Chapter II: Time for Recovery

It turned out Barb’s stroke was significant, affecting the right side of her body and her speech. The year 2007 would be one of recovery for her and the Knutson family.

Wow! When we reached the end of Day 10, we realized we had so much to be thankful for and a ton of progress had been made. It was crystal clear that the Barb we knew and loved was still with us. She was even rehabbing herself. Every day she worked hard and used various techniques with her strong left side to strengthen the right.

Barb would be transferred on Jan. 2 to the rehab unit at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where she underwent physical, occupational and speech therapy for the entire month. She then would be ready to attack the problem by cleaning out her left carotid artery with a surgical procedure known as endarterectomy. That procedure involves the removal of part of the inner lining of an artery along with any obstructive deposits, most often carried out on the carotid artery or on vessels supplying the legs.

Following that surgery on Feb. 1, Barb headed home to start outpatient therapy and begin healing and rehabbing.

 

WINS

Once home, Barb’s status progressed from critical care to medical-surgical. As a sports-med physical therapist herself, Barb understood the value of therapy. She was tenacious and committed 100 percent to the effort, leaving her family confident she would walk and talk again.

We were truly blessed. Our support group was unbelievable with medical resources, friends and family. Barb’s medical profession relationships paid off. Additionally, we were fortunate to have comprehensive medical benefit coverage to get us through the financial side.

Speech Therapy – Two weeks into her speech therapy, Barb verbally expressed an emphatic “NO” with solid lip control and reasonable volume. It was huge to know there were wires in place to assist recovery on this side of the equation.

Further, we were then getting a better understanding of what “no” and “yes” meant to Barb. No was a stop gesture with the left hand. Yes was an enthusiastic and affirmative head nod. Soon, we came off our best speech therapy assessment with Barb making a good deal of cognitive progress through “active visualization” techniques.

Physical Therapy -- Most of Barb’s strength on the left side was restored with reasonable coordination. She was also able to catch and make throwing motions.

PT had indicated that the right side was coming back with improved voluntary movement (hip and shoulder) in both extremities. We were told that the leg would come back before the arm.

Barb at that point was guardedly standing with a walker, understanding a good center of balance and had a lot less “pusher syndrome” that favored her weaker right side.

Occupational Therapy – Barb was very comfortable executing basic day-to-day functions with her left side, such as eating, grooming, bathing, hygiene and bladder control.

TREATMENT

• We stand committed to “Treating the Problem.”
• Barb needs rest. That is some of the best therapy that she can have at this point in the recovery process.
• Manage the process and the people.
• Be patient -- this is a marathon not a sprint for the best recovery.

 

GOAL

• Barb’s independence and getting the Knutson household back to as normal as possible.
• Bruce - Eat healthy and exercise every day.
• “The Game Plan” we can deal with. This is a Bruce project in progress.
• Smell the roses along the way
• Remember we are in this together. You still have your best friend!

 

QUESTIONS

• How much TV is good? Barb seems to enjoy it and it is good quality time for us.
• Can we get quantitative information to better manage the process?
• Do I need a support group?