Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Leslie is having a great day!

She is very alert and awake. In fact, sleeping is not something she is doing much of at all anymore. She will doze off for 5-10 minutes at a time, but even when she is sleeping, she is quite restless. When she is awake, she looks all around. Her eyes are wide open. She still doesn't answer when we ask her who we are, but when we tell her who we are, she'll say "Oh, yeah!" When we say something funny to her, she will laugh, and she smiles nonstop. I told her that we are going to have a big birthday party for her for her 30th birthday party and she said "that would be awesome!" I asked her if I could give her a kiss, and she said yes, so I told her she needed to give me kissy lips, and she did. Then when I had to leave, she waved bye to me without any prompting. To me, this was huge.

Medically, she still has a ton going on. I got there when they were doing a dopplar on her legs and she has several blood clots in her right leg. Her left leg was fine. The treatment for the blood clots in her legs is heparin therapy, which she is already getting because of the clots in her lungs. Now we just have to pray that those clots don't move.

I never saw the neurologist (don't get me started...) so I don't know the results of the EEG or if they are going to do an MRI. The cardiologist came in and asked some questions. He said on the day she collapsed, her magnesium and potassium were low. Now I know electrolyte imbalances can cause arrhythmia's, but really? Why were they low, then? She hadn't been sick. She eats fine. He also said it could be a genetic defect, and in that cause, she'd need a defibrillator. I am all for that option. If my mind, it just makes sense. If her heart goes into another arrhythmia, it's there to shock it. If it doesn't, then, well, it's just there. Of course, there are always risks to her having one, but to me, the benefit (her life!) totally trumps the risks. They were supposed to come back in to talk to my family, but I had to get home so I will find out what they said later.

Tomorrow she will have a swallow evaluation to see if she can start drinking and eating instead of getting the tube feeding. While I was helping the assistant position her, she pulled her NG tube out. I swear, it was her mission to get that tube out and she seemed so relieved when it was out. I asked the nurse if we could just leave it out until the swallow evaluation, but the nurse said that she was using it to give Leslie her medications. She asked the doctor, and he said to try giving her her meds crushed up with applesauce. If she tolerated that, then great. If not, she would need a new NG tube. She will still have the swallow evaluation regardless. Let's pray she takes all of her medications good tonight! If she fails the swallow evaluation, she will need a PEG tube, which is a surgically placed tube that will go in her stomach to feed her. I'm not that worried about this. Of course, I want her to be able to eat on her own, but the PEG tube will be so much more comfortable for her than the NG tube.

As I always say...baby steps. But I can also say now that for the past 28 years (I'm her baby sister) I have far underestimated her strength. She is being so strong. I have never seen someone fight the way she is fighting.

Go, Leslie!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that she is doing well today. I am also glad that I got to meet you and the rest of the family last night. Rachel and I will be back in a week or two to see Leslie. We are going to keep space between our visits to not overwhelm you and the family!

Chris Hensley said...

Thank you so much for this blog, I check it daily along with many others. I met Leslie when she worked at City Hall. I work at WPS Board of Education and gave her the tip that they were hiring at McKinley. She took it from there and proved herself to be a compassionate, dedicated and loyal person. Everybody loved her there. I'm so glad you're a nurse and can fill us in and stay on top of everything. She's very blessed to have you. I'll continue praying for a full recovery.

Anonymous said...

We are praying for Leslie. What an awesome family she has for support! Keeping her in our prayers and thoughts - all of you!
Denise Sciacca (tell Leslie - Kitty fur) she will know what ya mean!

Anonymous said...

You and Leslie have the prettiest smiles around! That's the first thing I ever noticed about you Laura - your smile. So glad Leslie's is providing so much reassurance to you.

I happen to think YOU are pretty strong, too. - - Jackie F.

Anonymous said...

leslie ate her apple sauce!
Dad

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful to you for keeping this blog. We're George's cousins and we've been checking every day to see how Leslie is doing. We keep her in our prayers, and have added her to our church's prayer list. I know she's going to get better, she has so many people giving her so much love.

Debbie and Jamie Townes

Anonymous said...

Laura, I have been reading your blog since this weekend when I found out what happened to Leslie. I went to Wayne State library school with her and we carpooled together. I haven't seen her in a while and had been hoping to plan a dinner or something soon. I am shocked and saddened about what happened, but your blog has been very positive and hopeful. Please let her know that I am thinking of her and hoping that we can see each other soon!! All my love, Leah Sharlow

Anonymous said...

So glad to read this!
Erica

Anonymous said...

Laura, I have all of you in my heart and prayers! I smiled when I read she ate her applesauce! Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad she had a good day! Thank you for keeping us posted on her recovery. She is a very special person and you are a very incredible sister. My husband and I think and pray for her every day. Janette Zapinski

Deb Theisen said...

Let me start by saying you are an amazing sister!! How you have the time to keep us all up to date I will never know. Leslie's friends appreciate it more than you know. I became friends with Leslie from substituting in her building. She taught my children computers as well. I am sending a box of cards her previous computer students made this week in my class. Leslie may not be able to read them yet, but you can at least get a feel for how much her students love her!

Tom said...

Laura,
I wish I had you around five years ago when my sister had heart failure and a brain injury! I had to learn every thing through research and reading. I pray for the best for Leslie but know that she, and all of you, have a difficult road ahead. Big hugs to all of you.
Tom Harvan
(I used to work with Jerry.)

Tom said...

With her magnesium and potassium levels low, have you considered celiacs? It can cause malabsorption. If this were the case her iron would be low also.
Tom Harvan

Anonymous said...

Laura, I am very happy to hear things are going better. Don't short change yourself. Leslie isn't the only person being incredibly strong...so are you!