Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. ` Our mom had a stroke Wednesday morning, October 6. Dad called 911 quickly and paramedics got there in no time. Kal and the team of paramedics got to work fast. Timing is everything with respect to strokes so we are grateful dad acted so quickly as did the paramedics.
Mom was taken immediately by ambulance to the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) ICU. Mom's stroke is not the kind where they needed to perform surgery. The timing and her condition qualified her to receive the drug TPA which they started intravenously. This is a very strong blood thinner.
Within hours of being admitted, Mom was moved to the Neuro ICU on the 5th floor of the Jimmy Pattison Pavilion. We are not permitting visitors during this early stage of mom's recovery. Her rest is paramount in these early days following the stroke. When visitors are permitted we will advise.
Mom has paralysis on her right arm/hands and the right side of her face, which impedes her ability to speak She is also showing some weakness in her right leg. Cognitively, the paramedics were asking her: do you know where you are, what city you live in, what day it is.....she scored 100% on all questions. She knows what has happened, she is all there. It is just very hard for her to speak as some of the required facial muscles are not cooperating.
Mom had a CT Scan when she admitted and she had another one this morning. The doctor will be updating us with results later today.
Some positive notes..... - When we were with her at 8pm last night to say goodnight, her speech had improved, still affected but she was far more understandable than earlier in the day....a very good sign. - This morning her speech has improved even more. Mom's speech is still affected by the right side facial muscles but she is showing great improvement (I don't use the word "great" lightly.)
We are going to provide updates on her condition here as there are so many friends and family concerned for mom's well being and recovery. We appreciate all the love and support from everyone.
Please feel free to forward this link to your friends that know mom. I am sure I am missing emails of many people.
