Thursday, November 16, 2006
Brother Contributes
This is my first blog attempt, I will definitely write more as I have my own stories to contribute to this endeavor. I am the younger brother of "custodian" and live on the other side of the country. I am home today watching my beautiful 13 month old daughter as she has a high fever (nothing serious the Dr. says) but she is already trying to type so I will sign on when there is a more appropriate time.
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Staph Infection - What Now?
It turned out that the "spider bite" was a lot more than that and instead of being released from the rehab center in mid-March, My2Moms was promptly sent to the hospital again for what amounted to a bit over a full week. This time she was admitted for a staph infection that had invaded her flaking scalp during her stay at the rehab center.
At the hospital, her condition gradually worsened. Bite turned to bump and then to bulge the width of a tennis ball. A sweep of various powerful antibiotics served little good as the infection took hold. By day four, she had gained 25 pounds through water retention and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She passed out in the shower and was laid out to say the least. After a series of diaretics to eliminate her excess water, she was put onto the operating table for an emergency surgical removal of the staph in her neck. This surgery saved her life.
The operation amounted to something similar to carving the eye of a jack-o-lantern. The wound was the size and shape of a typical ear and about 1/2 inch deep. It was wet packed with gauze and changed three times a day to encourage the regeneration of the tissues that would left exposed underneath the open wound. It would take three months for the hole in her neck to grow back under constant care and dressing changes.
As she made her way back to rehab for her recovery from the operation, My2Moms was unbelievably weak and seemingly back to where she'd began just after the stroke.
At the hospital, her condition gradually worsened. Bite turned to bump and then to bulge the width of a tennis ball. A sweep of various powerful antibiotics served little good as the infection took hold. By day four, she had gained 25 pounds through water retention and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She passed out in the shower and was laid out to say the least. After a series of diaretics to eliminate her excess water, she was put onto the operating table for an emergency surgical removal of the staph in her neck. This surgery saved her life.
The operation amounted to something similar to carving the eye of a jack-o-lantern. The wound was the size and shape of a typical ear and about 1/2 inch deep. It was wet packed with gauze and changed three times a day to encourage the regeneration of the tissues that would left exposed underneath the open wound. It would take three months for the hole in her neck to grow back under constant care and dressing changes.
As she made her way back to rehab for her recovery from the operation, My2Moms was unbelievably weak and seemingly back to where she'd began just after the stroke.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
The Recovery
Luckily, My2Mom's stroke was mild. It impaired her right side extremities but, little else. The day after she checked into the hospital her grip strength was probably 10% of her typical strength. She couldn't lift her hand to feed herself and was unable to sit up by herself.
I spent most of each day in the hospital with her...trying to make sense of what had happened. She spent about 4 days in the hospital and was transferred to a rehabilitation center to make her recovery. She was obviously frightened and saddened by her ordeal, as anyone would be. But she made good progress over the next 2 1/2 weeks or so. So much so that by the start of the third week she was walking again with a walker and her caregivers were talking about making arrangements for her to come home.
By this time she was cycling to a manic phase and I took her out of the rehab center for dinner and a movie. She was in a wheel chair the whole time but we had fun...she was upbeat and making good progress. The next day I arrived at the center to see her sitting on a ledge in front of the entrance smoking a cigarette she had bummed from one of the nurses (yes, one of the nurses). And she stood right up when I arrived and we walked in together. I thought to myself, too bad not every stroke victim could make as much progress as a bipolar in a manic swing. But, I was happy nonetheless.
We spoke with the caregivers and they suggested that if things stayed the way they were she'd be out in 2 days. The only thing that really concerned them at this point was a some bump, like a swollen spider bite, on the back of her neck below her left ear. It was red and swollen and she was having trouble turning her head. They'd look after it over the next few days.
Unfortunately, the bump was more than a spider bite.
I spent most of each day in the hospital with her...trying to make sense of what had happened. She spent about 4 days in the hospital and was transferred to a rehabilitation center to make her recovery. She was obviously frightened and saddened by her ordeal, as anyone would be. But she made good progress over the next 2 1/2 weeks or so. So much so that by the start of the third week she was walking again with a walker and her caregivers were talking about making arrangements for her to come home.
