I had a long phone call from Neighbor L this morning, catching me just as I was leaving for morning chicken chores. D had a setback shortly after the stent procedure, having trouble with his left arm and periodically with his speech. They did another cat scan and MRI, and told L that while there are no large areas of brain damage suggesting a major stroke or anything, there are pinpoints and also an area of “infusion,” where what had been dry of blood was now “they didn’t want to say swollen, but…”
D is really down and frustrated and L was clearly upset, though she said the doctor she talked to was quick to assure her that it didn’t appear D had had a major stroke and he really should regain full function. But the term “six months” was spoken.
He’s still in ICU because things are not stable at all so they’re watching him constantly but once he’s done with that they’re going to transfer him to the hospital in the big town about 50 miles away. That could go on for quite some time, because he’s going to need a lot of therapy and getting home care way out here is pretty much a non-starter.
So – I’m finally going to get a chance to pay back some of that massive ob they’ve been laying on me for the past several years. I’ll likely be spending quite a lot of time there doing maintenance and animal chores, possibly for quite some time to come.
Who says that hermits don’t make good neighbors!?!?
I’m sorry to hear the D&L must go through this trying time, and encouraged to hear that Joel has their back.
Hopefully they are more conscientious in that ICU than they were with Epstein in the MCC.
I’m pretty sure nobody actually wants D dead, so yeah. It’ll probably go better than that.
That wasn’t the news we’d hoped for, but at least the worst seems to have been ruled out. Prayers up for no more surprises and for positive healing. A friend like you will be a true blessing for D & L!
This is going to sound weird, but it works. If he is having trouble with speaking, find something for him to yell at. Like a tv show or something. Trying to curse and grumble and complain really exercises the brain and helps it work around any damage from a stroke.
Hope things get better. And watch over L, because she’ll kill herself watching over D.
“curse and grumble and complain really exercises the brain” My brain must be in GREAT shape!
Joel: Tell D&L they have some total strangers rooting for ’em. And they’re lucky to have you doing some of the grunt work. Good man.
Swearing really helps. We handed Hubby the phone and let him tell the Robo-callers how he felt about them. Speech improved rapidly. From what I’ve been told swearing uses different pathways in the brain than regular speech.
It was her yelling at cooking shows that got my wife over the hurdle. Specifically “Chopped.”
D may be one of those who doesn’t swear, so grumbling and complaining may substitute.
From a long-time lurker (because that doesn’t sound creepy at all), best wishes to both D & L. I won’t pretend to imagine what they are each going through, but I hope things go as well as they can.
When he gets home, get him out to the barn and let one of the horses do their happy dance on his feet. He’ll re-learn how to talk REAL quick…