Update on my Aunt...

Here is the latest as of last night...

My Aunt Loretta is on the Physical Therapy floor and working with speech and physical therapists. Two days ago she started therapy on walking. They worked with her using a walker. One person has to walk on her right because that is her weak side.

In fact, I heard from my cousin Lori that she currently does not have feeling in her right arm. We know that is disheartening to her. Before the day began (therapy), she wanted to know if they thought she would regain use in her arm.

The prognosis is this: For some reason, the arm is usually the last to regain functionality when a stroke impacts the entire side of a person's body. She currently has use of her right leg and can feel the touch in her face. However, nothing in the right arm. The nurse said that it may or may not come back. We'll just have to wait and see.

Yesterday they worked with her on her speech. She had a difficult time reciting the alphabet. Another thing they are working on is to ask "what this is" and "what does it do" in regards to objects. So, they are quizzing her (family members) during her off-times. This was something the staff requested.

Her speech is getting clearer, although it is still "broken." The family is doing shift work right now with her - breaking it up so that someone is always with her during the times she is out of therapy. And I'm told that she is working VERY hard in her therapy sessions...

It's amazing to think that a week ago tonight she was walking out of her job at Wal-Mart and collapsed. That on Saturday we were told she had had multiple strokes and was still bleeding in her brain and there was nothing the doctors could do. That was probably our darkest day.

But on Sunday the bleeding had stopped and she had moved to the Triage floor. And then now she is in Physical Therapy. We believe God spared her for something, and we can't wait to see what that is!

It's definitely going to be a long road. Prayers are being answered and will still be needed. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers...