Forty Fifth Post

OK, so I am with Mom right now. She is doing really well, eating a lot, and is very talkative. I told her that I am joining the Spirit of Troy (USC marching band) and she seemed to really like that. I also played her some of the music from the marching band.

Unfortunately today I also found that I missed my flight to Maine. Uncle Kim is trying to find me a new flight to Maine now. Dad and I were also supposed to go to a Mariner's game tonight but I'm not sure how well that will work now.

Forty Fourth Post

So I went in to see Mom today. It was a very good day, as the first hour or so she was probably the most alert I have seen her. We talked a ton for the first hour and then she ate a little. I brought her food from her favorite Japanese restaurant, Nara, which she loved.

Forty Third Post

Wow, I've really fallen behind with the blog.

Mom unfortunately had her stomach pumped the last couple days because she couldn't do any bowel movements and food was getting backed up in her GI tract. She is doing fine now and was cheerful and very mentally aware.

Dad says he is going to try and bring in Wild Ginger tomorrow for her as a special treat because it is her favorite restaurant.

Also Mom said she would like more visitors.

Scott

Forty-Second Post

So I am with Mom once again today. Unfortunately today she seemed really dejected and kept saying things like "I can't take anymore." I told her to hang in there but she didn't want to hear any "just a little while longer." She was convinced she was doing poorly and seemed very desponded.

When I came in though she did keep saying she loved me and that she wanted me to go home and get some sleep.

Scott

Forty-Second Post

We went in again to see Mom again today but she was still in the OR recovery room from a surgery when I had to leave :(

Forty First Post

OK, so I didn't post for a while because I was at USC. I keep getting support from people about the blog and it is really good so thank you.

I saw Mom yesterday and she was looking really good. She was talking with me and then slept a lot, like most days, periodically asking for food or water or pain medications.

We also met with one of the doctors yesterday about Mom's skin graft, and learned a little more about that.

Scott

Fortieth Post

Well, once again I am with Mom, posting from my laptop. She seemed really happy to see me when I walked in, asked if I still liked my job, told me how proud she was of me, then fell back asleep. She is currently sleeping now so we'll see if she wakes up anymore tonight.

Scott

Thirty-Ninth Post

So I am with Mom today.

She admitted that she has trouble remembering sometimes and that things seem strange with her. She has a little brain damage but she is aware of the damage and realizes that she is having trouble remembering and a little trouble sleeping.

She said that her biggest fear was that mentally and physically she would not be on par with what she used to be. Please when you see her remind her that she is healing every day and that she will soon be back to normal.

She also said though that she can tell people are treating her differently, and she feels like she is being treated like a child. Please if you are reading this and going to see Mom just talk to her exactly the same way you used to. She can understand you most of the time, though even she admits that her understanding goes in and out sometime.

So just treat Mom the same way you used to and constantly remind her that she is making progress every day and that she will soon be back to normal, and to just keep fighting.

On another note, a friend of ours brought the dog in today and Mom loved it. Mom was telling me a few minutes ago how much it meant to her and how she missed the dog so much.

Thirty-Eighth Post

OK, so I saw Mom last night but forgot to post.

Thank you for the encouragement again, it always helps.

Last night mom was asleep the entire time because of the pain medication that she took.

Because Mom so often talks about our pets and wonders if she is really doing better, Dad and I thought it would be nice to take the dog in to see her and wheel her outside the hospital so she could see the her.

Thirty-Seventh Post

So I am with Mom once again.

Mom was very talkative in the beginning of the visit but is now mostly sleeping or asking for pain medications.

Mom was asking how long until she could be at home and see the animals and I told her it would be at least a few months but that she was doing better every day. She was also talking about how her situation was "the pits" and that she was sorry I was having to go through it.

I am also getting kind of tired of coming to the hospital every day. I wish the accident never happened and Mom could be home again with us.

Twenty-Sixth Post

I saw Mom again today. When I went in she was on her side in a great deal of pain. Within ten minutes the lift team came in and turned her onto a different part of her back so she was more comfortable.

Once again she slept the majority of the time, only waking to ask for food or pain meds. I've started bringing a book or my laptop now so I have something to do every day while she sleeps.

Scott

Twenty-Fifth Post

So thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I am once again posting via Wifi and am with Mom right now.

She was eating a little earlier but now is just sleeping. She seems to be sleeping more and more nowadays, I think now that her body is awake and mostly concentrating on healing she needs to take it really easy.

Turns out I don't think she is being discharged until a few weeks from now.

Thirty-Fourth Post

Today I went in to see Mom, but because she was sleeping almost the entire time, I only stayed for about an hour. When Mom did periodically awaken it was to ask for water.

Thirty-Third Post

Today was the most aware I have seen Mom this entire time. She remembered everything, from our names to our pets. She was also talking fluidly with me and dad, and could recognize jokes, sarcasm, and other subtle variations of the voice, and could respond fluently also.

I am so happy she is mentally back to normal today.

Thirty-Second Post

Just got back from seeing Mom again tonight for two hours.

When I first saw her she had just gotten out of the OR and was still pretty doped up. They moved her back up to her room on the 7th floor, got her IV's and everything adjusted, and then she went to sleep about 20 minutes later.

I brought my laptop and they have wifi there if you register for a guest pass so I did some of my USC pre-orientation homework.

BTW I would just like to continue saying that I read all the comments on the blog here but don't have time to respond to them, I know people have commented on earlier posts so I was just saying.

Thirty First Post

So Mom's right heel surgery just finished and the doctor is here talking to us now. The wonders of WiFi.

Also, we are considering moving her from Harborview to a nursing home on the east side now her injuries are healing up well. Harborview wants to discharge her now so we're seeing what is going to happen.

Strangely, even though she is being discharged soon it would seem that for her Rehab she would have to come back to Harborview because it has the best rehab facility here. But she is in no condition to do rehab right now.

Thirty-First Post

There posts are getting later and later. I saw Mom last night, and like usual stayed for about 2 hours. I was kicked out a few times when they turned her and changed her bandages, but that was normal.

Also like usual she kept asking for pain meds. I fed her a little bit of her probiotic yogurt and had the nurses give her some pain medications, but she kept asking for more, which is also not unusual. I learned from the nurse that repeatedly asking for pain medications even after they were in her system is not uncommon for stroke patients, who tend to focus on one thing repeatedly.

She remembered my Dad and my names last night too which was cool.

Thirtieth Post

So I saw Mom today during the day instead of at night. Today she was hoisted into a moveable chair/bed so we could wheel her out of her room and around the floor. We took her out to one of the sky bridges so she could get some sun and get a good view. A couple family friends were there with us also today.

After a few minutes she was whisked off with a speech therapist, and me and a friend of mine went down to eat in the cafeteria. After eating, we came back to say goodbye to Mom and then left around 2:30 before rush hour struck in fully.

Mom is doing noticeably better every day, and thoroughly enjoys hearing me tell her that.

I would also once again like to thank everybody. I am still getting cards and facebook messages wishing me and the family well. They make a big impact, but unfortunately I haven't been nearly as good as I should have been in responding to them.

Thanks,

Scott

Twenty-Ninth Post

I saw Mom again last night but got back so late that I was too tired to blog about it.

When I first got in Mom was awake, but I was kicked out within five minutes as they had to adjust her brace. She got a new brace yesterday and so Katie and I waited in the waiting room and watched a Mariners game on TV.

When we got to go back in, Mom was awake but drowsy. Most of the time we spent there Mom was switching off between eating small morsels of food and sleeping.

We brought her a raspberry sorbet from home, and I brought her a little bit of sushi from downstairs that I had to cut up into small bites. Mom also helped herself to a pear/pomegranate nantucket nectar right out of my hand before I left.