Stroke Survivor Blog

Now that the weekend is over, it feels like we are getting into a regular schedule of doing things. Steve is scheduled for 2 hours of therapy a day M-F, and I can work with him on his hand and arm during the other times. It felt good for him to get up and stretch those legs and do some walking for the first time since last Thursday.

His left leg is responding quite well. He can flex the muscles in it and can lift it slightly from a laying position. This is really hard to do in that position because he’s lifting against gravity, but it is so encouraging to him. PTL! The thing that is challenging for him is to bend and lift his leg from the knee, and to lock the knee in place. In order for him to walk, a therapist must hold his knee in place or lift it, but when he’s able to do that himself, he’ll be skipping and hopping in no time. Well…I’ll be happy with just walking. When he can walk with a cane without assistance, then he’ll be able to come home.

His headaches are diminishing and are not as frequent, so thank you for praying about that.

The other day I was transferring him from the wheelchair into bed, and when I swung his legs up into the bed, he lost control of his left arm and it swung over the side of the bed and wrenched his shoulder. It’s been painful ever since. If that wasn’t bad enough, the weight of the paralyzed left arm is pulling it from his shoulder socket. This is called shoulder subluxation, and is a common complication with paralysis or one-sided weakness caused by a brain attack like a stroke. He’ll need a sling to keep the arm in place to prevent it from dangling.

The left leg and ankle are swelling again, and we have a follow-up appt. to see the orthopedic doctor on April 16 to see how the ankle’s been mending. On that day he’ll be able to take a ride in the car and have a change of scenery. Maybe on the following Sunday he can go to church. We’ll have to see what type of accommodations they have for a wheelchair that will work for him.

He feels frustrated that his arm and hand are not responding. He tries so hard to move them and they just don’t obey his brain. So new brain pathways must be developed to make them work and that’s what the therapy is for. His hand really concerns him the most because he feels so helpless without it, and he’s such a hands-on person.

He still goes into the dining room to eat some of his meals just to do something different, and to talk to Mike, Clarence and Sylvester–the guys at his table. Mike is the only one he can really hold a conversation with; and all of these guys are old enough to be his father.

Following are some prayer needs that Steve has. Please pray for the:

1. Healing for the soreness and tenderness in the left shoulder

2. Left arm and hand to reconnect with the brain’s commands

3. Reduction of the swelling in the left leg and ankle, and for complete healing of the ankle tendons.

4. Continued encouragement, peace, hope and comfort, and for him to see how God can use him while at Woodside

5. Favor with the nurses, staff and residents that things will go well with him.

6. Please pray for my strength and endurance also, and for a sweet attitude with people when things don’t go the way I want them to go.

Steve and I have been so encouraged by all your emails, prayers, visits and cards. Steve cries after reading each one of your encouraging words and he feels so loved. Thank you for being such a blessing to us and our family. I know that this email reaches many people that we do not know because it is being forwarded by family and friends. And I thank you especially for all your prayers…you who are strangers to us yet one in the Spirit. God knows who you are and how faithful you are to pray. Since we’ve never met you, I’ve attached a picture of us so you can put a face with our names. I’ve found that a face always makes it easier for me to pray.

Thank you, faithful ones. May God bless you abundantly in return for all you’ve given to us.

My love,

Kathy