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Give them an inch and they take a mile!
Did you ever know someone like that? You offer them a taste of something and they eat the whole darn thing. Give them one favor, and they expect the world. Well, I'm here to tell you... I think Mom is much like this. *Gasp* Yes, you heard me right. That's what I said and that's what I mean! Let me explain...
She was given only 5% chance of making it to the hospital alive. She did it. I call that a gift from God.
She was given only 50% chance of making it through surgery. She did it. I call that a blessing indeed.
She was given 75% chance of making it through the first two weeks of recovery. She did it. I call that stubbornness...she's just plain stubborn and refuses to give up while she's ahead.
She was finally given a 5% chance of returning to functional life. Some took that to mean talking, some took that to mean meaningful conversation, and some didn't know what to make of it. Either way, the doctors assured us she would never be the Mom we knew, that the brain damage was too extensive, and that it could take years (if ever) for her to learn to talk and hold things in her hands, etc. Well, she's done it... all of the above!
I've written to you when she made eye contact for the first time, when she first displayed emotion, and when she first spoke. I told you about how she held things in her hands, laughed and joked with us, and when she walked for the first time. WALKED!!! They never even gave us a percentage for that, and they said she had 0% chance of returning to the Mom we once knew. I'm here to tell you she's blown away all their percentages, she's done what none of them ever thought she could do, and she is the Mom we all knew and loved... in the flesh, with humor and sarcasm in tact 100%!!!
Last week Sunday (December 19th) we took her on her first leave of absence pass. She wanted to go to the ICU at Blodgett and meet the staff who cared for her. She was able to get into my van much like Grandma does when she visits. She backed up to the seat, placed one foot in (with a little help), and plopped down in the seat. Then she used the "chicken handle" to adjust herself and I put her seatbelt on. As long as there is a curb for me to park next to really close, it gives her those few inches boost she needs to get in. Bill, Brenda, and Bryce joined us and Bryce had a hay day pushing his Grandma in the wheelchair.
We ran into a few of the nurses that spent a great deal of time with her and well, I'll just say there are chin marks permanently imbedded in the floor where they hit upon seeing Mom in the wheelchair. One nurse apologized for thinking so negatively (tho she never verbalized her thoughts to us). When Bill asked her if pulling the breathing tube out like she did would cause any harm to Mom's vocal cords (because she loves to sing), the nurse didn't know what to say. She told us, "You never know with these things. Only time will tell." When in reality (she now confesses) she was thinking, "What does it matter? She will never speak again!" Now, however, she says she will never think so negatively again and will always hold out hope no matter what the chances or percentages are.
The second nurse had visible goose bumps (like someone came back from the dead or something... because she honestly felt that Mom would never pull through this)... and I was standing nearly three feet away and could still see them. She kept saying it was a miracle (I could have told her that!) and that she never thought Mom would one day be here, sitting, speaking, and laughing with them.
Remember that nurse I once told you about that took time from her lunch hour just to sit and talk with Mom and how she kept Mom's hair snarl free and just went the extra mile? Well, she was there too and I think her jaw dropped down a floor or two. I have never seen anyone so aghast in my life before. She kept muttering, "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" over and over again. Then, after a bit, she said, "I just can't believe it. I never would have thought. You've recovered so amazingly... Oh my God!" She insisted that the other nurses be called, that one of Mom's doctors be called, and that pictures were to be taken.
The doctor stood there with his arms crossed and rubbing his head. Each and every one of them thanked us profusely for coming by and stated that they hardly ever know what happens to someone once they leave. They see death constantly, and the living on deaths' door. They said that it was extremely encouraging to visit with Mom and to realize that their work is important, and that they do make a difference, and that a positive attitude can overcome the seemingly insurmountable. They said their faith in prayers was renewed and said that our visit was the best gift any of them would receive this year.
They took a picture for Mom to keep and another to post in their break room for everyone to see and as a constant reminder to never give up hope.
I have heard "Now there's a family in denial" before and could only shake it off and ignore the pessimism as our family huddled around Mom's bed, constantly encouraging her to get better, and repeatedly praying for a miracle. Someone somewhere "has some pull with the MAN UPSTAIRS"...because our prayers were answered... 100 fold!
Well, that was just last week Sunday. She was taken off her diabetes medication and no longer needs her finger poked or any insulin shots. Her blood pressure is under control. She took eight steps up 3" stairs, and four steps up 6" stairs. Then they took her into the stairwell (which has 8" stairs) and she did very good there too (with a walker, at that!). Last Thursday she walked with only a cane for nearly 30 feet, practiced walking from side to side and backwards, and started writing with a pen again. What did she write? A grocery list for her breakfast that she'll be cooking this week Wednesday. Her physical therapist is going to take Mom into the kitchen and she's going to cook her first meal. She's chosen cheese omelets with whole wheat toast, orange juice, and a banana. Yummy!
I have started helping her take showers (since they only did it once a week or every other week...and sometimes at midnight at that!) Now she showers about every other day. She was also approved to use the rest room by herself (no more assistance needed from nurse’s aids), and can hang clothes up and take them down from her closet in her room. On Friday I took her on her second leave of absence pass and we went to Meijer. Gene, Mandy, their children, my children, and later Bill showed up to enjoy the trip. Mom got tired really fast, but she said she had a blast! (We were there for nearly four hours!)
Saturday Lonnie, his girlfriend Sandy, her son, Shirley, her boyfriend Jimmy, her two children Nathan and Jimmy Jr., my husband Don, my children DJ and Gary, and myself all visited Mom for a couple hours. Later that day Eugene, Mandy, and their children (Autumn, Hailey, and Hughey) visited as well. I helped Mom take a shower Sunday and visited with Don again later in the evening. I stopped by yesterday morning to visit and it was a nice, quiet, peaceful visit and when I arrived she was completely dressed...and she did it all by herself!!!!
I stopped in this morning but she was sleeping so I wrote her a note and let her sleep. Apparently that was not a good thing because she woke to find puddles on the floor where my boots had thawed and she realized she missed me. She called me at work to let me know she missed me, had tried to be up, and hoped to see me tomorrow. I assured her I would wake her up from now on as visiting with us was more important to her than her sleep and she can always sleep another time. I told her I'd make sure to stop by tonight as well so there wouldn't be a whole day that I missed seeing her.
Well, there you have it boys and girls. Another long update about my mother. All good, all wonderful, and all given to us by God who hears and most definitely answers our prayers!
Thank you all, as usual, for your unfailing support.
Best Regards,
BrytEyz (Mary)
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