasn't. Yeah, spending Christmas in hospital is the pits. But better there than in the morgue.
I'll keep you up to date on his progress over the coming days and weeks.
Update-2:
Russ has regained some of the strength in his left arm and a substantial amount of strength in his left leg. He was able (with assistance) to stand, walk a few steps, and sit in a chair. They were hoping to move him from the ICU to a 'step-down' unit, but no beds were available in that unit this afternoon. So maybe tomorrow.
Bottom line: Progress is.
Update-3:
Russ was transferred to a hospital closer to home last night. He's in a stroke rehab unit so he'll get physical therapy a few times each day. Took a duffel of clothes, undies, socks athletic shoes, personal grooming, etc to the hospital last night. With the covid protocol in place, I wasn't permitted to see him and deliver the bag personally. But I checked today and he did receive it.
They expect he'll be there for roughly three weeks. Being stuck in hospital with no visitors is not cool but he's likely to make progress faster there than if he came straight home.[/quote]
As I called to him, he began to stir. (Big sigh of relief from me.) He was cognizant and able to speak, although his speech was somewhat slurred. He was unable to get off the floor even with my help. Called 911 and he was taken to the hospital. There they performed xrays and mri and diagnosed a stroke. He's having a procedure right now to attempt to remove a blood clot.
If you believe in the power of positive thought, send one his way and let's all hope for the best.
Thanks.
UPDATE:
The doctors successfully performed the procedure to remove the blood clot.
Bad News:
He's lost feeling and most of the motor activity in the left side of his body.
Good News:
He's alert, articulate and in general good spirits, although his speech is slightly slurred. Some of the feeling and motor activity is beginning to return. He's now able to eat and swallow with quite a bit of difficulty but we're hoping that will improve with time. Not sure how close to 'normal' he'll eventually get or how long that will take. But progress is progress, right?
2020 sucks harder than a Hoover plugged into a 220v outlet. But it could have been much worse, so I'm very thankful it wasn't. Yeah, spending Christmas in hospital is the pits. But better there than in the morgue.
I'll keep you up to date on his progress over the coming days and weeks.
Update-2:
Russ has regained some of the strength in his left arm and a substantial amount of strength in his left leg. He was able (with assistance) to stand, walk a few steps, and sit in a chair. They were hoping to move him from the ICU to a 'step-down' unit, but no beds were available in that unit this afternoon. So maybe tomorrow.
Bottom line: Progress is.
Update-3:
Russ was transferred to a hospital closer to home last night. He's in a stroke rehab unit so he'll get physical therapy a few times each day. Took a duffel of clothes, undies, socks athletic shoes, personal grooming, etc to the hospital last night. With the covid protocol in place, I wasn't permitted to see him and deliver the bag personally. But I checked today and he did receive it.
They expect he'll be there for roughly three weeks. Being stuck in hospital with no visitors is not cool but he's likely to make progress faster there than if he came straight home.[/quote]