Journal entry by Kimberly Wilke —
Wow!!! 1 year ago today our moms world and all of our worlds were turned upside down! Our poor mother began her ordeal with Guillain-Barre. Such a horrible disease. Her progress has been so amazing! We learn so much about her determination, her positive attitude, her prayerful thoughts and her husband's our fathers loyalty and strength as well.
She was beginning to be paralyzed on Friday November 12th and by Thursday November 18th she was on a ventilator because she was paralyzed all the way from her toes to her head. She has dealt with being on a ventilator, catheter, feeding tube, being tied down so that she couldn't pull her ventilator out and being suctioned, poked and prodded, choking, all the horrible ordeals of being left alone in the hospital and without family around at night when you're already fearful what you're going through and to be fearful of not knowing what's going to happen and being by yourself. But she's always been strong and maintain a positive attitude and kept fighting! We wondered how she could do it, But she really did it! A huge accomplishment was 6 weeks ago when her tracheostomy was finally removed!!! For her to be able to breathe on her own is phenomenal! So unusual for someone her age and especially for someone who is as weak as she was to make progress and get off of it is incredible. Today she can walk with a walker as long as she has assistance. She does therapy 3 days a week with PT, she goes to Kearney once a week for speech therapy and she has occupational therapy that comes to her home once a week still. She's always improving and loving her electric wheelchair. It's such a delight to be able to go back to her congregation and enjoy them and go in the ministry to the meetings and hear her comment and see her return visits talk to her and love her. We also got to experience family coming to see her and having a wonderful time with them. Some things we take for granted but we are really appreciating every milestone. Dad also is still doing therapy three times a week from his brain bleed that he had last March. They're both working very hard to progress. They're quite the dream team! How we've all cared for both of them has certainly been a privilege! They're the most grateful and kind people to assist. Especially we thank all of our family who are so dear to us and all of our dear wonderful friends who are also like family to us. This isn't over by any means and we continue to receive your prayers and love and support for them. Please know how much you have done by encouraging all of us to keep fighting and keep looking forward to the future when we will enjoy the "real life"!!
Again our hugs to you and lots of love, dear family and friends!
She was beginning to be paralyzed on Friday November 12th and by Thursday November 18th she was on a ventilator because she was paralyzed all the way from her toes to her head. She has dealt with being on a ventilator, catheter, feeding tube, being tied down so that she couldn't pull her ventilator out and being suctioned, poked and prodded, choking, all the horrible ordeals of being left alone in the hospital and without family around at night when you're already fearful what you're going through and to be fearful of not knowing what's going to happen and being by yourself. But she's always been strong and maintain a positive attitude and kept fighting! We wondered how she could do it, But she really did it! A huge accomplishment was 6 weeks ago when her tracheostomy was finally removed!!! For her to be able to breathe on her own is phenomenal! So unusual for someone her age and especially for someone who is as weak as she was to make progress and get off of it is incredible. Today she can walk with a walker as long as she has assistance. She does therapy 3 days a week with PT, she goes to Kearney once a week for speech therapy and she has occupational therapy that comes to her home once a week still. She's always improving and loving her electric wheelchair. It's such a delight to be able to go back to her congregation and enjoy them and go in the ministry to the meetings and hear her comment and see her return visits talk to her and love her. We also got to experience family coming to see her and having a wonderful time with them. Some things we take for granted but we are really appreciating every milestone. Dad also is still doing therapy three times a week from his brain bleed that he had last March. They're both working very hard to progress. They're quite the dream team! How we've all cared for both of them has certainly been a privilege! They're the most grateful and kind people to assist. Especially we thank all of our family who are so dear to us and all of our dear wonderful friends who are also like family to us. This isn't over by any means and we continue to receive your prayers and love and support for them. Please know how much you have done by encouraging all of us to keep fighting and keep looking forward to the future when we will enjoy the "real life"!!
Again our hugs to you and lots of love, dear family and friends!
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