Mimi became sick in October of 2008. Her symptoms were flu-like but medicine didn't seem to work because she wasn't getting any better. She went to the emergency room twice in a 6-week period. The second time she went to the ER was for a severe headache (Saturday, November 15, 2008). After an inconclusive cat scan, she was diagnosed with a migraine and sent home. By Monday morning, she was incoherent and was back at the hospital. Her MRI showed lesions on her brain and her spinal tap had signs of infection. The doctors began treating her for a brain infection with steroids. She stayed three weeks at a rehabilitation center where our family spent Thanksgiving together and was home by mid-December.
She received some in-home therapy and then went back to the rehabilitation center for some outpatient therapy. She was released from occupational therapy rather quickly and could handle most day-to-day activities. Mimi's physical therapy was going well, as was her speech therapy. In fact, she had recently been released from all therapy by her neurologist. However, she had been taken off all steroids and other medication and had regressed slightly in those few weeks. The doctor assured us that this was normal because she was "on her own" now but also stressed the importance of taking her off of steroids, as they are not intended to be taken long term.
Mimi enjoyed a nice Valentine's Day weekend with my dad but was once again incoherent Monday morning. While Dad was getting her ready to go to the hospital, she had a seizure. Her MRI showed more lesions but this time, the spinal tap showed NO signs of infection. The doctors were stumped. After much discussion, everyone agreed that a brain biopsy was the only way to effectively figure out just what was causing all of the problems. So, Friday, February 20, the brain biopsy began at 10 am and the surgeon came to talk to us around 11:45. The preliminary results looked good. The surgeon said the brain and its vessels were very swollen, leading him to believe it could be vasculitis--an inflammation of the blood vessels of the brain. If this is the case full recovery can be achieved after 6/12 months of strong steriods and other meds. Slivers of her brain were sent to 7 or 8 specialists and we expect to learn the test results tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10 in a meeting the doctor is having with Dad, Andrea and Ken (Joyce's oldest daughter and her husband).
Mimi has been back at the rehabilitation facility for a little over a week and is doing well. She is walking better and talking well, too. I don't think she fully understands why she is there again and she is definitely beyond ready to go home. I can't imagine how frustrating it all is for her. I keep trying to remind her that she is being taken care of by people who know best how to get her well quickly so that she can go home...so she should just try to be patient with them. She is such a good-natured person, I have no doubt that she IS very kind to everyone; she just vents about it to us. There's nothing wrong with that.
Dad has been so strong through all of this. It has been hard on all of us to see her so close to full recovery just a month ago...just to see her back at square one. But I know it is ten times harder on Dad. I am so blessed to have parents that love each other they way mine do. In fact, they are celebrating 44 years of marriage this summer. They have taught me so much about marriage and just what unconditional love means. I believe that this has made their love for each other grow and will continue to bring them closer together.
Thanks for caring so much about Mimi. Thanks for praying for her and for all of us. God has always been faithful and we know He will continue to be.
She received some in-home therapy and then went back to the rehabilitation center for some outpatient therapy. She was released from occupational therapy rather quickly and could handle most day-to-day activities. Mimi's physical therapy was going well, as was her speech therapy. In fact, she had recently been released from all therapy by her neurologist. However, she had been taken off all steroids and other medication and had regressed slightly in those few weeks. The doctor assured us that this was normal because she was "on her own" now but also stressed the importance of taking her off of steroids, as they are not intended to be taken long term.
Mimi enjoyed a nice Valentine's Day weekend with my dad but was once again incoherent Monday morning. While Dad was getting her ready to go to the hospital, she had a seizure. Her MRI showed more lesions but this time, the spinal tap showed NO signs of infection. The doctors were stumped. After much discussion, everyone agreed that a brain biopsy was the only way to effectively figure out just what was causing all of the problems. So, Friday, February 20, the brain biopsy began at 10 am and the surgeon came to talk to us around 11:45. The preliminary results looked good. The surgeon said the brain and its vessels were very swollen, leading him to believe it could be vasculitis--an inflammation of the blood vessels of the brain. If this is the case full recovery can be achieved after 6/12 months of strong steriods and other meds. Slivers of her brain were sent to 7 or 8 specialists and we expect to learn the test results tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10 in a meeting the doctor is having with Dad, Andrea and Ken (Joyce's oldest daughter and her husband).
Mimi has been back at the rehabilitation facility for a little over a week and is doing well. She is walking better and talking well, too. I don't think she fully understands why she is there again and she is definitely beyond ready to go home. I can't imagine how frustrating it all is for her. I keep trying to remind her that she is being taken care of by people who know best how to get her well quickly so that she can go home...so she should just try to be patient with them. She is such a good-natured person, I have no doubt that she IS very kind to everyone; she just vents about it to us. There's nothing wrong with that.
Dad has been so strong through all of this. It has been hard on all of us to see her so close to full recovery just a month ago...just to see her back at square one. But I know it is ten times harder on Dad. I am so blessed to have parents that love each other they way mine do. In fact, they are celebrating 44 years of marriage this summer. They have taught me so much about marriage and just what unconditional love means. I believe that this has made their love for each other grow and will continue to bring them closer together.
Thanks for caring so much about Mimi. Thanks for praying for her and for all of us. God has always been faithful and we know He will continue to be.
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