Billy's Recovery Updates

Hours before Billy experienced his stroke, not only had he purchased my anniversary present but he also had booked a weekend in our favorite cabin in Hocking Hills. However, as a result of the memory difficulties from the stroke, he had forgotten that he had done so. Fortunately, he received an email with a confirmation from the lady who owned the cabin which prompted his memory. I suppose the best way to keep a secret is to forget about it all together! I had no idea, until he told me to pack my things because we were headed to the cabin. The drive down was full of natural beauty. The sun was golden and the air had a slight fall chill to it, but overall was rather pleasant. I enjoy the drive to Hocking Hills because with it carries an air of excitement and adventure.  We opened the door to the cabin, and I sat down in an oversized recliner directly in front of the fireplace. My "happy place" so to speak. I could sit here for hours snuggling in a blanket and reading a book by...

In the week leading up to our second anniversary, Billy had been expressing how sad he was that he couldn't do all of the things he had planned. He knows how much I enjoy being surprised. He had spent a considerable amount of time prior to his stroke working overtime so that he could provide an enjoyable anniversary. In addition to making plans to celebrate together, he always picks a piece of jewelry from my favorite jewelry store. He was looking through the photographs in his phone and came across a screenshot that he had taken just an hour before the onset of his stroke. He had forgotten that he had been shopping for my anniversary gift. I jokingly teased him, "My gosh! The gift must have been expensive, it made you stroke out!" He just smirked, but refused to give away his plans. He told me that he wanted to surprise me. However, now that he cannot drive, he was unsure if he would be able to pull anything off. I did not care, the greatest gift was that he was at home ...

The last few weeks had been such a whirlwind of change, we were unsure if Billy would be able to vote in person or partake in submitting an absentee ballot if still hospitalized. Before his stroke happened, we were discussing the pros and cons of voting in person vs. applying to vote via mail/drop box. After his stroke, he couldn't remember if he had turn in the application or not. I checked the mailbox daily for a form, but one did not come. Just days before the election, he remembered that he had chosen to vote in person and even remembered the poll location where he was registered to vote at! However, now he was facing another challenge, his ability to see the screen. Everyday his vision was getting a little bit better. A few times he even proudly announced that he could start to recognize images in his left vision field! The excitement in his voice and the look of pride on his face brought me to tears. I was so proud of him and I celebrated all of his victories both big an smal...

I spend a lot of time educating my patients on how to take care of themselves, how to manage their new diagnosis, how to feed their newborn babies, etc. Nursing is all about education and teaching. It's one of the things I absolutely love about my profession. There is nothing more satisfying than sitting down with my patients and rooting them on with a newfound skill. The confidence and assurance in their faces knowing that they are thinking in their minds "yes, I can do this!" is something that certainly keeps me going in my career. I'm all about empowerment. You know what I didn't learn though? How to prepare a family member to go back to work. When is a good time? How do you teach someone to not feel guilty about going back to the workplace? When is too soon?  This, now, was something I was facing on my own. I was granted intermittent FMLA for at least six months. This will allow me to take Billy to and from his appointments and also to stay home if there isn...

Sunday, October 11th I was getting ready to go into work. Billy had been laying in bed for two days unable to keep sips of water down. He was very nauseated and just wanted to sleep. He complained that he felt very warm even though his skin felt cool to the touch and clammy. Saturday, a headache had crept in and Tylenol or Motrin helped to keep it at bay. All he kept thinking was that he was dehydrated, and that's why his head was hurting. I was concerned about going into work because he didn't leave the bed much. However, he insisted that he didn't want to go to the hospital and that it would be fine for me to go to work. "I don’t want to go and sit in the ED for three hours. We need that sick day in case something happens with the kids in the next few weeks. Don't call off just because I don't feel good. I'll be fine." I had approximately one more sick occurrence left before I would be written up for missing too many days. Therefore, we were both hes...

 I couldn't believe how much stuff I brought to him while he was in the hospital. I used to chuckle to myself and wonder why on earth a person would need to bring a giant suit case to their family member as if strolling down the terminals of the LAX. Alas, here I was, attempting to stuff all of the things I had brought to my husband so that he would have some of the comforts of home back into this giant suitcase. Once again, I was completely and unapologetically that family member. Brand new down pillow, check, framed photograph, check, aromatherapy machine to drown out the smells of the hospital, check, a pair of underwear and socks to last him until the coming of Christ, check. Everything he could've ever needed, I happily strolled my little self down the hospital hallway to bring to my ailing husband. The thing I did not think about what how I was going to get all of this home. Now, here I was, breathlessly stuffing the entire back end of my SUV with all of the goodies I acc...