momwolf is spending more of the day awake, but her thinking is still not clear. She is able to hold a conversation, but I catch her confabulating (this is a professional way of saying "she makes things up to fill in gaps in her memory she doesn't understand"). The docs are definitely confirming a left frontal-parietal stroke, however, it seems relatively minor. She is not showing any problems with visual-spatial perception, and she is able to add numbers together without difficulty (apparently that's where math hangs out). They were hoping to discharge her to a nursing home today, but a last minute CT scan got in the way of the plans. The neurologist wanted to make sure that she is not bleeding into her brain, since one of the meds they want to put her on for discharge is a blood thinner. That's the kind of trade-off I'm having to decide on ... a blood thinner could increase the risk of another stroke, however, it can also reduce it, because thinner blood will get through her pretty much occluded heart vessels and improve function of her heart.

A clot or a bleed? A clot or a bleed??

ach this is a tough time for you, having to mother your mom and make the best decisions possible when it's not your own body. It's like a "Welcome to parenthood", except it's unlikely your charge will tale care of herself 18 years down the line. I wish for clearcut decisions and easy transitions ahead.

I'm sorry its been so difficult wolf. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around my Dads situation as well. What parts are really them? Good luck lady and like monster said clearcut choices.

momwolf is out of the hospital, but not yet home.

After several days of on-again, off-again discharge plans, she finally made it out the door of the hospital, and is now in the nursing home, but not terribly happy about it. Hopefully she will put up with it long enough to get enough strength back to manage on her own at home. Dr. Doom even stuck his head in the door to wish us a cheery goodbye. He had said that he hadn't expected her to make it through the first three days in the hospital, much less be able to be discharged. Don't get me wrong, I really liked Dr. Doom. I just liked having momwolf prove him wrong better!

The care manager at the hospital refused to take my very good suggestion that I had an ambulance that would take momwolf to the nursing home as a professional courtesy (i.e., FREE), and would be far more comforting to her as she knows quite a few of my crew members, and even the ones she doesn't know, she would trust on my say-so.

A different care manager finished momwolf's discharge and as she was talking to us about the instructions she said, "Don't I know you from somewhere?" I suggested it might have been because of the nuthouse, and she said, "No, that's not it ... did you go to West Chester?" Yep. We had lived on the same floor of the dorm ... 29 years ago.

So, momwolf gets to the nursing home without incident, and we're getting her settled into her room, when I discover that there's some stuff in the closet and drawers. I mentioned this to the Admissions Director, just to ask to have environmental services come in and decon the room, etc. Next thing I know they are pushing momwolf, bed an all, down the hallway to a private room. Man, I love the way they apologize!

Hopefully she'll really work at the physical therapy stuff, because she's already complaining. I may have to bribe her with food from Panera.

That's a big hurdle cleared. Hope the progress is as linear from here on. :thumb:

Good to hear the momwolf is heading in the right direction! Sending you strength for the next bit (I know how hard it can be to keep a mum in a place like that when she wants to leave ...!).

I always stop by this thread to keep up, Wolf.
As ever, love and healing thoughts to you and yours.

Oh that is so good to hear!

That's great news. I hope she settles in alright. My mom has been under the weather for months now, but so far it's not serious enough for hospitalization or nursing home.

Good news, Wolf. Momwolf is fortunate to have such a caring daughter. Bless you.

momwolf had her assessment by PT today. She will also be receiving OT (i think this means they have her fold laundry and make tea for therapeutic reasons) and will be working with a speech therapist. She doesn't have any deficits in her speech, but the speech therapist also works with cognitive skills.

momwolf promises to work very hard, because she wants out of the nursing home ASAP.

Her across the hall roommate is brain injured. He is very friendly, and often sits in his wheelchair in his doorway, giving cheery greetings to everyone who walks by. He also sings. Loudly. All day.

He told me that he was hit by a car when he was a child. He lived with his parents for his whole life, until they passed away. He was unable to sustain his housing on his own and became homeless. Somehow the homeless shelter got him into the nursing home for long-term care. He said he appreciated what was done for him very much, and that he is quite comfortable and well-taken care of.

Did I mention he sings?

I suspect that his brain injury probably occurred sometime in the 1970s, because that's his preferred musical era. He's either about my age or just a little younger.

He sang the Bobby Sherman hit, "Julie, Julie, Julie do you love me" and then segued into "Go Away, Little Girl." Actually, his rendition of "Go Away, Little Girl" bordered on being creepy.

So far momwolf is tolerating him. She thinks I shouldn't talk to him quite so much, though.

Tonight I bribed myself with some Panera. momwolf just wanted a soda. Big :thumbsup: to the Napa Almond Chicken Sandwich.

Perhaps your mom could devise some harmonies for the singing guy?

She is trained as a classical vocalist, and sang with a semi-pro chorale group prior to her skull fracture, so that is a possibility.

There you go! Making music, so they say, is good for all sorts of cognitive activities etc ...