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After two MONTHS in the hospital my dad is FINALLY HOME!!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD OF LOVE!!!! OH!! That is over.
************* IF YOU NOTICE SOMEONE HAS HAD A STROKE IMMEIDATELY TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE IF THEY IMPROVE. THROW THEIR BODY IN THE BACK SEAT OF A CAR AND DRIVE TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT PUT YOUR SHOES ON, DO NOT GRAB YOUR LICENSE, DO NOTHING BUT IMMEDIATELY DRAG THEM TO YOUR CAR AND SPEED TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM. FOR SOME TYPES OF STROKES THERE IS A DRUG CALLED tPA (TISSUE PLASMIMOGEN ACTIVATOR) WHICH MAY SAVE THE LIFE OF A STROKE VICTIM BUT IT MUST BE ADMINISTERED VERY, VERY QUICKLY. ***************************
In any case, if you notice the stroke after it is too late to administer tPA or if tPA is unable to be given for whatever medical or logistical reasons, NEVER EVER give up on the potential of a stroke victim to recover through their body's own natural processes. Chances are if a stroke victim survives the first few days they will very, very, very gradually recover a little bit each day -- they will recover to become precious in their own way. It is extremely important to treat even the most severe stroke as a condition from which a person may considerably recover. Do not give up. Do not despair. Tell them constantly you love them. Make sure they know that you are with them, beside them, even if they cannot speak -- if they just stare at the ceiling for days. Don't worry. Chances are they may recover. Keep their upper body elevated 30 degrees so they do not inhale their own saliva; rotate their bodies and limbs every two hours; ensure they receive nutrition through a nasal tube, IV, or some other means until they are able to swallow without aspiration. Let them sleep and sleep and sleep -- and constantly tell them you love them. Bring them home as soon as possible. (Hospitals are extremely dangerous once chronic conditions have been treated -- nurses will provide you with ample stories about why it is better for your loved one to go home as soon as possible.) Just don't give up. Bear down, set up camp in their hospital room, track every drug and diagnosis, and never, ever think nurses and doctors do not make mistakes OFTEN.
Contrary to popular belief the American healthcare system for persons over 65 is extremely generous. You will receive amazing help from wonderfully optimistic therapists, nurses, and so on -- virtually at no cost for a person over 65. Freelance from home or whatever -- set up your computer beside their bed in their home. Just do not give up. Do not let them die in a nursing home. They may very likely recover. Have hope. Doctors have a tendency to be pessimistic and career nurses can be dangerously jaded; their training leads to overmedication and extended hospitalization. Unfortunately after treating patients in chronic severe states they rarely see stroke victims months later after improvement. Within weeks however you could notice a considerable improvement. But in the first weeks a stroke victim will need your constant daily, hourly, personal loving attention. Hopefully you will be gratefully surprised when within a few weeks your "patient" has improved. You will care more about your loved one -- and perhaps even come to know their medical needs -- better than any nurse or doctor.
(Last year my dad suffered a stroke which is why while caring for him I had the opportunity to participate in "The Journey Begins" Challenge. Two months ago he had to come off blood thinners before undergoing surgery, which led to a second stroke. Both were extremely, breathtakingly severe. He was unable to swallow for several weeks last October and developed pneumonia basically from inhaling his own saliva. In order to remove the congestion from his lungs a tube had to be inserted down his nose which caused traumatic bleeding. When things were quite dire in the middle of the night while suctioning blood from his throat it seemed important to plan to write something like this note in order to ensure that whomever may read it -- particularly artistic, creative persons -- might somehow not give up hope in the possibility their loved ones might survive a similar condition. Since this was his second stroke my family was fairly optimistic -- even though the suctioning significant amounts of blood from my father's throat was very, very terrifying. Anyhow, I hope if you have read this far you immediately take a person to the nearest emergency room who may appear stunned, severely disoriented, or even have slurred speech and a slight droop on one side of their face. And, that you never give up hope -- because at some time in your care you may be the only one with it.
Oh, and "the God of Love" stuff is personal but I had to say that. Not a religious freak. The general idea is that you just have to show people you care about that you actually sincerely love them and that such heartfelt statements may be a force in themselves which you may evoke in your favor.)
That is THAT.
IT IS OVER!!!! He is home and recovering!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU LOVE!!!
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