By this time she was cycling to a manic phase and I took her out of the rehab center for dinner and a movie. She was in a wheel chair the whole time but we had fun...she was upbeat and making good progress. The next day I arrived at the center to see her sitting on a ledge in front of the entrance smoking a cigarette she had bummed from one of the nurses (yes, one of the nurses). And she stood right up when I arrived and we walked in together. I thought to myself, too bad not every stroke victim could make as much progress as a bipolar in a manic swing. But, I was happy nonetheless.
We spoke with the caregivers and they suggested that if things stayed the way they were she'd be out in 2 days. The only thing that really concerned them at this point was a some bump, like a swollen spider bite, on the back of her neck below her left ear. It was red and swollen and she was having trouble turning her head. They'd look after it over the next few days.
Unfortunately, the bump was more than a spider bite.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
The Stroke
After hearing no response to my request, I poked my head into the guestroom. "Mom" I said, "It's time to go." No response. "MOM! YOU OK!" She gurgled slightly unable to move.
I ran over and saw that she was conscious but very unresponsive. Her blood sugar must be through the floor. I ran down stairs, called 911, and got a bottle of orange juice that we keep for moments like this.
When I got back to her room, I checked her blood sugar level with a test kit she keeps by her bed. 27. Half conscious, she was unable to lift herself to drink. I pulled her up with all my strength and sat behind her and lifted her head back to open hear mouth. She was able to swallow but unable to hold the bottle. We spilled a bit but about half of the 14 oz bottom made its intended destination.
By that time, the paramedics arrived. My2Moms was still in shock but speaking now. They asked the requisite questions..."what's your name?"..."how old are you?"..."where are you?"..."do you take any medications?" She's the poster child for that last one.
She was able to respond but her speech was slurred and she wasn't able to move on her right side. Her blood sugar now up into the 50s they decided it was time to go to the hospital.
My wife and kids arrived home just as they were carrying her down the stairs on the gurney.
She'd had a stroke.
I ran over and saw that she was conscious but very unresponsive. Her blood sugar must be through the floor. I ran down stairs, called 911, and got a bottle of orange juice that we keep for moments like this.
When I got back to her room, I checked her blood sugar level with a test kit she keeps by her bed. 27. Half conscious, she was unable to lift herself to drink. I pulled her up with all my strength and sat behind her and lifted her head back to open hear mouth. She was able to swallow but unable to hold the bottle. We spilled a bit but about half of the 14 oz bottom made its intended destination.
By that time, the paramedics arrived. My2Moms was still in shock but speaking now. They asked the requisite questions..."what's your name?"..."how old are you?"..."where are you?"..."do you take any medications?" She's the poster child for that last one.
She was able to respond but her speech was slurred and she wasn't able to move on her right side. Her blood sugar now up into the 50s they decided it was time to go to the hospital.
My wife and kids arrived home just as they were carrying her down the stairs on the gurney.
She'd had a stroke.
A Night Out!
My2Moms was doing surprisingly well for the first few weeks in her new locale. Things seemed to be going pretty smoothly. So smoothly, in fact, that my wife and I decided we'd have her come over to baby sit the kids on the evening of March 14th.
Given that she seemed pretty level psychologically, we took the leap. She came over after the kids had gone to bed and we left for an evening of fine food and few worries. We'd been running hard for the past month getting My2Moms settled and I'd been travelling quite a bit for work with plans to leave on another short trip the following morning to the east coast.
We had a great time...just getting out alone was a treat. I don't even remember where we went but I do remember thinking that this whole transition was going quite well for everyone involved. My2Moms seemed happy, my wife and I seemed to be handling the added responsibility well, and my grandparents were for the second time in their lives in empty-nest bliss.
But, the next morning turned our lives upside down.
I had several conference calls in the morning and packing yet to do before heading to the airport in the late morning, and my wife had kids to feed and errands to run. In the middle of a drool of a conference call, I suddenly realized that I hadn't packed, nor had i seen My2Moms yet that morning. It was nearly 10:30am and I panicked.
