After spending a week in Delaware with Natanya for our family get together, I wanted to report back to you all with an update! 

It’s been 6.5 months since Natanya’s stroke, and it’s clear that the strength, courage, and tenacity that she brought to her recovery have made tremendous impacts. While her recovery process is not yet complete, her progress is outstanding- she’s amazing and doing well overall. 

Medically, her recent MRI showed no cause for concern, and she was able to reduce some of her medications. She was not formally diagnosed with Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD), but it seems she has a condition with her arteries where they can weaken, creating issues and risk of strokes. The docs advised her on strategies and life style precautions to reduce risk. This risk is understandably anxiety producing, so that’s something else she has to manage. 

Natanya continues with a few of her speech and physical therapies, but they’ve tapered quite a bit as she’s highly functional at this point. 

Both she and Jeff are “in it” with two littles (Elijah 1 yr, Miriam 3yrs) and all the struggles (and joys!) that brings, so Natanya can often get over stimulated and needs more breaks than she did before. They’ve also had many challenges finding the right sustainable childcare fit, and continue to work to solve that riddle, as Natanya isn’t able just yet to manage it solo during the week. The Go Fund Me resource has been essential in filling in the gaps they’ve needed to fill in this crisis. 

And a fantastic update on our other patient- Elijah- his tube finally came out in February and now he drinks out of all kinds of cups and straws and eats incessantly!  He’s getting close to walking on his own. And his big sister Miriam is a strong-willed, brilliant, creative and fun preschooler! They’re both thriving!

And the overwhelming support persists! Her local powerhouse network continues to amaze- from Aly taking Miriam in for home school each week, to Stephanie, Tori, and Kate’s play dates, and so many others who continue to show up, the Romes also feel deeply fortunate. 

Thank you to all of you reading this who, as I’ve said before, shed profound light and resource during not just the dark time Natanya faced, but through her continued recovery as well. It’s made all the difference. 

Included are some photos from our family trip to the beach this week! 

With gratitude, 

Elyana