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.........