Progress on my friend who had a stroke on holiday

[Borlotti]

Improvement is slow but yesterday she came out of North Middlesex Hospital and according to her husband she will be in a nursing home within walking distance of me.  Two of her daughters will be sorting things out this weekend, so I am going to see how she is feeling Monday and go and see her next week.  Apparently she has put on some weight and her speech is clearer.  Last time I saw her in hospital she was very tearful.  I must say the lovely nurse was great with her and gave her cuddles as I got upset myself.  The body may be weak but the spirit is strong.  More good news (hopefully) next week.  Thanks for listening.

[Borlotti]

[lottie lou]

Ah that is lovely that she is getting better. 

[manicscousers]

So glad for you all. Nice to hear some good news 

[artichoke]

When I had this problem, I uprooted everything into a baby bath and other containers that I had without any special treatment, and everything survived.....figs cuttings, soft fruit, everything. They just lay in the bath etc until I had time to replant them. But you may be more meticulous than I was.

[artichoke]

Very sorry.....! I was replying to Gazza and got the thread mixed up.

Strokes have happened in my family and recovery is slow and  cautious.

Sorry again....

[Borlotti]

Went to see my friend in the nursing home yesterday, and her husband had brought the dog to see her.  She didn't seem to recognise the dog, but the staff at the home said to keep bringing the dog in to see her.  She cannot get out of bed, but she enjoyed a cup of tea in a baby beaker.  Her husband is having a special wheel chair made for her but it is taking some time.  Think she will enjoy getting to see people as she was always very sociable.  She told me off for repeating everything she said, but it is very difficult to understand her speech.  Her left side is paralysed but she can move her right and left leg.  Also the TV was on, not sure that she knew what programme she was watching but some of it caught her attention.  Her eye sight is very bad.  Her 3 daughters are very good and do alternate weekends, even though 2 of them live up north, and they cook for their Dad.  I am hoping that when the weather gets warmer and the chair is made she may be able to sit outside, or at least get downstairs to the lounge.  She had to go to Barnet hospital, on a strecher and ambulance, to have her pace maker checked, and her husband said she thoroughly enjoyed it, like a day out, was talking to everyone as she used to be a nurse.  Good and bad days.  She seems to have gone back in time, as a soft toy is her baby, and she worries about it getting too hot.  At least she still recognised me, although I did get told off a few times yesterday.  Thanks for listening.

[pumkinlover]

Thanks for the report, it must be very difficult for your friend and her family.

[cornykev]

Give her our best B.   

[Borlotti]

My friend had a good birthday, with all her family there. Balloons, cake (which she couldn't eat, but we did) and cards.  The staff are very, very good to her.  She did get very upset, not sure if it was the pain, or too many people there.  She told her husband to get off his bum and serve the drinks. She got upset because she hasn't been to the charity shop for months.
The special chair has arrived and although she is frightened of the hoist, think it will be good.  She went to a coffee morning in the lounge (not sure that she knew it was a coffee morning, and she can't drink coffee) but at least it was a change of scenery, and they gave her lunch in a corner off the dining room as she has to be fed.  Then she got tired as it was a busy day for her, and they took her back to bed and she went to sleep.  Must say that the staff are very good, and I think because she sees them all the time, she has got fond of them.  She seems to like the TV on, but not sure she can fully understand it, but it is company. 
She seems pleased that I agreed to go on holiday with her (again) to Austria, but I said we would have to give it a miss this year, as don't think she is up to ski-ing, but at least in her mind she is still positive.  Don't think she will walk again, but at least in the summer she will be able to get in the conservatory or garden in the chair of course.
The home is good if one is not too ill, as the food is great, different entertainment all the time, shame that she can't really enjoy all of this, but can see small improvements. Speech still difficult to understand, staff thought that I was her sister but just a friend for over 35 years, and her girls and grandchildren and of course husband are brilliant with her.

[Jayb]

I'm so pleased to read your friend is making progress and that she is being well looked after. The support and love of her family and friends I'm sure makes all the difference   

[Borlotti]

Had a good day today with my friend.  The staff were brilliant. Husbands birthday so we had a cake and she sang happy birthday to him.  She is still very confused, but having a good life in her mind, very busy with all the washing she does and she did enjoy a quiet time in the bedroom of the home, as she didn't really want to go out (which obviously was not possible) and it was only close family, which she said was better. Obviously she doesn't do the washing and can't get out of bed without the hoist to get her into a chair, but does enjoy listening to music, as she had a lovely singing voice.  In her mind she is still very busy, and said she had given up Christian Aid, and I said other people would do it and her other charities, so she seems quite content, and we had a good laugh.  I said who am I and she said I looked very much like her friend, and laughed.  In her mind she still goes on lovely walks and teaches yoga, but told her she can relax now and sleep. The children and grandchildren visit a lot and she knows them, but too many visitors does tire her out. She certainly hasn't lost her sense of humour which is great.  Really must go and visit more often, but sometimes it is difficult and makes me sad, but she seems OK, and well looked after. 

[grannyjanny]

How lovely that you are able to visit your friend regularly & she has a good family supporting dad. It must be awful for you all remembering her pre stroke.