Why? Well my My2Moms is not only bipolar, but she is also a Type II diabetic...oh and a recovering alcoholic, the proverbial triple threat...but we'll probably get to that another time. Her particular combination of bipolar and diabetes makes her blood sugar predictably unpredictable. Like many diabetics, her blood sugar often swings from high to low...unlike most diabetics, however, My2Mom's blood sugar is extremely variable with little rhyme or reason to the swings (at least that's what she says). I think it might have something to do with the chocolate bars and sweets that she sneaks when she manic...or perhaps the lack of eating when she's depressed...but that's just me...what do I know?
At first, I figured she was somewhere in the house reading a book or, more likely, watching TV. The last place I looked was our guest bedroom, and as I knocked on the door and heard no answer I knew something was terribly wrong.
Given that she seemed pretty level psychologically, we took the leap. She came over after the kids had gone to bed and we left for an evening of fine food and few worries. We'd been running hard for the past month getting My2Moms settled and I'd been travelling quite a bit for work with plans to leave on another short trip the following morning to the east coast.
We had a great time...just getting out alone was a treat. I don't even remember where we went but I do remember thinking that this whole transition was going quite well for everyone involved. My2Moms seemed happy, my wife and I seemed to be handling the added responsibility well, and my grandparents were for the second time in their lives in empty-nest bliss.
But, the next morning turned our lives upside down.
I had several conference calls in the morning and packing yet to do before heading to the airport in the late morning, and my wife had kids to feed and errands to run. In the middle of a drool of a conference call, I suddenly realized that I hadn't packed, nor had i seen My2Moms yet that morning. It was nearly 10:30am and I panicked.
Why? Well my My2Moms is not only bipolar, but she is also a Type II diabetic...oh and a recovering alcoholic, the proverbial triple threat...but we'll probably get to that another time. Her particular combination of bipolar and diabetes makes her blood sugar predictably unpredictable. Like many diabetics, her blood sugar often swings from high to low...unlike most diabetics, however, My2Mom's blood sugar is extremely variable with little rhyme or reason to the swings (at least that's what she says). I think it might have something to do with the chocolate bars and sweets that she sneaks when she manic...or perhaps the lack of eating when she's depressed...but that's just me...what do I know?
At first, I figured she was somewhere in the house reading a book or, more likely, watching TV. The last place I looked was our guest bedroom, and as I knocked on the door and heard no answer I knew something was terribly wrong.
The Decision and Move
Just to give alittle history. Late last fall, my wife and I made the fatefull decision to move My2Moms across the country to live closer to us. Over the years my grandparents had endured alot caring for her. With their health failing and the guilt of living across the country gradually eating away us, we offered to have her move out here close to us so that my g-rents could spend their final years in peace.
My grandparents jumped at the chance and literally within 2 months My2Moms made her way here for the start of a new life. She arrive in mid February after I found a reasonable apartment for her about 5 miles away. I figured that was a good distance away, far enough for space and close enough to lesson the burden of unforeseen visits to her abode.
When she arrived, My2Moms was surprisingly stable in the early weeks here, probably due to the hectic nature of changing locations. We ran around a lot those first few weeks, buying necessities, unpacking the junk that inhabits her life (who needs 7 packs of pinnocle cards, only 3 of which are a full deck?), and generally setting up life for what the future would hold.
Unfortunately, the honeymoon only lasted about a month.
My grandparents jumped at the chance and literally within 2 months My2Moms made her way here for the start of a new life. She arrive in mid February after I found a reasonable apartment for her about 5 miles away. I figured that was a good distance away, far enough for space and close enough to lesson the burden of unforeseen visits to her abode.
When she arrived, My2Moms was surprisingly stable in the early weeks here, probably due to the hectic nature of changing locations. We ran around a lot those first few weeks, buying necessities, unpacking the junk that inhabits her life (who needs 7 packs of pinnocle cards, only 3 of which are a full deck?), and generally setting up life for what the future would hold.
Unfortunately, the honeymoon only lasted about a month.
Friday, November 10, 2006
First Post - Here We Go
My first post WOW. I've officially entered the blogsphere.
So much has happened since January, I wish I could remember everything. I think I'll start with some highlights since My2Moms moved here in January. I'll give it some thought and start tomorrow.
So much has happened since January, I wish I could remember everything. I think I'll start with some highlights since My2Moms moved here in January. I'll give it some thought and start tomorrow.
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