Cross Into The Future

Over the weekend my family and I went to Springfield to celebrate my grandma’s birthday.  We had a wonderful time visiting and I of course had a great time with Isaiah and Daniel.  Sandy and Mike got a free puppy from one of their neighbors and it is adorable!  We had lots of fun playing around, and Grandma and Grandpa loved the company.

Early on Sunday morning, Grandma and Grandpa had gotten up to prepare for church.  Grandma had gotten dressed and she and Grandpa were making the bed when Grandma asked Grandpa to help her put her earrings on.  As she talked, Grandpa noticed that her speech was slurred and looked up at her.  The left side of her face was sagging and her left arm was limp.  He realized that she was having a stroke and immediately had her lie down and called 9-1-1.  An ambulance came quickly, as they live very close to Cox South Hospital.  They got her to the hospital with Grandpa and Sandy travelling behind.  The first thing they did was to perform a Cat-Scan on her brain to determine the situation.  They found out that a blood clot had lodged in her brain and was blocking bloodflow to that area.  They also noticed that some brain damage had already occured.

Come to find out, Grandma had gone in to her doctor earlier in the week to have a double biopsy done on her stomach to determine the source of her stomach pains.  She had been told to go off of her Cumadin (a blood thinner) before the operation.  She had then gone back on the medication Friday and Saturday, but by then her blood had coagulated quite a bit, causing the blood clot in her brain.

The doctor called in a neuro-specialist to look over her.  He put her on a strong blood thinner to help to break up the clot in her brain and insulin to help bring her blood sugar down (which had risen somwhere around 300).  He said for the time being all they could do is support her through the stroke by monitoring her vitals and giving her Aspirin among other things.  After spending a couple of hours in ER, she was placed in ICU for 24 hours to be monitored, then moved to the neurology floor, where she will stay for at least 5 days.

Please be praying for her to have strength and get lots of rest.  My mom went back to Springfield after we came home Sunday afternoon so that she could be there for both of her parents.  Pray also for her and Grandpa as they spend time with Grandma at the hospital.  Grandpa does not handle hospitals very well and gets stir crazy.  Mom will need prayer as she takes care of them through the transition period and once Grandma comes home.  Keep the doctors in your prayers, too, as they determine the extent of her brain damage and what steps need to be taken to help her to recover as well and quickly as possible.

Thank you!