Mom would like to say THANK YOU!

And this is our last Caringbridge entry for a few months. 

As you know, she came home from acute rehab on Thursday, March 7.  We want you to know that she has had a great weekend!

So many of you sent warm greetings for arrival home. (Thanks for inspiring us, @Ava Close!) And more of you have provided meals, rides, notes, cards, gifts, calls, emails, and texts. She has been so uplifted. Your kindness is precious.

Her spirits are high. In my opinion, to talk to her, you wouldn't know she's been through any physical challenges.

She continues to rehabilitate. She says her bypass incision doesn't hurt, although she will spend the next 2 months being attentive by not raising her arms over her head, not leaning over, not reaching side-to-side, and using her legs to sit and rise. She's doing a good job with that. She does not need pain meds. She is also eating a normal diet, encouraged to drink 8 glasses of water daily, and to take as many steps as she can. (Yesterday she went to her church and Dad's. Today she went back to light duty cleaning the church, and after therapy, we went grocery shopping at Walmart where she walked the whole way). 

She will continue with occupational and physical therapy appointments until cognition and coordination are back to their natural, high functioning states.

She will not be driving for a total of 3 months at least as she continues to contend for some sight/perception/cognition challenges. Her left eye has been affected by the strokes. While each day brings more capabilities, (she can now watch TV, use her phone, and write checks,) we continue to wait for full healing. She will see a neuro optometrist for continued progress there. She describes seeing a floating, lavender colored cloud-like mass. Unsettling!

Her legs still bother her at night. Her feet always feel like they're asleep. So, after a few months, she will see another specialist about blood flow in her legs and feet. Likely we're looking at more surgery so she can have some relief. 

And she will also have her kidney stone and stent removed at some point. 

As of now, she and Dad are able to stay alone, but are greatly helped by meal deliveries from many of you, rides to appointments by many of you, and specialized professional care from Lisa Close, MSN -- who organizes her appointments, interprets her treatment, advocates with her doctors and surgeons, and ensures her vitamins and pills are sorted and queued up, and Nathan, and Zach & Jen, the grands, and I are here too.