Rehabilitation begins...

Denise has been off the vent for 2 days! Today was her first day sitting in a chair. Hallelujah!

She still has no movement on the left side but moves the right side pretty freely.

Yesterday, she was mouthing words and today she is somewhat grunting. The staff thinks she should start talking within the next few days!

She is going through intense occupational and physical therapy every day. Everything is extremely weak -- most importantly her neck. She needs to strengthen her neck muscles and hold it freely. The rest of her body will follow.

THE BEST NEWS OF THE DAY: She should be transferred to the neurological step down unit at Broward Health North (BHN) in the next few days!!!! Which indicates she is stable enough to leave the ICU and once she is transferred everyone can start visiting!  {I will let everyone know when that time comes for open visitation :)}

Denise will most likely be in the neurological step down unit for a week or two and then go to the inpatient rehabilitation unit at BHN. 

Once she can walk we will take her down to the University of Miami to see their hematologists to balance the blood clots and bleeding issue. This will be an outpatient experience - she will not be admitted.

She still has clots in both arms but the swelling has significantly reduced! She is on a half dose of lovenox (blood thinner) right now that is acting as more of a blood clot preventer than actual thinner with the dose being so small.  They are gradually increasing the blood thinner while closely monitoring the brain bleed with CT Scans to make sure it does not start bleeding again.

Prayer requests: 
1. that Denise does not produce additional blood clots and that her current clots do not move
2. that she would remain patient and not too frustrated during this rebuilding, recovering and rehabbing phase
3. that Denise's left side would start to respond and move just as freely as the right
4. that the doctors at UM will have a solution to her bleeding/blockage/protein S deficiency issue

"From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is Higher than I." Psalm 61:2

Denise sitting with Caroline (daughter).