Has to be traumatic for you to see your sister like that. Recently widowed and now a stroke. Certainly has a lot on her plate. I pray that you, she and family will find some peace and comfort in your remaining life's journey, Carmine.

 

one day at a time Carmine and she has tons of prayers going up for her. I honestly think since my bro-in-law passed she just wants to give up.

 

So very sorry, Tom.

I have an older cousin who had one and seems to be OK overall, but lost use of their left arm.

Does anyone know what caused your sister's? Diet? Stress? Age?

 

she's 78 and has diabetes that's been really hard to control, even with an insulin pump. She can be fine one minute and the next minute her sugar can spike out of sight so the strokes are related to that. She had one about a year ago but it just affected her left side and she bounced back from that pretty quickly with physical therapy. The doctor seem to be hesitant on his prognosis. One day at a time.

 

Sorry to hear about your sister. Stokes can slip up on you without any previous symptoms. It is very difficult to watch a loved one in these situations. Prayers to you and your family!
Caution:
I had been seeing a heart doctor for a few years and he suggested that I have a Hearf Scan early 2012! I had already made made plans for the Hot Rod Power Tour in June so I said let’s postpone till later(Priorities Right)
Stress test in Nov 2012 ‘concerns’ then Heart Scan)! I am in great shape ! Then Dr says I am 70 & 80 % blocked arteries and prime candidate for heart attack! Double by-pass January!
I had NO Symptoms I FELT GREAT!

I only relate this to everyone that just because you feel great Get your Heart Checked!
It has been 12 years now at 78 and I get a checkup every year!

 

2 weeks is not very long to draw a conclusion about the future results of therapy. Be patient and supportive.

 

I understand that and always supportive but as I said, I don't think her heart is in it.

 

That's tough. Sorry to hear things haven't turned for the better. Losing a life partner can change the way your heart feels. Sorry Tom.

 

Life happens and we aren't in charge

 

Sorry to hear and praying for you all also. Strokes are not good as I can speak from experience. I suffered a stroke at 30 right as COVID was starting in March of 2020, and they would not even let my wife in hospital. I have a history of heart issues anyway but that is a story for a different thread. But maybe therapy will help her get to some quality of life. I pray she has some improvements to give herself some hope.

 

God bless her.

 

Sorry to hear about your sister. With therapy she might recover. My mother in law had a stroke, it took her a full year to recover. Be patient and supporting.

With all that therapy she received she is now more than capable to explain to me whatever I did wrong and why....

Rob

 

The severity of her diabetes is a big factor for any kind of recovery.

 

I had a stroke about 5 years ago. At first I couldn't talk or feed myself. I had 3 surgeries to clean my blood vessels and had 2 stints put it. Other than marine corps boot camp in the 70's it was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I had good insurance and went to rehab for several weeks. For me the milestone was when I could pick up peas with my fork and get them to my mouth. Then I learned to walk again and my speech slowly came back. I'm not near 100% now, maybe 70% but I'm still alive and working in my shop. I had to retire from my aerospace machining job. I hate that the most. I ran the shop and had a lot of good people. After I left and they brought a new foreman in within 2 months 7 people quit. The company almost didn't survive. I did a lot of coaching on the phone and zoom meetings.

I can't work a full day now and I take naps a lot, but I'm alive and kicking still. Give it time for your sister, the new nerve pathways take time to grow. They said our brain finds a new ways to get signals to our muscles, new nerves will grow but it takes time. It won't be 100%, but it's better than nothing.

I feel lucky, I was 62 when it happened to me. There was a kid in the next bed and he was 28 and all he could say was "yes" No matter when the asked him he said yes. After a month all he could still say was yes. He didn't have a good prognosis. I was walking by then and rebuilding my vocabulary. And keeping the peas on my fork. I feel so sorry for him, you could see it in his eyes. He cried a lot and I don't blame him.

Give it time for your sister, it's not over yet for her. Be there for her as much as your can. It meant the world to me when my wife came every night after work to see me.

 

I'm also diabetic, just keep supporting her. That will give her a reason to try harder.

 

We will keep her in our prayers.

