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.
On 12/29/18 Lee had a stroke in his left vertebral artery. The occlusion is inoperable, but his treatment regimen of plavix and aspirin is working. Following his 12/29/18 stroke he spent 5 days at Gwinnett Medical and then a week at Joan Glancey Rehab. After returning home on 1/10/19 he had a second stroke and returned to the hospital on 1/14/19. On Wednesday 1/23/19 he had a third stroke. Thus, the creation of this page and our efforts to share with those of you who love him and are praying over him.
The latest information:
Dr. Lakhanpal (Neurologist) came in earlier while he was on the phone with Dr. Frenkel at Grady’s stroke center (the head of neuroscience at Grady
http://www.emory.edu/grady/emory-at-grady/doctors/frankel.html). Per Dr. Frenkel They are switching Lee to Brilinta (brilinta.com) tomorrow as he already had his plavix today and he cannot have both in the same day. He will stay on the brilinta until he can be seen by Grady in 4-6 weeks. No doctor/hospital or neurologist can do any physical intervention until the swelling in the stroke area goes down. The goal is to keep these subsequent strokes from happening so that the swelling can subside and an intervention can be considered. To be clear, this is just a consideration not a current option.
Dad will stay at GM for a few days as they are watching for brain swelling. He will likely go back to Joan Glancey rehab from here (Dad hopes not...but is willing to go, kicking and screaming all the way!). Dr. Lakhanpal is on call now through the weekend so that is good news! Having a doctor who is willing to pick up his phone and call the personal cell phone of his colleague and friend at Emory/Grady has been very reassuring that his team is doing all that they can and making every consideration for Dad that they can.
Speech Therapy was here early and said he is a good candidate for learning a forced swallow. He has a feeding tube right now but hopefully that will come out and he will be on oral nutrition again. Speech Therapy is very optimistic that he will make a good recovery and do well in speech therapy.
We have seen all the specialists and he is in excellent care! The current plan is to let him rest and recover today as there is swelling and it is physically exhausting for his body to go through so much in such a short time. We will update you all here as information comes in and plans are made.
In other news, Blake and her family came into town over the weekend on a planned visit. On Sunday, her younger son Finn came down with a high fever and what appeared to be a stomach bug. After a long 24 hours of back-and-forth in his demeanor and fever, he ended up going to CHOA Urgent Care and then 4 hours later was transported to Scottish Rite. Long story short...unknown source of a nasty bacterial infection but he is out of the hospital as of yesterday and feeling more and more like himself! Please pray for a continued and complete recovery for Finn.
Heather's oldest Zac has also come down with the flu this week. Zac recently suffered a concussion from diving (strong impact on the water, not the board) and had just recovered from that when the flu hit him. Zac is finally feeling better, but has been quarantined to his room and we are considering allowing him out later today (sorry Zac, we love you, but not your germs). The school will not allow him back before next week, so needless to say prayers for his anxiety (and ours) as he plays catchup on schoolwork are much appreciated.
Tamara and Tate are headed home to be a part of our support team for Dad as I type. Please pray for their safe travel, and for all of the kids still in Honduras with the Nanny and dear friend Christy as this is an uncertain time and of course they all wanted to come home to love on Granddad.
Shirley is holding up well, but of course can use your prayers for strength. It is exhausting to be in the hospital for the patient and support team, but she is championing it very well!
Thank you all for your continued loved, support and prayers. Keep it coming...We feel it all! (Heather)
