Progress on the Rehabilitation Floor...

Denise has been on the rehabilitation floor at Broward Health North for the last week and half.  She endures at least 3 hours of rehabilitation a day including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.  

Doctors have identified that she suffered a large stroke that caused a large bleed in her brain.

She has common post stroke issues including extreme weakness of the left side. She has very slight wiggles of her left hand and can push with very little resistance with her left foot.  Doctors are still optimistic and remind us constantly that her left side will take quite some time. 

Mentally, she comprehends what happened and what her current disabilities are which frustrates her a lot.  She doesn't understand why this happened especially after being extremely active and eating ice cream only "once" a week. :)

She talks well and has a good range of motion on her right side. Therapy is teaching her to compensate for her left side by strengthening her right side more and more each day.  During therapy they stand her up (with major help) which allows her to feel gravity and helps her build trunk control.

Denise says this is the hardest thing she has ever had to do.  She has weak days where she feels it is impossible and others where she is encouraged by everyone's support.  

She is currently in room 414 at Broward Health North if anyone would like to visit. Denise smiles at EVERY message and marvels at the support from around the world. 

Our current prayer requests:
       1. We pray that God restores Denise's left side as soon as possible.
       2. We pray that God gives Denise a sense of peace and willpower to push through the difficult times.
       3. We pray that God allows her to stay on the rehabilitation floor as long as possible.  Insurance limits length of stay and we are praying that she can stay to their maximum limit.

I asked Mom what her favorite Bible verse was and she said "Lord Help Me!" and "Get Me Out of Here!"  She clearly still has a great sense of humor.

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." 
Isaiah 40:31

She got a HAIRCUT!!! Shortest it has been since 1981 when she went to college.