Finally an Update!!!

I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to update. Probably because I keep hoping there will be some drastic change in my mom's condition....but there hasn't been. But...if you look at where she came from (refer back to the beginning of this blog...) she has made some pretty big leaps and bounds that we are SO grateful for! She has been referred to as a "miracle"....by her therapists and nurses. We would all have to agree!!

One of the biggest steps in her recovery is that she made it HOME!!! After over six long months of hospital and rehab care facilities...she made her way home to be greeted by her anxious family...homemade welcome home signs by her granddaughters....a newly painted bedroom...new carpet...and best of all...her new 'roller coaster' ride (aka the chair lift). Her loving husband is offering one free ride per person per lifetime. So come on over and experience it for yourself. :)

She is still suffering from extreme dizziness and nausea, so don't be offended if you come to visit and she keeps her eyes closed. She has a hard time opening them anymore because of how sick she gets if she does. But don't think she's sleeping....nope...she's fooled us enough with her little trick. She is usually well aware of what is going on, who is visiting, and not to mention every little sound that is made because her sense of hearing has taken over for her eyes.

Her sense of humor these days is off the hook! ;) She is so darn funny and quick to make light of any situation. If you are ever around when she starts to giggle...it is definitely contagious and probably the cutest thing you'll ever hear. She has started to get the feeling back in her upper lip and nose...so her smile is more of the smile we remember.

She has started to have regular physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions throughout the week. She continues to try her best, although most days she doesn't feel like doing much of anything. Do you blame her? Her speech is probably the biggest improvement that I can see after not seeing her during the week. She is easier to understand, and is able to regulate her breathing better. She is still considered monotone...but is working on her high opera voice and every once in awhile her old voice sneaks through. I personally think she sounds adorable...but she thinks she sounds weird and scary. My girls and I love calling and talking to her on the phone and can for the most part understand anything she says. That is huge considering the news awhile back that her left vocal chord was paralyzed.

She has an appointment tomorrow to check her inner ear for any problems that could be causing the dizziness and nausea that she is experiencing. We are praying that they can find out the problem and realign whatever they need to so she can start living more of a normal day to day life. Please send some prayers her way!!

She is currently still being fed through a feeding tube. She has had more of a desire to eat certain things (smoothies, soup, ice-cream, raspberries) but she's still a long way from eating more than a few spoonfuls of anything.

I still can't believe she is going on her eighth month since she first got sick. She has mentioned multiple times that when she wakes up in the morning she keeps hoping that it's all just been a bad dream. I can't wait for the day that we can all look back on this and say that we made it. My dad continues to be such a great support and caregiver to her. There's nothing that he doesn't do. (Except maybe wake up to the high pitched beep on the food monitor that he can't hear due to the frequency! haha) He is such a wonderful husband, dad, and bompy to his grand kids. We're lucky he's around to take such good care of our mom!

My mom has also 'adopted' a third daughter, Debby. Debby is a CNA and an answer to our prayers about who we could get to take care of my mom while my dad was at work. She does such a great job, and fits right in to our family. We also appreciate the help of Haydee (she works every other Friday) and the many friends who have offered their time to just come visit or fill in when needed. My mom is a lucky lady to be loved so much!

And once again....a HUGE THANK YOU to the many friends and family members that show my mom, and my dad, so much love and support. It's amazing to see all the acts of kindness that continue to be poured out to them even after all of this time. You have all been so kind and thoughtful to our entire family, we can't thank you enough!

Hopefully it won't take me two more months to update this again. If you are still checking in....let us know in a comment. We read them all to my mom and she loves hearing her friends kind words of encouragement.

These pictures were taken while she was still at Orchard Cove, meeting Raylee for the first time. As you can tell, she is still the most favorite Nana around.

Nana's 'Lagoon ride'

One day at a time. . .

I was able to spend a few weekends with my mom this past month since my last update. I love spending time with her and my dad. They are both such amazing people. Best parents a girl could ask for. I am still amazed at how sweet and kind my dad is to my mom. He has been able to take a few hours out of his busy work days to be there for her therapy sessions....both speech and physical. This has helped my mom tremendously. He encourages her, supports her, and MAKES her get out of bed even if she doesn't want to. She knows that doing her therapy is the only way to make it home someday. We are hopeful that that day will be much sooner than later!

