My mother suffered a stroke on Monday morning, December 15, in her independent-living apartment at Collingswood Manor in New Jersey. On Sunday she was driving around doing errands and chores. The next morning she had settled down after breakfast to work on her Christmas cards and a little later housekeeping staff found her slumped in her chair and unconscious. They brought her to the emergency room at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, 1 mile away in Camden, the top stroke treatment center in South Jersey.
Her friends Nancy Monk and Jim & Susan Badaracco were with her when I arrived from Baltimore around 3PM. My mother was semi-conscious, answered simple questions and responded to our presence. Based on the initial testing, a clot had caused the stroke and the loss of blood damaged the left side of her brain. My brother Bill and I decided that we would see how the initial test results and her recovery looked before he came out from Denver to join us. I remained with her while she was moved to a room in the hospital and she squeezed my hand when I left for the night.
Sometime overnight she had another stroke, this time from a hemorrhage. When this was found in her morning CT scan, we were rushed down to the Critical Care Unit to get her system under control and halt the internal bleeding. I called Bill and he arrived late Tuesday night.
Her signs are now stable but she is on a ventilator, has been sedated and cannot communicate. The strokes caused major damage and we just need to wait with her as she slowly recovers to see what happens next.
We have been very pleased with the quality of care in this hospital -- doctors, nurses and all other caregivers and staff. Bill and I are receiving support from family, friends and Paster Gina Hendrickson from Mom’s beloved St. Andrews United Methodist Church.
I will periodically post updates to my mother’s status here. I invite you to send words of encouragement and support (either click on "COMMENTS" or enter a message in the "POST A COMMENT" area below. You can use the "anonymous" profile.) that we will pass on to her.
Please keep my mother in your prayers.
Tom
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7 comments:
Tom - I am so very sorry to hear about your mom. Thank you for thinking to keep us posted. I've printed out the awesome photo of the Graf women and will surely keep all of you in my prayers. God bless you - Dana
Tom- Thank you for setting up this blog to keep us all informed of your mom's progress. I really like the photo of the Graf women, too.
Your mom and all the Graf family and friends are in Susan's and my prayers, too. We'll be by to visit your mom a little later this evening.
Jim
Tom- Rick and I were so very sorry to hear this terrible news about Liz. Thank you for letting us know and for setting up this blog so that we can all keep up with her progress.
Please know we send our love and all best wishes to you and your family. We hold you in our hearts...
Mom--I wish I could be with you, and I have been there in spirit and prayer every day. I love you like my own mother, and so I know you understand that she needs me here right now. In 9 months she has lost her husband, her home, her dog, and this week, her ability to walk. But like you, she is resilient! She is also praying for you each day. We love you.
Aunt Liz, Tom and Bill,
We Connecticut Grafs are with you in spirit. All our good thoughts and prayers for you. We love you, Aunt Liz.
Kathy, Sean and Daniel
Tom and Bill
We have loved your parents since moving next door 12 years ago. Liz is very special to us- Josh and David think of her as their New Jersey Grandma. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family now and always. Godspeed, Liz.
Blessings to all. Know that the St. Andrew's Church Family has you deeply in our prayers for healing and courage. May the deep peace of Christ continue to fill you and the power of the Holy Spirit sustain you.
In Christ's love,
Rev. Dr. Gina Hendrickson
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