A Little Emotional

[excelsior-1]

good afternoon all

just got home from a round trip to coventry hospital, wherein resides my one remaining grand-parent (95), whom i visiited

she was found by her friend unconscious on her floor, on thursday

she has had a stroke

i must confess to feeling foolish for letting it affect me as it did but, i was not prepared for what i saw

i am not certain how much she will recover from it - if she does at all, and it looks like she'll be in there for some weeks

[Sparkles62]

Hi Excelsior, so sorry to hear about your Grandmother, I hope she will be ok, and you look after yourself too.
The fact that she recognises you and is trying to talk I would think is a good thing.
I had a stroke 21 years ago, mind you I was only 30, I was the same as your Gran, couldn't speak legibly, and lost everything on my left side.
Now, I still have a weakness on my left side, worse when I am tired, can speak ok, but quite often have to think of another word for what i want to say because the word in my head won't come out of my mouth!
I suppose your Grans recovery will depend a lot on how strong she is, the fact that she was still living on her own and looking after herself must mean that she was ok before, but prob won't be able to go back to being on her own after.
I hope she is ok, please let us know how she gets on, love to you both. X X

[society]

Sparkles, what you've describe is exactly what a family member is presently experiencing. She is 85 and had 2 or 3 strokes before, but she always managed to get over them. This last one, it's been s over two years and she still hasn't gotten better or even close. She tries very much to speak but has so much difficulties.

Excelsior, all the best to your grandmother, and you too. Try not to worry to much. x

[Sparkles62]

Society, can she write if you give her a pen and a pad, thats how i coped till I could make myself understood.
I was lucky that I was so young and had plenty of time to recover, but i did have two mini strokes in the year after, but they only took me a couple of days to get over.
Maybe your Gran will be able to talk to you by writing her answers when she is strong enough excelsior. X

[society]

She is unable to do much for herself. It breaks my heart to see how she struggles to communicate. A funny thing though, she speaks several languages and uses all the different languages when she attempts to talk.

[Connemmara]

Boxtops she was in a Coventry hospital weren't she

[jd_1984]

It is shocking. My grandad was, for his age, a relatively fit man before his stroke which affected his speech and mobility. Its sad to see them not as their former self. To see the frustration it is causing them as well as those around them. He enjoys a great quality of life and if anything, 10 years on, his speech is better than when it first happened.
We have different tolerances to certain things. Some people dont seem affected by the loss of a loved one or when a family member is ill etc.... yet they are inconsolable when their pet dies. But never feel stupid for being affected, by anything. We are all different. Some will hide their feelings, for years and it can build up. Others get emotional at the time and then things become easier over time.

Best wishes to you and family
JD.