Hi Guys, Last week (14 Dec.) DD phoned me about 9:30 PM (EST) saying that the paramedics had just taken Steven (my DSonIL) to the Emergency. She tried to get him in the car to take him to hospital but he was throwing up, screaming in pain, fighting her physically, etc. He was coherent and would answer questions properly but NOT physically well. She phoned my from the Emergency room about 2 hrs. later to tell me that the Neurologist had said that he did NOT have another stroke -- there was NO neurological damage of any kind. He was still physically fighting with everyone and kept trying to get off the bed so they had to restrain him. It took FIVE people (they had to call Security to get men big enough) to keep him still enough for the nurse to insert an IV needle so that they could give him a sedative. The next call was at 2:30 AM to tell me that they had done a CAT scan, EKG and a bunch of other tests. The results showed that he had experienced a seizure -- something the Dr. had told them to expect after he had the stroke 6 years ago. He had answered questions (name, who DD was, etc.) so they knew he wasn't too bad. He was still restrained and just waiting for a room to go to. The final call was at 5:30 AM to tell me that he had finally been transferred to ICU. This is standard procedure when the patient needs to be restrained and would have been done for at least 24 hrs. because DSIL had had the stroke. That afternoon the Dr. had said that DSIL would need to go to the rehab hospital because he wasn't walking well at all, even with a walker. Steven told the Dr. that he was NOT going to rehab and he had to go to Atlanta on 23 Dec. so the Dr, better decide what he (steven) needed to do to be ready to travel!! On Thursday 17 Dec. Steven was transferred to a regular room and saw the Dr. who specializes in rehab. The Dr. didn't think Steven had suffered any sort of physical injury from the seizure, he was just very weak and was having trouble walking because he had been in bed with restraints for almost three days! The Dr. then transferred Steven to a room in the hospital's special rehab area and told him they would keep him until today and he could then travel to Atlanta tomorrow. The ration of patients to nurses in this area of the hospital is 4 to 1 so he is getting great care. He has been working his butt of for the last week and the nurses will take him on a little outing this morning to see how he does walking around on the sidewalk, in the parking lot, etc. He has readily agreed to use a wheelchair in both airports. He realizes that he doesn't have much stamina and the walk from the plane to baggage claim is REALLY long! This time last week I was ready to start taking down the Christmas decorations!! We were certain the Dr. wouldn't let Steven travel and I was devastated at the thought of not being with DD, DSil & the SMDGD for Christmas :-((. I haven't prayed so much since he had his stroke 6 years ago. I did my best not to get depressed and not to blame DD's EMIL for guilting poor Steven out, etc. I started to do my holiday baking and sure enough, DD phoned me that afternoon (Friday) to tell me that the Dr. had said Steven could travel. So, I am finally having a great holiday and am ever so thankful for the wonderful, well .... EVERYTHING that I have. I am having trouble keeping my excitement contained because by this time tomorrow, we will be on our way to the airport to meet "the kids" :-). This looks like it is going to be one of the BEST Christmases ever. hope everyone has as good a holiday season as I am having :-))). CiaoMeow >^;;^<
PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at