On the Road to Recovery

Granny is certainly on the road to recovery, yet I know that this road is, without a doubt,  bound to be a very long road indeed!  These pictures were taken on Easter Sunday.  We enjoyed our visit , but it was quite a change not having Granny and my father with us for Easter lunch.  We did take her some of Fulton's birthday cake and Easter dessert though! (Note: you can easily see in these pictures the way Granny has been affected by the stroke - she leans to the left and has severe left sided neglect.  This means she is unable to look left of midline unless she turns her head far to the left - she won't do this without constant encouragement.  The splint on her left hand is to help with the tone in her left hand.  It helps to prevent her hand from curling.)

Although this journey is destined to be one of ups and downs, this past week has unfortunately been filled with more downs than ups.  Granny has had bouts of confusion as well as extreme lethargy.  A new medicine has been stopped in hopes that the lethargy was simply a side effect of a medication prescribed for the extreme neuropathic pain in her left limbs.  We are also suspecting an infection and should have test results tomorrow.  Today has been brighter so we are hopeful that the week ahead will entail more ups rather than downs. 

I spent this Sabbath morning with Granny.  To my delight, there was a church service being held at the nursing home.  She and I both enjoyed the singing tremendously.  We sang hymns dear to her heart - Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art!   I was so touched by the prayers offered for the residents and their families.  It is such a struggle to leave someone you love, now completely helpless, in the hands of complete strangers.  The church service was just what we both needed for a bit of encouragement and strength.   I pray many of the other residents were touched and blessed by attending church this morning, and I am so thankful to the men and women who took the time after attending their own church service, to lead the worship time for the residents at the home!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;. . ."  Isaiah 43: 1 - 3