She was able to get her throat x-rayed and have a series of swallow tests done to see if she would ever be able to eat real food again. She was pretty nervous for the trip in the van up the block to Lakeview Hospital, but my dad and I were able to be with her and she handled it all really well. She had a variety of different textures that she needed to swallow to see if she would aspirate any food into her lungs. She passed, with just a very small amount going into her lungs, with flying colors! They also figured out that if she turns her head to the left and swallows she does a lot better and avoids having to cough. We'll take any trick we can get to get her doing 'normal' things like eating again. She was told that starting to eat again would be as hard as her physical therapy is to her now. She will be using muscles that she hasn't used for almost 5 months now. Her speech therapist has been slowly introducing puddings, applesauce, and different liquids, and my mom has been doing very well with these, although she still has NO desire to eat any of them.

She is still experiencing nausea as well as some gagging problems. They're not sure what to blame for these problems, maybe the strokes that she has suffered from. We are hoping to figure it all out so we can eliminate these things so she can focus entirely on rehab and getting better. She has been such a fighter when it comes to physical therapy. She has walked (with assistance from her therapists and walker) around the entire facility where she's at with only one break, stood from a sitting position in her wheelchair to her walker all by HERSELF, and many other huge things for her. My mom's sister, Patti, was able to visit from North Carolina and join with us in a family game of Wii bowling during one of her therapy sessions. We had a great time, and even got a few laughs out of my mom. Those moments are so awesome to see!!

Her incision from the operation on her abdomen has almost entirely closed up. It's been pretty amazing to see heal. The doctors and nurses at LDS hospital told us to plan on 6 months or more for it to close up. She is ONE MONTH ahead of schedule...something that we are very excited about. Her bed sores on her back have entirely healed up and only seem to hurt her when she sits for too long or has to sit on her shower chair.

My mom was able to see the blessing of her first grandson on Sunday. My sister was able to arrange the blessing to be next door at Barton Creek (where my Grandma lives). It was so nice to help my mom get ready and help wheel her over to be a part of that. She had been pretty nervous about it all morning, since it has been months and months since she has been around big groups of people. Everyone was so kind and understanding. She did great! And the blessing was wonderful. It was just one of those steps that my mom needs to get back to doing the things that will make her feel normal again.

Although this has been the hardest thing my mom, dad, and our family has ever had to go through, I have been amazed at the miracles that have taken place and the love that I know my Heavenly Father has for her and for all of us. It would be easy to be mad that all of this had to happen to my mom, and believe me I have had many feelings that have leaned this way. But I know that she is being watched over, that she is loved beyond belief, and that He is carrying her through this with the help from so many. She couldn't do it without the love and support she feels from so many of you. Thank you....a thousand times again and again!! Your prayers keep her going!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

I hope I live up to the other updates on this blog, but knowing my memory, spelling, and grammar problems, I might only be allowed to update once in awhile! ;) This is Lindsay, Linda's daughter updating today. Thanks Uncle Dave for allowing me the chance to write a few things about my mom.

My mom is still having to fight every day. She fights for the will to wake up after lousy nights of sleep from itching (from a bad rash that has broken out over her body), to nausea and a horrible gag reflex, to bed sores that are still healing, to fighting as hard as she both mentally and physically can with her physical and speech therapy sessions. The list could go on...

She was able to go and see a throat specialist a few weeks ago to see about why her speech hasn't been progressing like it should be. He told her that her left vocal chord had been paralyzed. She was pretty upset about this news, but I keep reminding her that her 'real' voice is still heard when she yawns, now it's just her needing to learn how to use it again. Her speech therapist is very helpful and has given her many exercises for her to use to start learning how to deal with this problem. She is able to whisper and get some sound out (I joke and say she sounds a little like Yoda), but unless you're patient and listening close it's hard to understand because her mouth doesn't form the words like our mouths do. She is working hard on that, and sometimes needs to be reminded that she can talk instead of just simply nodding her head.

