Grandma update

I've written about how amazed I am with my the strength my Grandma has and yet again she shows us what a tough women she is.

She had a stroke last Monday and was released from the hospital (to home) today!  Physically she is doing really well. There hasn't been any paralysis. She is just having some shakiness and needs to get her strength back. Mentally though I'm not sure how well she has faired. It's hard to put my finger on, but it's almost like she is a different person than before the stroke. I understand there can be personality changes and the neurologist told us it take up to a year and a half for her to get everything back.

It will be a lot of work to be able to keep her at home but it will be so worth it not to have to put her in a nursing home.

Read more...

Hanging in there

 

 G.G. and the boys

We were able to get my Grandma into the rehab facility on Wednesday and things are going so much better.  The staff at the facility she is in now is really great with her and with all of us.  She was there 3 months ago so they all remember her and told her that while they were sad she had to come back, they were excited to see her again.  I honestly cannot believe the lack of care she received at the nursing home, my heart breaks for the patients that are there long term and don't have family to fight for them.  Next week, I'll be writing a letter to the director outlining all of the problems we experienced.  

G.G. is slowly getting her strength back. She's hasn't been eating well because she's been so nauseous but did a little better today.  She will have to stay at the facility for quite a few weeks but she'll be able to come home for Christmas and New Year's.  

Her strength and tenacity amaze me. This is the 3rd time, in a year, we thought we were losing her and she surprised us by bouncing back.  I am so lucky to have such a strong woman as a role model!

Thank you to my blogging buddies for the kind comments left and the emails sent, it honestly meant so much! 

Read more...

Barack Obama's Grandmother Passes Away

I just read that Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, lost her battle with cancer on Monday night at the age of 86.  He has credited his grandmother with helping him become the man he is today.  How difficult it must be for him to keep his focus on what may be one of the biggest days of his life.

I can only imagine that losing a loved one on the eve of such an important event would be almost unbearable. 

My heart and prayers go out to him and his family.

Read more...

Grandma

My Grandma was recently hospitialized for a week then in a rehab center for a week.  She is home now but has a nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist and an aide coming in several times a week.  She has always been so certain that she wants to stay in her home but since the rehab center she has been talking about moving into an assisted living facility.

On one hand I would be so happy to see her move into a center.  I think it would be good for her to be around so many other people and to have activites so readily available.  It would also give my Mom a much needed break.  My Mom goes to my Grandmas at the first of the week and stays there until the weekend.

On the other hand it's so difficult to watch my Grandma get to the point where she thinks she may need to move out of her home. 

Man, it's hard to watch grandparents and parents get older.

Read more...