Monday September 11
For us, this past month has been rather emotional and cruel, especially when you consider all the natural disasters and some current events (and 9/11, of course). But, Stephanie has no recollection of any of it. She has no memory of her devastating accident. No memory of her two brain surgeries. No memory of being in the ICU. (She's asked for evidence and can hardly believe that the few pictures we have from the ICU are of her.) She has only vague memories of being in the hospital and the room she was moved to from the ICU. No wonder she doesn't fully understand why she's in an inpatient rehab and needs to stay there a bit longer, especially since she's rather 'with' it. She still has to wear her helmet when out of bed, but she is able to do most of her normal living tasks on her own (e.g., brush her teeth & hair, get dressed, tie her shoes, walk around). She rocks her PT sessions and is loving the 'workout' they provide. She was given the ok to eat and drink what she wants. She and Dennis can go for walks outside on their own. They eat their fave take-out. Play games. Watch TV. Laugh. Check Facebook. Talk about the day. Talk about the future. Talk about the past. She's still a bit confused and tires more quickly than before, but all in all, Steph is making an amazing recovery.
Her current diagnosis is "mild expressive aphasia." This is a language disorder that is most common with people who have suffered from a stroke. There are different types of aphasia, and it's not clear to me which one Steph has. I'm also not sure that the different varieties are always clearly distinct. But based on our interactions with Steph, she seems able to understand most spoken and written language. (In case you're reading this, hi Steph!) She can process information and think logically. Her struggle is in expressing those thoughts. While her speech is relatively fluent, she tends to mix up & make up words. In some ways it reminds me of working with adult second language learners who are clearly smart and have years of life/work experience, but who are still learning to express themselves in the new language. The topic/main idea is generally clear, but the rest needs a little decoding/guess work. For this, she will continue to work with speech language therapists.
Steph is hoping to get out of the inpatient rehab very soon. That will be up to the doctors. When she does get out, the next step will likely be an outpatient TBI program, where she'll get to be home in the evenings and nights and spend the days in individual and group therapy sessions of all kinds.
There are no words that can express the range of emotions we've all felt this past month. Steph and Dennis still have a long road of uncertainty. But, as we mark a month since the devastating accident, I (we) feel a deep sense of hope and gratitude for Steph's recovery.
Thank you all for your ongoing support, healing thoughts, and prayers. Go Steph Go! You are one truly amazing woman!
https://www.gofundme.com/gostephgo
Comments (12)
Steph we continue to think about you non stop and know that if anyone can power through challenge it's you. Sending you and Den love, prayers, and strength. Xo L&M
Hey Stephanie and Dennis, I've been holding off posting but I have been praying for you every single night. I was the girl there with you holding your hand at the scene of the accident and you haven't left my mind since. As a Scripps nurse (ironically) I pray for your personal strides big or small. It's crazy how life can change in a second ❤️ -Kayla
I think about you daily and I'm so happy to read this update. Keep fighting and pushing yourself like you do with your own patients. You will make it! I just know it. John continues to fight for recovery and misses your encouraging support with PT. Go Steph Go!!! Jo Willson
Wonderful news. Amazing recovery. Continuing to send healing energy your way. Sending lots of healing energy to family and friends who remain at Stephanie's side.
So wonderful to hear how well she is doing. It's still a long road but it sounds like her spirit will triumph in the end. Someday this will be just a challenging period that seems like a bad dream. But also a good dream remembering all the amazing people helping her. Go Steph.
So happy to hear how well you are progressing, Steph! You are an inspiration. Keep up the good work! Much love.
As you said, Leanne,, with all the hard things in the news this past month it is so good to see these posts of amazing recovery!! Our prayer is for complete healing for Steph, and for those family and friends suffering from hurricane Harvey and Irma loss and damage that we would see just as amazing recovery in the weeks ahead!! Love and blessings!!!!
Hi Steph, It's Marianne, your neuroscience professor from the IHP. We here are all closely watching your progress and cheering you on from afar. Our hearts are with you 100% as you rise to this challenge. I am sure you are having some frustrating moments and days so I just want to take this chance to remind you of some of the things you know from PT school, not that you've forgotten them :-). And now that I know you are able to read some, I am going to write this directly to you. Remember that 4 weeks into any brain injury is just the VERY VERY beginning of the healing process. You are doing AMAZINGLY well and this bodes so very well for further recovery. Remember your brain is an amazing organ and it will rewire itself as you work through all your therapies. Remember that the healing and neuroplasticity (I had to throw that word in there!) will go on for months and months and beyond. So please be patient with yourself. All of the horrible circumstances considered, you are in a great place and have every reason to be optimistic. Very best regards, Marianne and the IHP Go Steph Go team here in Boston
Amazing Steph! Leeanne you too have been a miracle with your calm, loving and informative details of Stephanie journey. You have kept us all so well informed of Stephanie's recovery. You are a rock. Love to you and your darling family(yes Tom too, he's a darling😊) Tisha
I am amazed at her progress and grateful, Leanne, that you have expressed so well what is going on. We will hope and pray for complete recovery.
Not surprised at all to hear of your good progress, Steph! You're one who meets a challenge head on. Like Marianne said, all your hard work will pay off, you just have to be patient with yourself. I know it's frustrating at times, but you know your brain needs time to heal and reorganize itself. Keep at it - especially the hard, frustrating, annoyng stuff! If you don't like it, then it probably means you need to be working on it, right? (: I am so happy to hear of your progress, and that you get to go home soon!!
Leanne - thank you for the update, I love reading the progress reports. Steph & Dennis - keep kicking ass and taking names! I'm happy you guys can go on walks & eat takeout (from anywhere & not the hospital!). Sending good vibes on future recovery measures. :)