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One of our BC family, Karen_J has suffered a family health crisis.
Her mom has had three strokes in less than two days and her family is obviously concerned. If you are the religious type your prayers are needed if you are not, you well wishes would help. Karen is quite upset; the brevity of her message to me could not conceal her pain.
I know the feeling having lost my mother back in 2005. Let us hope she is more fortumate.
John in Wauwatosa
Comments
Thanks for the information - John
Karen,
You and your family are in our thoughts tonight. My best wishes that your Mom will pull through and that the damage from the strokes will be minimal. John, please keep us up to date as you hear from her.
Hugs,
Kristy
Thank you for your words. I wish Karen_J's mom the best but ...
Karen sounded quite worried as her mom has had a series of medical setbacks in the last year or so including stroke.
So far her mom has proven Texas tough but a person can only take so much. A few years ago I saw my mother slowing and then cancer mow her down. Age and arthritis are nipping at my dad's heels but so far he's fighting back. Even I'm to the point of probably needing glasses to read. We were all Superman and Superwoman when we were teens, what happened?
I hope for her mom's recovery but in any eventuality I hope for Karen's continued health and well being too. Karen has chronic health problems that she has managed well over the years but I know from my sister's experience with asthma that that can change so fast. I nearly lost my evil blonde sister to pneumonia and I fear for our Karen given all this stress.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
All my prayers
I'm holding you and your family in my thoughts right now, Karen.
Scott
-- Moliere
Bree
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy
http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
http://bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @genomorph
Thak you, Scott, I hope Karen sees this
Your kind words are welcome.
It always pleases me to see how this community can rally when people ae hurting.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Please Send Her My Best
My Aunt is going through something similar it seems and the prognosis for her isn't good...she's 92 or so and has other problems besides...I feel for Karen...
Thanks
Frank
Karen, my thoughts are with you
I pray your mother recovers and spends more years with her family.
One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness.
It usually comes back to you.
Holly Logan, aka Hart
One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness.
It usually comes back to you.
Holly
Frank, Holly, thanks for Karen's sake
She said she was going to watch Leno then get some sleep so we likely won't know more until morning.
Thank you, she appreciates this.
John in Wauwatosa ZZZZzzzzzzz
John in Wauwatosa
My deepest prayers go out to her mom
May Allah SWT the most merciful, extend her days.
Gwen
All my Prayers
out for Karen_J and her family. I hope your mom sees through this okay.
Melanie E.
Gwen, Rasufelle thanks, I did post this late at night, to repeat
Karen_J's mom has suffered three strokes in something like 36 hours and on both sides of the brain. No update on her condition as of 715 AM CST.
Her elderly mom has endured falls, bone breaks, recently having a metal contraption holding the broken limb together as it heals and at least one stroke prior to this series in just the last year. Up to now she has fought back but Karen’s brother is concerned and Karen *sounded* very upset to me. She is trying to be the tough daughter but I heard the hidden pain in her words.
There are many of us here like Karen and I, both, let’s say we're contemporaries of Michael Jackson and Madonna, actually part of a year older – sigh -- and this is to be expected. Hey the Mackinaw Straights Bridge is only a month and a half older than me but then it looks FABULOUS. Those tireless giants of our youth are wrinkled and failing or in my mom’s case dead from cancer and it scares us. Someday it will be our turn and yours.
Pray for all of our ailing loved ones if you are so inclined. I just want to cry. I have a hard time getting close to people and a harder time letting them go.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Best of wishes....
For Karen J, family & friends. I am hoping and praying for the best,
YW
He conquers who endures. ~ Persius
hard to know
Just what do you say. The situation does not sound especially positive, yet miracles if you will do occur. You have my thoughts for a reprieve and failing that my hope that the joy and good of memory outweighs the sorrow of the now.
Be strong Karen. Hey I'm 15 hours or so ahead and I've heard nothing bad.
Kristina
My prayers too Karen
Prayers, crossed fingers and of course hugs,
~~Laika
What borders on stupidity?
Canada and Mexico.
.
Karen_J's mom is much improved, brain damage appears minor
She can eat bland solid food with help, kinda like baby food but that is much better than an IV both for nutrition and for her mother's mental health. She seems to be recovering as well or better than hoped. Karen's mom is one tough gal.
