As many of you may know, Ericka Megan (my Erica's aunt)recently experienced a serious brain surgery this past Wednesday. The information that the family and friends received yesterday from the neurologist was that Ericka would not be the Ericka that we had known. Here is the article that was posted yesterday on her Caring Bridge page:
We wanted to share this information with you now that we have had some time to deal with it ourselves.
We met with the neurologist this morning who has given us a grave, best case scenario for Ericka. Simply, he anticipates that she will wake up but she will have severe speech problems and be unable to piece sentences together; she will have minimal use of her right side (worst case, she could be paralyzed on the right side).
From ICU, she will go to intermediate care, then to a neurological rehab hospital, then to long term care. If she does go home, she will need 24-hour nursing care.
Not the story we wanted...we will certainly look for and hope for miracles, but we all need realistic expectations.
Family is here for Perry and me. Ty's parents are here -- he is broken-hearted.
We are keeping our waiting room vigilance...
Many of the cousins have asked: 'how can he know for sure at this stage?' Or, they have suggested that we get a second opinion.
Please know that this was the doctor's medical assessment based on his experience with many, many of these. But we do not know really what will happen. All along we have looked for every sign of improvement -- holding onto hope -- We know that there are miracles; we know that Ericka has a say in this...
She is very much alive. She will be assessed again and again. She will go to rehab. We absolutely do not know how this story will play out.
She will be a different Ericka. We will not get the old Ericka back. I think that is the message that Dr. Camp would want us to hold onto.
It is a new story. We are not writing the end of it, at all.
Please continue to keep Ericka in your prayers. She needs to find that kernel of defiance to work on her story from the inside out. We are here for her, and cherish the ways you have given us strength.
This morning, the family posted this update:
Good morning, Ericka's army. That's how I feel about all of you. You are strong, eloquent, funny, precious friends. You have lifted our spirits and focused our spirituality. You have reminded us that miracles happen, that God has a strong hand in this, and that Ericka is spunky, strong, sassy, feisty...a major player on this team. Thank you.
Yesterday was difficult. Today we are starting on the next phase of figuring out what is best for Ericka.
To your offers to help, we ask that you guide us in our research today. Please share with us your information, contacts, resources or research on any of the following:
* "hemorrhagic stroke" -- medical references and research so we can best understand what happened to Ericka
* stroke recovery -- the best centers (anywhere) for speech, comprehension, and right side motor skill rehab; top clinicians we should contact for other opinions and options
* alternative and additional treatments to consider: homeopathy, acupuncture, nutrition, others
We think these are the right questions to start with. If you think there are others, please list them -- and provide the answers, if you have them.
Ericka is beautiful. Her head bandage is gone so you can see her scar. It is not 3" long. It is a 9-10" long in the shape of a big question mark; as her hair grows out, you will scarcely be able to see it. About 1/3 of her head was shaved; it is covered in 'peach fuzz' now that it is growing out. The swelling in her face is gone.
Her sedative is continued to be lower so she is more and more alert. Last night her left eye was fairly open -- she smirked (on the left side of her mouth) when Perry cracked some silly dad joke. This morning, both eyes are a bit open.
Many of you have shared anecdotes and witness statements of friends and family members who have received the same dire reports that Ericka got and yet found great recovery over time with much hard work, prayer, support...great expectations for us all.
Here is what I am asking: first, please continue to pray. Second, if you have any information regarding the aforementioned research (the questions that other family members have asked about the condition or stroke rehab facilities) please forward that information to me via email at acts242@hotmail.com and I will see that the other family members get that info.
Thank you for your prayers and faithfulness.
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1 comment:
Praying now!
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