Well, I am beginning to understand the answer to the question that I posed in the title of this thread. When I found BAFSupport.org, I really didn't know how I could make it because I didn't know yet if Debbie would make it. As so many of you know, it was scary beyond words. But now I know why you're able to talk about your own situations without the panic I came here with.
It's not that things are easy; they're not. But every little baby step, as LaVonne said, is a huge step forward. Each one is a wonderful victory. So as bad as it seemed, it's the victories that count the most. And every day brings a new one.
But I truly thank God for the amazing support for a stranger that you have all shown.
I am glad you found this website as well--and comfort/hope as a result! I hope that Debbie will visit, when ready. Personally, I started looking at the site about 1 year after my rupture--I wasn't ready for much prior to that-
I also firmly believe that prayer and positive thinking really do make a positive difference!
Ha! I have a similar story in that I told my boyfriend something that clearly didn't make sense. I had left the message on his voicemail so I was able to listen to it and indeed find that I was talking nonsense. Strange the way things work but now I am happy to say I haven't said anything strange since.
Remember I mentioned we were moving to a Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital. We've been here a week today and she's making tremendous progress. The hospital is a large chain of small LTAC hospitals, Select Specialty Hospital. I don't know about the whole chain but I can tell you that the Tulsa facility is awesome. Their staff is so compassionate and so focused on her care. Before we chose this one we went to visit all three of the LTAC hospitals in Tulsa. The first hospital, where she had her surgury, recommended one of the others but we really were much more impressed by the staff at Select Specialty. We haven't regretted it.
Today, the speech therapist and the physical therapist, knowing I wouldn't be here before they left, left written notes for me. Just another sign of how much they care.
Debbie is moving more and more, following directions more and more. She ate some applesauce and drank some water. They aren't ready to approve her to have either regularly but it's a big start. But I have to admit that I cheat. They allow us to give her mouth swabs with water but Debbie asked for ice-cold Dr. Pepper so I give her a little with the swab each night.
Our nurse today, Heather, went through this with her mother. Her mother had 3 bleeds 5 years ago. Though her mother's recovery was much faster than Debbie's, it's still good to know that the nurses really do understand what's going on.
So that's the update for today. I'll try to update as I can because I know you'll all like to know but if it's too much let me know.
Dale...welcome here...and responding here initially will bring it forward to all others who may have missed it...
I so regret to read the status of your wife... and, worse, the update you provided... However, I do not think it is sp unique and unusual...again, depth / status can/may vary considerably...
Bringing this forward...and, pray that you and Michael Lucas gain strong support from one another...
Many prayers to you and your wife and any/all family...
I think we all appear calm as we are a bit further along with our aneurysm than your wife is. One thing I have realised with any sort of brain injury is that the healing time is glacial compared with other ailments, for instance if you break a leg then you go to hospital get it plastered up and wait a couple of weeks before you're better. With the brain it seems to take forever. My own experience was that I had a grade 4 subarachnoid haemorrhage and was basically a basket case. I couldn't talk, walk and at one point had a tube in my throat to help breathing.
After 5 weeks of intensive rehab I was able to go home and now 4 years later have a fulltime job and drive myself to work everday. So there is hope-sometimes it takes a lot longer than you would like.
Prayers for your wife and for you. It's okay not to always try to be so strong. Quite a few of us that can be your shoulders for you when you need that support. I have no doubt that your wife just knowing you are there is giving her strength and hope. Let her know about this group, even if she cannot respond. Maybe just hearing you talk about the group will help her in some way. I can remember myself in the icu/recovery room and just knowing there were people around made a big difference, even though I was 'out of it' I could hear them. Different circumstances, but it still makes a person feel a bit more secure. Prayers your way. Jeanne