She was also able to go and visit a Neurologist over at Lakeview Hospital. He too, was a bearer of some bad news. She has experienced extensive brain damage (affecting mostly her motor skills), and so many small strokes throughout her whole body, that he told her that she would never get back to the 'normal' that she experienced before all of this happened. At first reaction, it seemed like reality hit us all (especially my mom) hard in the face. But after much thought, prayer, tears, and consoling, my mom has decided to not give up but to try harder than ever to get back to a 'normal' that will be worth living. We are very hopeful that this can happen. I have to keep reminding myself, as well as my mom and dad, that 'normal' is totally overrated!! I mean...she did marry into the Parrish family...and they are far from normal! ;) Seeing her reaction and attitude to this news has made her more of a hero than she already was to me. She is fighting not only for herself, but for everyone who loves her!

I was able to see, along with my dad and my sister Katie, her walking for the first time during her Physical Therapy session last weekend. She continues to need help getting out of bed and up to a standing position. She also needs the support of someone on each side of her as she pushes her walker down the hall to the gym. It was an incredible thing to witness. Her body is still so weak from the strokes and infection that she's experienced, but her will to get through all of this is huge! It's comparable to a child learning to walk for the first time. A little wobbly, but she'll get there. I wish when I would come to be with her on weekends that I would get to see more therapy sessions like this. Usually she is too tired from her week full of the gym to do much of anything when I come. So last weekend was sure a special treat! Thanks Mom!!

I continue to be amazed at all of the love and support that she receives from not only family, but from friends...old and new. She is so lucky to have all of you! Your cards, flowers, visits, prayers, thoughts, and time spent with her, mean more than you'll ever know. I hope blessings are being poured out to each of you in return for your kindness and love for my mom, dad, and family.

Many of you have asked about how my dad is...he's amazing just like my mom! I have never seen him be so supportive, loving, tender, and kind to my mom and her needs. He hasn't missed a day yet at being by her side during some portion of the day. The nurses and aides joke with him about having to put him on payroll because he does so much. He is able to turn her when she needs to change positions, turn off the beeping monitors and not get in trouble, and unclog her food line when it stops working. Pretty impressive if you ask me! He is experiencing a lot of stress and heartache watching his wife have to go through this, but all of your love and support for him has been overwhelming as well. He couldn't do it without the many who volunteer to come sit with my mom during the day, to the many meals he gets from angels in his ward, to the 'yard fairy' who comes and mows his lawn and plants flowers, to all of the primary kids who continue to make him feel like a super star at church, to those who visit to lift his spirits as well as my moms! He is grateful for ALL of you!

I will continue to update as much as I can. I call my dad every night for the daily update, and sometimes he's not too cooperative! ;) Your continued love, support, and PRAYERS are so appreciated!! My mom knows it's what's keeps her going!!

June 1, 11:30a update

It's now been just over 12 weeks since Linda was admitted to the hospital, including the last 3 weeks (as of yesterday) at Orchard Cove in Bountiful. She's making progress on her road to recovery but continues to struggle, as she has for the last several weeks, with daily nausea and dizziness. As you can imagine, this has limited her ability to work with her therapists and do the things necessary to help her regain her strength. Even the slightest movements, let alone sitting up, riding in a wheelchair or walking, cause her to be extremely nauseated. As most of us have experienced, this level of nausea makes us want to keep our eyes closed and minimize any movement.

Her doctors and nurses are working to discover the source of the nausea and get it under control as soon as possible so she can regain her rehabilitation. We're praying for a breakthrough over the next few days.

Her abdominal incision continues to heal as expected. The bed sores on her back side are healing as well, although very, very, slowly. These continue to cause her pain and discomfort.

Linda is still unable to eat much beyond ice chips, especially while she struggles with the nausea, so she is still being fed through a tube in her abdomen.

As she's done from the beginning, Linda bravely faces each challenge with a positive attitude and does her best to perform the tasks that are asked of her. Even as sick as she feels, she greets everyone with a smile and a wave of her hand. She is truly an inspiration and we love her dearly.

Thanks to each of you for your love and concern. And a big hug to Linda's dear friends that have spent their time with her during the week while Lynn is at work. Lynn, Linda and their entire family appreciate all that you've done for them over these last 12 weeks. Thank you.

