Good News and New Gains
Kathy had an appointment at DHMC in Lebanon yesterday morning … a follow-up from the seizure incident as well as other issues concerning her stroke. Essentially, Kat was told that around 25% of stroke sufferers experience a seizure as Kat did in early September. Further she was told that she would need to remain on the anti-seizure meds for a long while. The effect of the lack of oxygen in her brain as well as bleeding in her brain was swelling that caused the scar tissue to interact under pressure with her nerve system there thus causing the convulsions. We were told that the swelling will take near a year to subside and many who experience what Kat did go on without any other reactions under the meds. Dr. Robin Clark reaffirmed that Kathy had a major, major brain attack and that her recovery is going remarkably!
We then spoke about her tone and muscle tightening. Again, Robin mention that at times stroke patients do great and then experience stuff like this. Then the great things occur once again. Since we saw the Neurologists back in August, there has been talk of Botox treatments for her left hand. Kathy is able to move her arm from the shoulder. She has some movement of the wrist. Finger movement is very limited. Her hand clamps up when she moves the arm and when she thinks to move her fingers. She has experienced her hand stretching out at will (but not her will!) and has experienced this with the arm as well. It seems the hardest to move by herself is bending her elbow. The same is with her knee. If she were to lie down and lift her leg (sliding the foot on the bed bending at the knee) her leg lifts way high and the foot comes down a little toward the bed but little bend at the knee. That has yet to be relearned.
But back to the Botox. Most equate the drug with plastic surgery treating face wrinkles. Somehow they have found botox has other uses such as what Kat needs to get her fingers moving again. From what I’ve gathered the treatment, done in segments, causes the muscles to react with the neurons to restore hand and finger movement. Robin relayed to us another like patient to Kat (just a few years older who lives in Vermont), who after a year from her stroke now drives herself to her appointments at Dartmouth and is back to work. She, too, had similar issues with her arm and hand and after a series of what I believe was 3 treatments, this gal has use of her hand and fingers! This was encouraging to Kathy. This, though, prompts me to ask you to pray — the treatments are very costly and they have to get pre-approval from insurances. We have been told by our insurance provider that Kathy’s coverage has been maxed-out. They are still paying her meds (100% at no co-pay cost to us at all). Pray the insurance will cover the Botox injections and treatments. They seem to be what Kat really needs.
So the journey goes on and so does Kathy the Magnificent! She insists on walking wherever she goes even if there’s an easier way. Pray for her stamina and not to get discouraged. God has great control of her heart and mind. She attended a Ladies Retreat from New Hope Church last Saturday and the day really wiped her out but she got right up with Mike at 6am Sunday and got dressed to go to worship later that morning. She pushes and that’s good. She is being strengthened physically, mentally and spiritually in this journey! Thanks for your prayers. See you again soon.
