SOCIAL MEDIA

August 10, 2015

Thank You & an Update

I owe each and every one of you a huge thank you for all the love and support you showed me in regards to my mom’s stroke. Your comments and e-mails wrapped me in a hug when I needed it most. I will never again just think of this blog as a place to share home decor ideas. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As for my mom, she has spent the last 3 weeks in an acute rehab hospital (Kessler). Slowly, she is making steps towards recovery. She is struggling to regain her speech. As a result of her stroke, she has developed expressive aphasia. This means she understands everything going on around her, and she certainly has a lot to say, but she just can’t get it out. My mom is a major communicator and this is, by far, the most frustrating thing for her. And all of us who love her. She is also working on trying to walk in physical therapy and learning to take care of her own needs in occupational therapy. She is so very motivated to get better and she is an inspiration to us all. It will be a long, slow process but she is definitely making progress.

Although we have stumbled along the way, we are learning new ways to communicate. Even before she started saying words, she was smiling and occasionally laughing, as well as crying and shaking her fist to show her frustration. I was able to sit in on a speech therapy session the other day and was thrilled to hear my mom say, “I love you” as well as all of my kids’ names. My new heroes are the therapists that are working with her. Kelly, her speech therapist, was the the first person who was able to give me hope a few days after mom arrived at rehab. She told me she thought my mom would say a word by the end of the week. And she was right. Until that time, no one was able to give us any indication of when- or even if- mom would recover. There were many dark and scary days when all we could do was put one foot in front of the other. I can’t imagine how I would have gotten through those days without my husband, Billy, or my brother and sister-in-law. It has been a roller coaster of emotions and I am sure it will continue to be in the months to come.

My mom re-married a couple of years ago and I have been so very grateful to her husband, Ray, for the wonderful life she has enjoyed with him. However, watching him take care of my mother these past few weeks has taken that appreciation to a whole new level. Ray also has 3 daughters who love my mom dearly. At Kessler, they keep telling us that family support is a huge factor in a stroke patient’s recovery. I sure hope they are right because my mom has a lot of support!

The next step in her journey will be spending a few weeks in a sub-acute rehab facility before returning home and continuing outpatient rehab. I will post more about her recovery as we go. And I hope to get back to somewhat regular posting about home decor soon. Fall is just around the corner and it is my favorite season for decorating! Thank you all again.

16 comments :

  1. So glad to hear this! Take care...

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  2. That's wonderful news! Continued prayers....

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  3. I misss you SO MUCH ,Courtney!! I'm praying for your mum as well!!! Sweet thoughts & prayers friend!!

    Paige.Rose
    from
    www.TheQuaintSanctuary.blogspot.com

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    1. Aw, thanks so much Paige! I miss you too. Thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers.

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  4. Knowing the staff at Kessler reasonably well mom is in great hands and when she starts her rehab downstairs in the outpatient dept will be amazing. ..keeping you all in our prayers...hugs

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  5. Knowing the staff at Kessler reasonably well mom is in great hands and when she starts her rehab downstairs in the outpatient dept will be amazing. ..keeping you all in our prayers...hugs

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  6. Thanks for the update on your mom. I have been thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers. So happy your mom is working hard to get to a better place with what has happened. Support and love and determination are the key factors to recovery. Love that your mom has that in her and all of you are there to support her. Hugs my friend.
    Kris

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  7. Your mom is very lucky to have you and your family around her, this will help her to recover very fast.
    Keeping you and your mom in my prayers.
    A french canadian reader :-)

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  8. Courtney....so glad to see your post today and that your mom is making progress. Still sending prayers.
    Andrea in Illinois

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  9. Courtney, I feel so badly that I haven't been in touch for awhile and didn't know about your mom. I'm so glad to hear that she is progressing and with all the love and support that she is getting from her family, she will continue to do just that. My thoughts are with you and just take care of yourself and your family..xxo Judy

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  10. Courtney: Great news that your mom is improving! Continued prayers for you, your mom, and your family. Looking forward to your posts when things normalize a bit for you. Hang in there! Best wishes, Christina

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  11. I'm so glad to hear your mom is improving! Hang in there...she will get better every day! Positive thoughts! ;)

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  12. Kessler is definitely the place for her to be. My friends' mom was there a few years ago after a broken neck and they were wonderful. I have been thinking about you lately and I am happy you shared an update with us. I am sending prayers and positive thoughts. Your mom is very lucky to have such a great support system!
    Take care, Shelley

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  13. Such wonderful news Courtney. I'm so glad to get the update from you. Continued prayers for you and your family. Keep you head up.

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