P.S. I'm writing this update today from the American Fork Hospital. My sweet mother-in-law, Ruth Anderson, suffered a stroke Sunday evening and is currently undergoing tests to see what the next steps in her recovery will be. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with her and my father-in-law Craig.

Wednesday, May 19th, 11:00p update

It's been several weeks since my last update and Linda has a new home and a new grandson!

A week ago last Monday, Lynn and I packed up her room at Promise (along with hundreds of cards and letters from her granddaughters and many of you that have been taped to her walls) and helped her make the journey to Orchard Cove in Bountiful. It's a wonderful place, much closer to Linda's home, that has been completely remodeled. Everything is brand new from top to bottom, including a state-of-the-art workout facility. It feels much more like home than the hospital rooms she's been in for the last 10 weeks. A definite move in the right direction.

Linda has had a difficult last couple of weeks and has been dealing with a great deal of nausea and discomfort. Because of this, she hasn't been able to do much with her physical therapy and the move to Orchard Cove last Monday wasn't the easiest on her. Within the last couple days, however, she's beginning to feel better and has been able to resume some of her therapy. She was even able to take a trip outside today in a wheelchair and enjoy a little fresh air and sunshine.

Last Saturday, Linda's daughter Katie delivered a healthy, 10-pound baby boy! His name is Nathan and Lynn and Linda are, once again, very proud grandparents. Linda was able to hold him on Monday and couldn't stop smiling. If you know Linda, you know how much she loves her grandchildren...and Nathan is no exception!

Linda's family wishes to thank all those who cared for her at Promise. She was able to make progress during her time there and they definitely helped her make the transition from the intensive care unit at LDS Hospital to this new rehabilitation facility at Orchard Cove. We know she is in the right place for her to continue her road to recovery.

We also wish to thank Linda's friends and family members who have been by her side each day. Without you, it would be impossible for Lynn to attend to his responsibilities at his job without constantly worrying about Linda being alone.

Thank you.

April 30, 1:00p update

I can't believe it but it's been two weeks since my last update. I apologize to those of you checking in during this time.

The good news is that Linda is still moving in the right direction with her recovery. She's still on the third floor at Promise (Salt Lake Regional Medical Center) and working hard every day with her therapists. She's gaining a little more strength each day but it's proving to be a very long and difficult process.

Although she's been able to eat some chocolate pudding and sip on a Diet Coke once in awhile, she's still being fed through a tube directly into her stomach. She's having to learn how to swallow again and tolerate solid food, which has been difficult. She loves chewing on crushed ice and, thankfully, Promise has the very best kind. :-)

Linda's been in the hospital for almost eight weeks now and is struggling with a few things that come from being in bed that long like bed sores and a couple of different infections. She's had a few difficult days over the past week where she's been nauseated and has had difficulty keeping anything down.

Through it all, however, Linda has managed to keep a positive attitude. I know there have been days where she wonders if she will ever recover to the point where she can leave the hospital and go home, but overall, she has been amazingly upbeat.

Even when she's resting with her eyes closed, she's still paying attention. Lynn and I learned this a few nights ago when we were sitting by the side of her bed and sharing a few funny stories together while we thought she was sleeping. During one point in our conversation, Linda opened her eyes and, with a smile on her face, delivered the punch line to our story. We laughed until we had tears running down our faces. Linda is amazing and I love her very much.

Last Tuesday, Linda had a visit from my wife Brooke and our daughter Jennie. They spent the day giving her a complete manicure and pedicure. She enjoyed her private spa treatments very much and is now looking fabulous and ready to hit the town! A big thanks to the spa girls. :-)

Over the past couple of weeks while Lynn has been back at work, Linda's benefitted greatly from her dear friends that have spent time with her during the day. It's been very important to Lynn to have someone there with her when he can't be. Thank you for your kindness.

As soon as Linda is strong enough, she will move to a rehab facility (at this point it looks like it will be Health South in Sandy) that will work with her to prepare her for her trip back home. I will keep you posted with those details as we know them.

Thanks again to each of you for your continued love and support. It has meant a great deal to Lynn and Linda and they love and appreciate each of you very much.

More to follow...