Status for week of 1/29/2011

My siblings and I agree that Mom had a pretty good week by comparison.  Some progress is evident.  I have been encouraged by the fact that on several occasions she has been off the oxygen for a while and her oxygen levels have stayed good.   This is an improvement.  When I talked to her on Saturday, she sounded better than I have heard since the event of her stroke in November.   She sounded more like herself again.  Good voice inflection, minimal slurring, and it was more of a conversation again instead of her just answering questions.   She asked me a few and that was good to hear.

She is getting out of bed and spending time in the lobby.  Of course, she has to be helped and taken in either a geri chair or a wheel chair.  So glad the weather has been favorable for her to be outside some.   That might not be possible for the next few days.  A brutal winter storm with extreme cold temperatures is in the forecast.

A note from Sharon:

I  asked Mom if she was getting tired in lobby and she said no, just 
having a merry time!  She has come to the lobby 2 times today in a geri 
chair which is like a recliner on  wheels. She never wants to be a 
bother, but I insist we go and she likes it.  Mom went outside  in a wheel chair 
without oxygen and levels stayed good!

A note from Judi:

I've been at the nursing home at 8;00 each morning this week while mom 
does her PT. Each time I see improvement and am encouraged. The 
electictrity was off over most of W'ford this afternoon for almost 2 
hours. Sharon was concerned about moms oxygen so she went to check on 
her. Her oxygen level was 93 after being without for that long. That 
was good. We are going to keep watching her and maybe soon she can go 
without during the day. Orpa and Linda came to see her today. She 
enjoyed their visit.


Specifiic prayer requests:
1.  Swallow study likely this week.  We would love to see Mom able to swallow food and eat normally again.  

2.  Continuing improvement in strength.   We are thankful for the progress and continue to pray for more.

General thanks and support for all who are caring for mom.  Especially Judi and Sharon who are faithful and dedicated to making sure mom gets the best care possible.   They're the  best daughters a mother could ask for.  They are there daily in addition to keeping up with their jobs and careers. 

Margaret Flaming status for week ending 1/22

                                          Mom's last night in the hospital.   Judi and Sharon are

                                          always there to help.  Photo taken 1/19/2011.

Mom was discharged from the hospital and moved back to the Corn Heritage Village in Weatherford this week.  (CHVW)   The main issues that caused her to be admitted in December have been corrected.  Listed below are some text communications between Judi, Sharon and I this past week.  This will show a little of how the week went.  

From Judi:   Jan 16

Mom was more alert today but voice was weak. She was funny said "she 

needed a kick in the pants".
My response:

Mom has kept her sense of humor!!

From Sharon:  Jan 21

Dr  said no feeding 24 Hrs for distension, then  2 a day. Swallow 

study nxt wk!  Pray, pray!

My response:

We will pray!  It would be so wonderful if  Mom could eat and swallow again. 

From Sharon:  Jan 22

Mom seems happy &  content to be back at CHVW. She is so thankful  for 

everything - a real example to me!  The therapist told her to get her 
walking shoes on. She said she will do her best. She is so concerned 
about the workers, she doesn't want to be any trouble and prays for 
them.
My response:  Mom continues to be an example with her attitude, and her genuine concern for people.

From Sharon  today.
Mom said yesterday in lobby she watched  someone drink chocolate milk 
and that was tough. Broke my heart.  Coughing more today. She is sleepy.
Makes me realize all of the little things we often take for granted.
 

The time Mom spent in the hospital was good for her because she was able to recover from pneumonia and a UTI.   The down side was that she got very weak from the lack of Physical Therapy.  We are so thankful that she can communicate and remains alert.   We are hopeful that the swallow study will go well.  This is an item of prayer and concern.   Also the distension issue seems to be a constant battle.  Several different formulas have been tried.  I would hope that being able to eat normally would correct the problem.  

I will update again next weekend or sooner if any significant changes occur.





Margaret Flaming heath status

I am starting this blog to keep information up to date for family and friends about the health status of my mother, Margaret Flaming.    I will try to keep weekly postings or whenever anything of significance changes in her road to recovery.

 The picture on the left is Mom and I the last time she vistied our home in Houston.  The picture on the right is more current and her sister, Orpa is in the background.                                                   

For any that do not already know, my mother suffered a significant stroke on November 11, 2010.  She  was found by her sisters about noon laying on the floor of her home in Corn, Oklahoma.   We do not know exactly how long it was from the time of the incident till she was found but we expect it was at least 6 hours.   She was rushed to Weatherford and was then medi-flighted to Oklahoma City.   She displayed paralysis in her left leg and left arm.  She was also unable to swallow.   After about a week, she showed signs of improvement enough that she was released from ICU and transferred to a rehab center in Clinton, OK. 

She spent several weeks in Clinton and showed some encouraging signs of progress.   Some movement in her left arm and her speech became much more understandable.   Still was unable to swallow and a peg was installed in her stomach for feeding.  It became necessary for her to leave the rehab center and arrangements were made to move her to the Corn Heritage Village in Weatherford.   After a few weeks, she developed pneumnia and had to be admitted to the Weatherford hospital where she remains as of this posting.

 The pneumonia really set her back in her progress because the Physical Therapy sessions could not be given and her strength deteriorated some.  Pneumonia is no longer an issue but she has had some complications with the formula they are feeding her.  The doctors as of today have changed the formula solution  to a higher calorie.   We hope this will agree with her and help to restore her strength.  The doctors are trying to restart the Physical Therapy sessions and she has been getting into a chair some during the day. 

The doctors have always given us an encouraging prognosis.   They think her ability to swallow will return and that there is a good possibility that she will walk again.   I will admit that the last few weeks have caused concern for myself and I am realizing that the road to recovery will probably be longer than I at first anticipated.  

Fortunately, my two sisters, Judi and Sharon, live close by, actually within minutes of getting to her at any time.  They have been incredibly faithful in attending to Mom's every need.   They visit her at least once a day and make sure that she is getting the best care possible.  Sharon is longing to have Mom come to live in her house as soon as her health improves to that point. She is even preparing a special room for her.   We don't know now if that can become a reality, but it is a goal that both Sharon and Mom would like to see happen.  Sharon's ambition to do this is a true demonstration of compassion and love.

Any of you who have known Mom for any length of time, know she is a very patient person with a sweet spirit and a great attitude.   This has remained constant throughout her current illness.   She continues to be a great example to all she is in contact with.

We continue to pray for her recovery and that progress will continue.   Your prayers in her behalf are appreciated.

To be continued.........