I Found YOU in the River

I can finally breathe again.

'Cause I found You in the river. I found You in suffering. And I found You on the mountain. You were always around me.

It has been stated in my reports that right now in this hospital stay, I suffer from delirium. I'm really glad I don't remember my UVA stay! Maybe this is why?

The neurosurgical team is still checking in on me and making sure my brain pressure remains good and that I have progression in my neuro-sensory...

Right now, I am still having seizures. So, they are monitoring those and keeping me on medication to prevent them.

I also need to maintain and progress in self-care. They are working with me on swallowing. Let me say this is STILL an issue! I must take an extra step to swallow. Normal people don't...they just swallow! I have to think about it and attempt to just go for it.

Holy smokes! I just have to say, GOD was with me 100%! Next step.... let's talk cardiovascular. We know that I had blood clots in my jugular and in my veins in my right thigh. So, they are keeping an eye on my skin color and feel. There have been reports on arrythmias. Which is an abnormal beating of the heart. They have been keeping track of that with machines and they are on standby with medication if needed!

Today with OT I needed maximum assistance when it came for...a lot of things! I needed maximum assistance for washing my face, which they held my elbow and wrist for me. I needed maximum assistance to put on my socks, which they held up my legs for me. I remember needing assistance for this at Sheltering Arms Institute! I couldn't quite bend yet. I needed maximum assistance to sit up. They held up my trunk while I tried to move my legs out of bed. I nodded 'yes' when they asked if I wanted to do this! I wasn't able to verbally communicate or mouth words today. I kept using head nods and 1-2 fingers to choose from options that were presented to me. I was able to weakly grasp items for ADL and I needed frequent rest breaks, because I was fatigued! I could barely keep my eyes open, and I still can't track bilaterally. Which I am having surgery this year to fix! The good news in this...I could scoot myself back in bed all by myself! I'll take the little victories!

Nurse Dixie came in to treat my wounds today. The one was created by an old catheter in my hand. The other one is the back of my head wound from not being moved frequently! I was in a coma for some time and couldn't move myself! She covered both wounds to keep them from getting dirty and irritated even more! To prevent further wounds from occurring, move me more frequently and position my feet in the boots! That would be awful to get heel wounds!

I had a lovely lady come into my room to go over my speaking valve. I attempted to say my name!! Which is a lot more than what I've been trying! She will try again a little later though!

PT had entered my room after my speaking valve trials. I nodded when she asked if I was ready for the session. I seemed a little lethargic to her; but given what I had done so far that seemed about right! She had to minimally assist with me sitting up at the start. But then she just stood by when I made it to the end of my bed! She had to maximum assist me with scooting in the bed. Which is the complete opposite with OT! For standing I needed maximum assistance with two people. I could only stand up for less than 10 seconds!

Through it all, GOD has been SO GOOD! To see my progressions, albeit they are small, here and there just further proves how much He was there for me. And He is STILL here for me! God has not forsaken me AT ALL. I wish I could say that for every person, but God is divine. Earthly relationships hardly exist for me anymore! Besides my husband, my boys, and our church family, and some of our Harrisonburg friends and family. They have ALL been there for me!