Thought I’d take a minute & post an update on my amazing momma.

This week has been good! She’s been more active, still walking with assistance, getting in/out of her chair, doing pivots, and upper arm exercises. She’s getting stronger every day. 

The best news of the week was her echo  results. She has been wearing an external defibrillator since January. Her heart took a hit during the accident so they were concerned that she could have sudden cardiac arrest. Her ejection fraction was in the low-mid 30’s. Not good. So this vest had to be on 24/7 to monitor her heart activity & shock her if needed. Thursday, they did a follow up echo & told us her ejection fraction is now at 65% & the vest could come off. No heart episodes! She has improved so much. 

Since the accident, mom has not been able to use her cell phone. She’s not quite sure how to use it or has trouble holding it. Yesterday, she called me!! That is the first time she’s called me since before she had covid in November. It brought tears to my eyes. 

Momma’s in much better spirits. She sounds happier than she has in a long time. She is a little bored, so please call her or visit if you can. She is allowed 2 visitors at a time now, so that makes things easier. If you have her cell number, you can call that or you can call the Hawarden Hospital to get her.  

Moms birthday is May 22 & Josalyn Van Egdom-Briggs graduates on May 23. Mom says she’s mentally ready to go home, but not physically. She has to be out by May 24 due to insurance limits. We are hoping she’s out long before that, but we want her there as long as she needs to be in order to get better. 

We are finally seeing a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. There have been so many ups & downs since her accident on January 4. But along the way, I was able to reconnect with my Nichol’s aunts & uncles, spent a lot of time on group calls so momma could see people, cleaned more than I ever wanted to, prayed more than I ever have in my life, and cried more tears than I knew I could have. I also was in awe of the kindness of others. The meals, the donations, the prayers, the messages, and all the ways people supported our family was so appreciated. We could not have gotten here without all of you. 

My mother is one of the kindest, generous & loving people I know. She has always done for others & isn’t used to needing the help she’s had to accept these past 5 months with covid & the accident. I know that once she’s able, she would love to personally thank everyone. For now, please accept my love & thanks on her behalf. We love you & thank you for everything! Please keep praying: we still have so far to go!!