Its coming up on Dec. 7th....a day of significance in my life. On this day, three years ago, at 2 a.m., I realized that something was happening that was unexpected and I was caught immediately off guard. Fortunately, I was still awake at this time when my husband suffered a stroke in his sleep. Of course, I calmly dialed 911 and went into action. Knowing absolutely nothing about strokes, I could never have anticipated what lied ahead for us. He was stablized and then we started trying to figure this all out. No two strokes are alike so its nearly impossible to form a prognosis, short or long-term. I never even asked. I was crash - coursed in neurology in the four months that followed in Houston rehabs. I researched everything I could research and even today, have left no stone unturned, regarding my husbands rehabilitation and recovery. We have had setbacks including a subdural hematoma (brain bleed), that required neurosurgery to resolve, a seizure, a baclofen pump implant, as well as numerous rounds of botox and phenol, and even gamma knife for a benign cyst on the good side of his brain. I am so grateful to TIRR in Houston, our neurosurgeons, and our rehab docs. They have continually encouraged us with new options. I have unsuccessfully tried to get Keno a spot in some of the newer trials they are conducting but because his stroke was too long ago or because he suffered additional brain events, it has excluded him from the newer research. While he was progressing for the first two years, 2014 has been disappointing for us. He has not walked all year due to pain and he continues to get weaker. Medically, he is perfectly stable. His blood pressure is better than mine has ever been. Ha! Mobility-wise, he has declined somewhat. I wish I had better news to report but it is what it is. We have had home health send PTs out, but medicare stopped paying for it after he showed no real progress. He tried hard and did all they asked, but the progress just wasnt adequate. So, we are at an impasse, if you will. His stamina is not good and he requires round-the-clock care. We are still trusting God with our future and praying daily for his healing and restoration. I have found new purpose in this journey as a caregiver and plan to use my experience to benefit others who find themselves in similar circumstances. Family caregivers are the unsung heroes in this scenario and hopefully I can contribute something of meaning to the lives of those who are taking care of a loved one and find a way to provide some relief for all of those who have sacrificed so much to care for their loved ones. Please continue to pray for us as our journey continues....
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 04:48:26 +0000
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