 

Its hard Tom, just went through this with my cousin, all you can do is hopefully have the right care plan so she gets the support she needs to have those little wins.

 

Don't feel obligated to answer but I thought I might ask, is your sister doing any better?

 

Been meaning to update but very little progress. She ended up back in the hospital for 2 weeks with a bad UTI and high fever and had another light stroke. We went to visit on Mother's Day and she's about right back to square one. Can hardly understand a word she says. About all she said we could understand is she's sad. She knows she will never get to go back to her home even if she gets better. Her husband is gone and she will have to have supervision so my niece is planning to take her to San Antonio with her eventually whether she gets better or not because medicare will not let her stay in rehab forever. I get the feeling she is not really wanting to get better and would rather go "home" with her husband and I get that. This is no life and I would feel the same. If she can't get substancially functional again I'm okay to let her go. I wouldn't want to continue to live like that either.

 

Tom, have you and/or your niece talked to her doctor about putting her on "Comfort Care" ?

 

she is currently in a very expensive residential rehab housing facility but basically it's just nursing assisted baby sitting---too weak for rehab and with them handling her to even try the rehab there's not a place I can see on her body that doesn't look like she's been beat. I have no legal say in the matter as my oldest niece has power of attorney. I'm gonna call her today and see what her intentions are. My other niece , her youngest is an RN but aggravates me because she seems to kinda just stay out of the picture. I don't want to start a family fued so I just don't say anything to her about it or I'll say something I can't take back.

 

You will do what you can do as her brother but you are right, others are driving the bus and with everything else she has going on, a family rift is probably the last thing that would be helpful. Your patience, understanding and reading of the situation is spot on.

You are a good man charlie brown.

 

Thanks MIke, I do try to see after her as much as possible. Then I have my brother and sis-in-law in Memphis I have to keep check on and run back and forth doing things for them they can't do. Both are on walkers, 80 yrs old I have to insist on coming down when he needs something done that requires a ladder or with his stubborn Tidwell genes he will try. LOL Lots of fun being the baby @ 70. My sis with the stroke is pushing 80 and my younger (older sister is 77). Luckily she is in pretty good shape so far but if she gets down I'll have to go because her lazy a$$ husband expects her to wait on him hand and foot. He won't even come back to my house because we used to once a year get together for a family BBQ and he filled his belly and went into the den and then hollered for my sister to bring him a glass of tea and I went in there and asked if his legs were broke. My sister was helping clean up along with the rest of the family except him. He's as useless as a pocket on the back of a shirt.

 

Sorry to hear about your sister Tom. Your plate appears to be pretty full. I'm sure it's not easy for you and others. I'm told that we aren't given more then we can handle, but at times, it seems a bit much. I'm sure you're a Godsend to your family. Best wishes to everyone, Carmine.

 

Thank you, I was brought up that you take care of family.

 

Update on my sister---Since that set back about a month ago and had basically to start therapy over she hasn't fared well at all and just got a call from my niece a bit ago. She has started having severe seizures and they have decided to just put her on comfort care. The last 2 times we went over to see her she was asleep both times and I wouldn't disturb her. It's time and she is ready to go. She would never want to exist like this and that's all it is, existing--not living.

 

In my prayers

 

I pray that she'll have a peaceful journey as she travels her path of life, Carmine.

 

I made it over to see her. She is definitely pretty out of it but I hugged her and she opened her eyes and smiled. She can’t talk but I’ll take a smile.

 

Teresa was out of town yesterday and couldn't go. She and I are going back after lunch today and stay a while to let my nieces go get some rest. I know they're worn out. One of them had just flown in from San Antonio and came straight there so I know she and her husband are worn out. I know this sounds cruel but just praying she doesn't have to be like this very long. Healing comes in many ways and I know she told me when she could still talk fairly well that she was ready to go and I'm okay with that. Thank you all for the kind words! It is much appreciated.

 

Prayers sent, my friend ✝

 

In Arkansas right now with my niece. They say my sister is not going to make it through the night. She had another seizure and a stroke this afternoon.

 

😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 for you and family Tom, Carmine.

 

Prayers out to you and your family Tom. I am so sorry to hear this.