From what Karen has said in the past, her mom was one of these very competent and hard charging women when younger and her becoming old and such does not sit well with her. Karen has said she tends to push herself too hard and thus had gotten injured as a result.
But then when you back off too much you fall apart. Keeping busy, SEROUSLY busy with a huge garden -- as big as our whole property in 'tosa, into their mid eighties or more, maintaining a rental property and rental storage buildings -- for boats and the like -- mowing a big lawn into his nineties, air drying her laundry until she was nearly 80, all kinds of church and non secular social clubs and stuff like that kept my dad's parents vital into their nineties.
My dad is following their example and did not let a flare up of arthritis pain keep him from the big recent sci-convention in Chicago. His knees hurt a lot but he had fun. He and his OLDER brother plan on drivin to from and on the ALCAN Highway to Aaska and back this summer. Dad wiil the baby at 82 then.
Karen said to pass this on to all of you
>>
I saw the comments on BC, thank everybody, and tell them it seems somebody has the right address for their prayers, so keep up the good work. :-)
>>
You heard our Texas gal, keep up the good work.
She is very pleased with the response and wishes to thank you all.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Thanks for the update John -
Our thoughts will continue to be with Karen and her family and hope that they all are doing well.
Hugs,
Kristy
So glad to hear this
The thought of someone else losing a loved one right now was more than I could deal with on the first announcement. Take care of yourself as well as your Mom, Karen.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Thank you to all
I have been a semi-basket case the last couple of days, the changes in my mom are hard to take. At this point she seems to be doing well, all things considered, but her alertness to her situation comes and goes. There have been some instances where she couldn't remember who I am, I think those have hurt me the most, even though I understand that her current mental state is about as good as can be expected.
My nest to oldest brother got here this afternoon, so I took the evening to unwind a bit, do some reading, and generally relax. My other brother gets here tomorrow; sometime this weekend we have to have a family pow-wow, and decide some things. I'm afraid she is going to have to go to a nursing facility after she gets out of the hospital. I refuse to accept that she won't get out.
Don't know what else to say, a big thank you to all of you here, the support has eased the load just a bit. You know who your friends are at a time like this, without y'all as friends I don't think I could make it.
Karen J.
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
It's so hard to let go, to say goodbye, Karen
You have gotten a reprieve, Karen, a chance to say goodbye to your mom. Maybe it will take a long time for the end to come, maybe it will be quick but at least she has some dignity again.
If you have not done so previously, now may be the time to quiz her on those old family photos and stories. Your elders are a great resource, let her be that font of wisdom yet again that your parents were when you were little. You don't want to push her too hard and frustrate her but a little exercise of the memory may do her good, give her a purpose, something to look forward to. Maybe she may want to do her version of the family history. I don’t know if or how well she can write or speak but it might be something to keep her busy.
If this is beyond her abilites, at least make a point of frequent visits in person or by phone, even letters. It will mean alot to her.
And as I’ve written before, feel free to vent on me or your other e-friends here. And do take care of your own health.
I first started writing fiction again for the first time since my college days when I learned mom was terminal in Feb 2005. I first posted a story – in Morpheus Holiday 2005 contest – to slay some of the demons of mom’s death and my older sister’s sudden illness and death sentence late in December. It was a way to remember them and maybe play "what if?" It still hurts but the writing and sharing of comments/ideas with others here at BC and a few other sites has helped greatly.
If we can help in our small way, please ask.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Well Wishes
[email protected] for Karen and her family . May Peace and Love reign in their hearts .
Cavrider----Just another " Grunt."
Happy to say
My mother was moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation facilty today. In spite of having four (yes four!) strokes this week for a total of five in less than a month's time, she is recovering some use of her left side; the doctor decided she is ready for therapy. Her spirits vary up and down, with the good times she looks amazing, all things considered. She may never go back to her room at the senior care assisted living center, we are looking at nursing care now. But I have a little better feeling about things, Christmas is looking brighter.
To give you an idea what the good times are like, I told her yesterday that I had some friends (y'all!) praying for her, and she responded "For what?". So she has a sense of humour and a fairly sharp mind still. :-)
Thanks y'all!
Karen J.
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin