Cya CVA!

A blog by erobertson in General

  • entries
    88
  • comments
    13
  • views
    6,486

About this blog

The story of J.J.'s recovery from the stroke (CVA) he had on 2/15/09 at 33 years of age.

Entries in this blog

Quick update

(Originally posted February 20, 2009)   I ran home from the hospital thinking that my water heater was going to be worked on only to find out it's not going to work out for today after all. Oh well--now that I know how to light it, I can keep it limping along through the weekend.   But the big news from the hospital (I was there for only about ten minutes before I had to rush out); I think they might be releasing J.J. either later tonight or first thing in the morning! It'll be nice to get
erobertson

erobertson

0

What not to say

(Originally posted February 20, 2009)   In honor of my first day back at work today, I'd like to give you some suggestions on how not to interact with me. Please do not use any of the following phrases...   Boy, you've had a bad week--No, I haven't. My week has been long, annoying, frustrating and tiring. But J.J. could have died on that stairway in front of his kids, and he didn't. His impairments could have been much more severe, and they aren't. He could have a much more dismal prognosi
erobertson

erobertson

0

Saying FU to the ICU

(Originally posted February 19, 2009)   Sorry about the delay in posting. The computer kiosks I've been using were down when I got in this morning. It was only slightly less painful for me to function without the computers as it might be if I were asked to function without my right arm. I am truly a child of the digital age.   Anyway, when I walked in I started toward J.J.'s room in the ICU only to find that the guy in room 6 was NOT my husband. Apparently I was being sent on a treasure hu
erobertson

erobertson

0

Slow but steady

(Originally posted February 19, 2009)   Holy seven hours of sleep, Batman! Five of them were even in a row! I feel significantly better now. Sleep rocks out loud.   Anyway, so I promised to do an end-of-the-day post for yesterday. Not a whole lot has changed since yesterday afternoon. More standing up, a few more little steps. His range of motion is getting better on his right arm, so he's naturally reaching for more things with it (J.J. is right handed). Of course, his depth perception is
erobertson

erobertson

0

J.J. in da house!

(Originally posted February 18, 2009)   I'm just short of doing cartwheels down the hall--yahoo!   When I walked into J.J.'s room a little while ago, he was laying down. I said, "Babe, you awake?" and he pulled himself up onto the side of the bed. From there, he stood up at the side of the bed! I asked him if he had been helped up by a therapist or if anyone knew he could do this, and he shook his head no. Apparently he just decided he's been taking this laying down long enough.   After
erobertson

erobertson

0

Selfish post

(Originally posted February 18, 2009)   Almost every person I've talked to in the last couple of days has asked me how I'm doing. The answer you'll receive to this question varies greatly on when you ask me. I'll admit to having moments of great weakness when I sit in the dark, sobbing, wondering when and how we'll ever return to any semblance of normal life. I may seem like a liberated, independent woman. Emotionally, though, J.J. has always been the strong one.   Most of the time, though
erobertson

erobertson

0

Last update of day

(Originally posted February 17, 2009)   I'm back at home. It's a little after 9:00 p.m., I'm going to have someone installing a garbage disposal in my kitchen (which looks like a bomb hit it) in my house (which looks like a somewhat larger bomb hit it) in a little over twelve hours, and I can't possibly muster the energy for house-pride. I've had five hours of sleep in the last 63 hours. I'm typing this update and crawling into my bed. Hopefully I'll have a little more motivation in the morni
erobertson

erobertson

0

Variety is the spice of life

(Originally posted on February 17, 2009)   I think it's time for a little levity, how about you?   Today our friend Nova and I were walking back in from the quest to buy a new garbage disposal (yes, after all that, it had to be replaced after all) and walked past the little coffee shop in the hospital. In addition to coffee and bagels, they sell a couple different sandwiches each day. The day's selections are posted prominently out front.   Today's Selections: Chicken Salad on Croissa
erobertson

erobertson

0

Awesome PT session

(Originally posted February 17, 2009)   Well, we have seen neither hide nor hair of the neurologist yet, but Physical Therapy has been in for J.J.'s first session of the day. J.J. was able to sit up on the side of the bed and do some exercises (knee lifts, touching his nose with his affected hand, etc.). He is moving so much better. I think we (J.J., me, J.J.'s mom Linda and J.J.'s uncle Randy) are so encouraged by his progress now. I dare that neurologist to bring me down with his pessimisti
erobertson

erobertson

0

Quick morning update

(Originally posted February 17, 2009)   Of course the water heater pilot light chose this morning to go out. And I have no idea how to light it, since J.J. always did all of this sort of stuff around the house. Since it didn't seem like a good idea to tackle this on so little sleep, it's still unlit. So following my bracing morning shower (which wasn't too terrible and which I got through--kind of metaphoric for the last few days, actually!) I'm back at the hospital. We have the same aweso
erobertson

erobertson

0

Top 10 best things about husband in ICU...

(Originally posted February 16, 2009)   1. Husband in ICU diet is very effective. I think I've eaten 500 calories today. 2. Free plumbing advice received in ICU waiting room. 3. Have been offered cash more times than I can count today. And am not in revealing top. 4. Thrill of accomplishment from learning how to work hospital sink faucets, which were apparently designed by NASA... 5. Husband's chuckle now very gravelly and cute. 6. Know exactly where husband socks are--none in middl
erobertson

erobertson

0

One more time, from the top...

(Originally posted February 16, 2009)   For those of you joining our story already in progress, I'm creating this blog to keep our friends, family, coworkers and all the rest of y'all in the loop about the progress of my husband J.J.'s fight to overcome the odds and recover fully from the stroke he endured on 2/15/09.   Coming up on 24 hours ago now, we were enjoying a normal family Sunday day. Well, for appropriate values of enjoy--Leah (our four year old) was throwing a major grump about
erobertson

erobertson

0

Background Entries

Welcome! My husband, J.J., had an ischemic left MCA stroke on 2/15/09 at the age of 33. I've been keeping a blog since the next day. I'm going to attempt to copy over some entries to get you up to date...so bear with me!
erobertson

erobertson

0