An Update

An update about my mom's status has not really been forthcoming for a couple of reasons. First, she authorized the sharing of her situation with this post. Beyond that, the details about her recovery are her story more so than mine. Second, her status is evolving, and we seem to learn a critical new detail each week, meaning just when we think we have a handle on the situation it changes.

She is almost eight weeks post-operative. Since she has shared the following details with her family, friends and church, we can talk about it a little here. A successful repair of the ascending aortic aneurysm was completed on 6-25-14. Although she was alert and attempting communication following the surgery and throughout the rest of that day, on 06-26-14, the following day, she was asleep, not alert and uncommunicative. She remained asleep for the next three days. When she did wake, she was less oriented than she had been immediately following the surgery. We ambushed her surgeon during his 6am rounds and were told her coma-like status was attributable to anesthesia. We were skeptical of that explanation because of her alertness following surgery. During this time, we learned the details of the procedure, and we realized that not only had we not been told what to anticipate but that we also were not getting an accurate assessment of her status. During our discharge consult with the surgeon, I had a few questions, and he preemptively rolled his eyes and yelled, "SHE DID NOT HAVE A STROKE! I AM TIRED OF EVERYONE ASKING ME THAT!"*

Two weeks later an MRI of the brain would reveal that a stroke occurred "during surgery". Based on her level of alertness immediately following the 3.5 hour procedure, she likely had the stroke overnight, either late on 06-25-14 or early on 06-26-14. We have not seen the surgeon since discharge because he declined to enter her examination room at her surgical discharge appointment, opting to have a physician's assistant cover the appointment instead. At a recent appointment, her neurologist casually reviewed her history and referred to her "strokes". When I asked about the plural form of the word, he said she had had "a few". When I asked him to quantify "a few," he said, "A few. More than two. Less than a hundred. I don't know. A few. Impossible to say."

Her diagnosis is bilateral thalamic strokes secondary to ascending aortic aneurysm repair via hypothermic circulatory arrest. The thalamus is like a junction box for the brain, collecting signals and relaying information. The thalamus also regulates sleep, and injury to the thalamus results in permanent coma - thus the four days of sleep following surgery. Currently, there are cognitive deficits to overcome, and we are dealing with extreme hypersomnia and apathy, both of which are hurdles to overcome in terms of rehabilitation efforts. Rehab consists of two physical therapy visits (because physically there are few issues... we are dealing more with executive function), occupational therapy and speech therapy, the latter being our primary focus. There are numerous indications of high functioning activity, and we are optimistic that we will see a good outcome. Recovery takes time more than anything else.

My mom has been showered with cards, calls, visits and, most importantly, prayer. We are so grateful for the love that has been shown to her and our entire family during this time. We are immensely thankful for her surgery and outcome. There are complications, but we continue to recognize what a miracle it was that her condition was operable, and we are fascinated by the human body (and in awe of its Creator) and its ability to heal and recover.