Sunday Morning Update

Mom is still sleeping (8:05 a.m. central time). Her breakfast is here, but I don't want to wake her up she's sleeping so soundly. Natalie spent the night with her. She said that around 3:00 a.m. her fever broke and her hospital gown was soaked. She had the nurse come in and change her gown. I arrived shortly before 7:30 a.m. and Natalie went back to the motel to clean-up and get packed. I haven't decided for sure if I'll ride back with he girls and catch a flight to Buffalo (where my car is parked) or stay and fly out of OKC. I'll wait to talk with the doctor before making my final decision.

I'll keep you posted.

Some Good News

Today started off with a report that was anything but good. Mom refused to eat breakfast and continued on her ornery stage performance. When the physical therapist came in and wanted her to sit up, she fussed and refused - however, with a little encouragement and because she didn't have the strength to do what she wanted, the physical therapist won! However, mom took her hand and patted the therapist until she got to the upper part of the arm and then she pinched her. The therapist was a good sport about it and we had a good laugh. Mom had to dangle her legs over the side of the bed and then she had to raise each one ten times - which mom did with no problem. After the therapist left, mom took a little nap. When she woke up her sweet side came out and she was thanking us for being there and telling us how much she appreciated us. She ate chocolate pudding for lunch and enjoyed it very much. I spent quite some time asking her questions about her dad, mother, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and she knew the answers. We were all amazed. Shortly after lunch, the girls and I went over to Francie's house (my cousin) for lunch and then took a drive past our old house and grandma's old house before heading back for the hospital. While we were gone, Donnie, Velie, and Robert were visiting mom/grandma at the hospital. When we arrived back at the hospital we were surprised to find out she was being moved from ICU to a private room. That's good news! We heard from the nurse that the CT scan that was taken this morning didn't show any significant change. The doctor said that mom is on a roller coaster and if mom doesn't get pneumonia, or an infection, she'll have a good chance of recovery - however a long one.

Mom has just been moved to her new room and is comfortable and waiting for her supper. She has a new telephone number so give us a call on our cell phone for the new number.

Saturday Morning Update

The doctor came in Friday night around 10:00 p.m. I had just left. The doctor had already been in to see her this morning when I arrived around 7:30 a.m. He said she wasn't doing well and had ordered another CT scan. She has just gotten back to her room from the scan. She wouldn't eat any breakfast this morning and is being very ornery telling me that she wants to be in a real hospital and then she told me that she wanted Donnie not me - to call Donnie and tell him to get here NOW! She told the nurses this morning that she wanted a nurse and when they told her they were her nurses, she told them she wanted real nurses not them. She is very demanding telling the nurse that she wants a blanket - lots of them. The doctor did say that her waving her hand around and kicking her feet and telling everyone what to do is a good thing. Better than her just laying in bed doing nothing. She doesn't look good and tells me that she hurts all over. I did mention to the doctor that I was from New York and was planning on going home Sunday night - he said I shouldn't leave for a few days. He doesn't see her improving. The doctor said he would get back with me as soon as he sees the CT scan.

Once again, I can't get on the internet in her room, so I have to go to the waiting room to update. Francie, Natalie, and Kristen are up here now, so I feel I can leave the room to do updates. I'll update again when I have any new news.



I'll wait to make a decision as to when I leave until Sunday evening.

Friday Update

I have been unable to access the internet today until now. All week I have been able to use the internet in mom's room, but today it was unavailable. The nurses checked to find out why I couldn't get online and found out that the service isn't available in ICU. Hum . . . I used it Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Anyway I'm able to use it in the waiting room. I didn't want to leave mom to come out to blog, but all visitors are required to leave ICU from 6:30 to 7:30 am and pm. So here I am.

Francie, Natalie, and Kristen arrived in Oklahoma City early this morning and got a few hours of sleep in the motel before heading over to the hospital. I arrived at 7:30 a.m. and thought mom looked better. The swelling in her face looked better and she was alert and talking a little to me. I fed her breakfast, grits and milk, and she seemed to be having difficulty clearing her throat. The nurse tried to put a suction tube down her throat and mom would have none of that. So a respiratory therapist came and gave her a breathing treatment which helped. The physician assistant came in and changed her bandage and removed the draining tube. Mom's incision is about 4 inches long. The doctor invited us to take a look at the CT scan that was taken yesterday. He said it looked good but once again mentioned his concern about the brusing in the brain. He said that she has about a 50 percent chance of making it, but if he was betting, he would bet on her. Mom ate lunch; tomato soup, milk, and a little cranberry juice. She didn't seem as sleepy today as yesterday. But after lunch she started having tremors on the left side of her face. She is unable to move her left arm or hand and her left hand is quite swollen. The doctor wanted the nurses to help mom get up today and sit in a chair, so shortly after lunch the nurses helped her up and she sat in a chair for a few hours. The tremors seemed to become more severe so the nurse contacted the doctor. They believe it might be seizures and have given her anti-seizure medication. She has been moved back into her bed, but continues having the seizures and is asleep and is not responding to my questions as she did in the past. Because of the seizures she was unable to have supper.

Your continued prayers will be appreciated.

Thursday afternoon update

Mom ate a little lemon pudding and drank some milk for lunch today. She has been sleeping most of the day except when we try to talk to her and bother her. She immediately falls back asleep. They are taking her now to get the CT scan. We had a good lunch that a couple from the church brought up to us. Francie (my cousin) is here. She took care of mom while I ran to her house to shower and change clothes.

Doctor's Report

I fed mom breakfast this morning. She ate a little cream of wheat, drank some milk and a sip of orange juice before falling back to sleep.

The doctor came in to see her. He ordered another scan of the brain. The right side of her head is very swollen and there has been no drainage. She has lost some of her grip in her left hand which the doctor contributes to the bruising in the brain. He wasn't too encouraging as to her progress so far. He requested that he talk to Rachael and fortunately I was able to reach her on her cell phone. The doctor doesn't see her improving. I'm very worried about her.

The nurse just now took her temperature and it is down a little.

Natalie and Francie are leaving today to come to Oklahom City to be with grandma.

We both made it through the night

The night went by rather quickly with not much sleep for either one of us. The room is so cold, I can hardly stand it. Mom is running a fever, but is able to answer questions correctly every hour. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray which they came and did around 5:00 a.m. Many of her I-V's have been removed which should make her more comfortable. She keeps asking when she can go home. Her nurse said she is doing pretty good. The nurses here are wonderful. They are so sweet to mom - treating her with love, respect, and care. The doctor will be in sometime this morning. I'll wait to go to Francie's (my cousin) house to clean up until after the doctor comes in. I don't want to miss him.

I slept (napped) in a semi-reclining chair with several blankets.