Apr. 9, 2024

Mike ran a few errands Tuesday afternoon, when he came home he said he felt "off". He wasn't able to balance very well, he was speaking slowly and losing movement on the left side of his body. I called 911, the ambulance and firetruck arrived in less than five minutes. He was presenting with stroke like symptoms and he started to have seizures. He had not had these symptoms in the past.  He was immediately rushed to the Emergency Department Lutheran General Hospital. This is the closest hospital to our home where stroke patients are brought.  Mike continued to have multiple physical seizures in the ED (ER), he was given Ativan, this slows the activity of the brain and nerves, along with stopping painful spasms in muscles.  He was given a CT scan and Mike was then moved to a room on the respiratory floor and monitored there because there was no room on the neurology floor.

Apr. 10, 2024

The following afternoon, he started having focal seizures, this means the neurons were misfiring and he was having bursts of electrical activity, along with visualizing things that were not there.  Mike was moved to the neurology floor in a private room.  The neurologist had him monitored with leads on his head for about 48 hours that show all of the constant seizures he was having.  His brain waves calmed down a lot when he was sleeping. 

Apr. 11, 2024

Mike had a few rough days and nights, then he started to feel more clear headed. He was eating and talking with us all while watching The Masters and some baseball. Over the next few days, Mike had some friends stop by and visit too.  The neurologist's top priority was to figure out how to help these seizures stop. We did not know if he had a stroke or not. He needed to have an MRI and his seizures wouldn't allow for that, we had to wait. 

This was going to be Jack's last Mom's weekend at U of I because he is a senior. We had to cancel and I asked Jack to come home for the weekend and spend some time in the hospital with Cameron and myself.  He was already packing to come back home.

Apr. 13, 2024 - Discharged

Mike was doing much better and released from the hospital in the afternoon. Cam and Jack cleaned up the patio, took out the cushions for the chairs, brought the TV outside so we could watch The Master's and more baseball :)  We grilled and sat outside and had a nice visit from some neighbors. 

Apr. 15, 2024

Mike had lab work, an MRI and an appointment with his oncologist already in the books for his 6 week post third craniotomy.  The MRI concluded that Mike did NOT have a stroke.  Mike remembers a lot of the focal seizures too, he admits it was pretty crazy for him.   Mike will need some PT for strength and balance work, this will be short term as his oncologist feels Mike will benefit from this quickly and be done with that.  No driving for at least 3 months, his next MRI after this will be in 4 weeks, no paddle ball for a while.  He is walking around freely and using the stairs like a champion, oh, and on his phone :)  His days are open if you'd like to stop by for a visit or go to lunch or dinner. He is constantly asking me what are we doing for our weekends, I'm not kidding!!!! I kind of love that, and yes, I am always worried and that's okay, I'll do anything for this guy.