As many of you are already aware, Lauren Schluterman suffered a large stroke Wednesday morning. We’ve been fielding a lot of questions, so I thought an update would be helpful. Her stroke involved the complete right Middle Cerebral Artery territory. This is the primary cerebral artery to the right hemisphere. As such, her entire left side will be affected (vision, strength, sensation, coordination, balance, facial functions, enunciation of words, swallowing). 

 

As is unfortunately too common with this size stroke, there was severe cerebral edema (swelling) yesterday. Emergent surgery here at St Vincent’s North was required yesterday to try to alleviate the internal pressure from that swelling (decompressive hemicraniectomy). It has been thus far successful, but she remains sedated on the ventilator. That will be the expected status through the weekend, with daily monitoring of the edema by CT. From there, the goal would be to come off of the sedation next week, come off of the ventilator, and begin to look toward coming back to Conway for rehabilitation to commence. We all understandably want to know the prognosis from there. With these strokes, recovery occurs over a period of weeks and months, rather than days. Recovery is not always linear and the ultimate amount of recovery is very difficult to predict. 

We are keeping vigil outside the hospital for anyone who wants to grab a lawn chair and join us for awhile. Thanks to everyone for their concern, thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. Please keep Lauren and Cooper in your prayers. I will try to update as we move forward.