All Systems Go

I spoke with Jay about the blog and he feels very comfortable with it. He feels that it is a great way to keep in touch with people and to update folks on his progress. So it is with his blessing that I continue.....................

This has been a real wild ride. Disneyworld's "Tower of Terror" and "Expedition Everest" have nothing on the ups and downs of this journey. Jay has been working so hard in therapy and is making remarkable progress. His steep and fast ascent in the last month has amazed the doctors and the rehab team. Jay's stroke deficits are on his left side, and we have all felt relieved and estatic as he gains back the use of his left side.

The latest stumbling block has been mysterious and very frustrating. For the past few days Jay's left hand and arm have been coming "on and off line." At times it's all systems go, and at other times his left hand and arm does not respond to his concentrated focus to move the way he wants it to. The fluctuation in the degree of function has been very puzzling to the team and supremely frustrating for Jay. The team has done all kinds of diagnostics, and with experimentation have found that his left hand and arm responds to increased fluid volume, a carefully titrated blood pressure and certain body positions. They assure us that because he has good function some of the time, this will resolve, but it's been but yet another unexpected, frustrating and scary thing on this intense journey. Jay's new saying. "if it wasn't this, it would be something else!"

We're getting close to the next important phase of this recovery process. On February 20th, Jay will have the surgery to replace the cranial bone he had removed to prevent increased intracranial pressure, secondary to the post surgical and post stroke swelling of his brain. Believe it or not, this bone has been waiting in the freezer here at University Hospital. (I told you we were in the right place!) This rather standard procedure will necessitate a few days in ICU, a move to the floor, and then discharge!!!

We have decided to stay in Salt Lake City for a few weeks following discharge to do outpatient therapy here at University Hospital. Dr. Edgely and this team is very invested in Jay as he is in them. Jay's trust in their expertise, their belief that Jay can return to full function, and the relationships they have built, makes this a winning team. After a few weeks of outpatient therapy we will return to our home sweet home, Gunnison Colorado!! AMEN!