Mom and dad had their weekly meeting with the Doctors, case worker, etc. Here is some information that has been communicated back to me from our friend Cherie who is our medical advocate now:
- Ejection Fraction is at 66% with his heart (should be over 75% but is better than it was) Cardiac rehab is continuing.
- No ischemia or swelling around the spinal cord was seen on the MRI to explain paralysis. They are consulting with the radiologists to have them personally look at the films in light of symptoms and see if something doesn't appear at second glance.
- Results from Radiologist: There is spinal cord damage. Doctor told mom that typically the outcome is wheelchair bound...BUT Doctor is a Christian and knows that we are too and also talked to mom about how she has to give patients the worse case senio, and that God can do bigger things.
- Both of my parents are learning to catheterize 4x/day and both are doing OK with it but neither is yet "competent" to do this unaided.
- Dad is having double vision and dizziness (this is where the nausea seems to be coming from) so they are consulting a "movement specialist" at TIRR to evaluate this.
- We are being told that he will be in TIRR till around the 18th of this month and then move on to a Skilled Nursing Facility.
- He is doing very well with rehab progress but will need OT and PT for several more months as an outpatient (or in a nursing home). TIRR did tell mom and when he is doing outpatient, they want him back at TIRR...mom was happy about that.
On top of all this my grandmother (mom's mom) is not doing well, and we are thinking she will have to be moved from an asisted living house to a complete nursing home. She is in horrible horrible pain, even with pain meds with her back to the point of hardly being able to move and at times not having bowel control. (Doctors are saying she need surgery, but MeeMaw doesn't think that would be a good idea with her risk of more TIA's, and her age) MeeMaw doesn't want to move, so this is another battle that is on mom's plate. Mom is going to go see her tomorrow (and look at a nursing facility that is in Webster) and talk to her more about making the move. Please keep this visit in your prayers as history has proven that MeeMaw will get defensive and things will go down hill with the conversation.
As it is obvious please pray for Dad and the new developments with his spine, along with the previous prayers that we have listed in the other posts.
Thank you again for all the support. Mom was just saying tonight on the phone that the power of prayer has been a big part of her strength and she appreciates so much everyone who is out there praying. God Bless!!!!
2 comments:
You might want to ask about the ejection fraction. When I saw this number, my first thought was that this is completely within normal limits, from everything I've ever been told by my cardiologist. I looked it up on the Mayo Clinic website and it lists normal EF as anywhere from 55% to 70%. So 66% is right there in the normal range. This is an absolutely miracle given all your dad's been through! And we'll keep right on praying that he'll just keep on improving! Love you all!
Ejection Fraction in the 55-70 range is "compromised". In fact there are certain medications we cannot give unless it is over 75%. Tim's EJF has improved almost two fold since November when the original incident occurred. This is truly a miracle in my eyes.
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