Oh dear Deanna, Lots of prayers and good vibes for Maxine to have a positive outcome.

Janet

Deanna, major prayers for Maxine's full recovery.

My DM is 89 and she fell and broke her shoulder 2 yrs ago and then this past Sept broke her foot in an accident. It's amazing how complete and well they can still recover.

Nancy

Deanna, that's exactly what happened to my mother 14 years ago. I hope and pray that your MIL will have a good outcome.

Sue

Prayers and positive healing thought for Maxine. Keep us posted!

Alexa

(((HUGS)))

More strong prayers going out for your MIL.

Hugs for Maxine!! Maxine & all of your family will be in my prayers for a complete & speedy recovery.

/tricia

Prayers for your MIL AND for you.
Sherry

Prayers going out for Maxine right now from Lakeland

Thank you all.
She's more awake today. Still very, very confused.
Things aren't "connecting" very well.
I know it's still very early and we are hopeful.
She does know everyone and is able to follow some basic commands/requests and recognize 'jokes'.
She was able to eat a little applesauce today and some ice chips.

However...she told a nurse, when asked what town she lives in during an evaluation, that she lives in "Comcast"...her cable TV company. So, there are definite disconnects in there.

She may be able to leave ICU tomorrow and move to the Neuro floor. The Dr. expects her to be in the hospital for a week, maybe two.

I'm going to get some sleep.

Deanna

Maxine and all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that tomorrow will bring more good news.

Lee

Hugs and positive healing thoughts headed in Maxine's direction. Hugs to you and hubby too.
E

Aw poor thing. Hope she has a complete recovery.

Hugs sent to you and your family.

Thinking of you and your MIL Deanna. Hang in there.
Lpink

Sending healing thoughts for Maxine.

How sad. I will remember your MIL and your family in my prayers. I hope she will have a speedy and full recovery.

I do know that Maxine is a strong name! Prayers for recovery are sent her way and prayers of support are sent to Deanna.

Cathy

Hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery for Maxine and the strength to stand strong beside her for her family and friends.

Prayer and healing thoughts heading to your Mom Deanna. I sure hope things get better with time. I went through a simular thing with my Dad last year. Scary for sure!!

David

We made it to the Neuro floor!
OK'd for some soft foods.
Mom's too tired to eat right now, but she got in 2-3 bites of mashed potatoes and gravy (one of her favorites!).
Thanks for all the prayers...........they're working!
Deanna

Deanna, I just saw this tonight and you know that Maxine is in my prayers for a quick and complete recovery.

Hugs to you all.

Annie

I haven't had time at the computer, so I didn't see this till this morning. My prayers will be with Maxine.

Sometimes when I've watched too much t.v., I could probably claim I lived in Comcast, or Time Warner, in my case! lol.

Sally

I'm watching for updates. One day at a time!

My prayers are with you and your family...

I just wanted to post an update. It's been quite a roller coaster ride.
Early Tuesday morning mom had several seizures. Back into the ICU. She was pretty much unresponsive, sleeping all of Tuesday and Wednesday....and developed pneumonia.

Yesterday, they moved her back to the Neuro floor.
When we saw her in the evening, she was trying to open her eyes and talk.......and get out of bed. They seem to have the seizures under control (3 different meds to prevent them) and are pumping in antibiotics for the pneumonia.

She wants to get up to pee! Refusing to "wet the bed" and not lucid enough to really understand that she has a diaper on (catheter removed to prevent infection). She just wants to get up.

She knows who she is and when she was born, but not the current year or WHERE she is.

DH and his sister will probably be facing the decision whether or not to put in a feeding tube tomorrow. She has to get some nutrition! But, her wishes are to NOT be kept alive by machine. So, is tube feeding "being kept alive" or a temporary help?

For anyone who has strong feelings about what should or should not be done if they can't speak for themselves, please write something down and be specific! It's hard on the families having to make step-by-step decisions.
Trying to sort out what is or isn't "life sustaining" sucks at a time like this.

Thank you all for the prayers and keep them coming please.
This is going to be a long, long road.

Deanna

Aw Deanna I feel so bad for you guys to have to make this awful decision.

I keep thinking of the Terri Schiavo case; in which they considered the feeding tube a life-prolonging measure. So there's the answer to the question is tube feeding "being kept alive". BUT...... as to whether this is a temporary fix, can the doctors give you any input?

Very sorry honey....... good thoughts sent to you and your family.

Awwwww Deanna I'm sending a hug. Try posting on the Care-givers forum, lots of really good folk over there (sushipup and jkom51, for example).

And Easter is right around the corner!

Oh Deanna, what a decision. Dad didn't want to be kept "alive on machines" either, but he temporarily had a ventilator after one surgery, because the doctors assured me that it would "most likely" be temporary and so I had no problem giving my blessing.

Elery's Mom was on the other end of the spectrum. She had Alzheimer's and didn't even know that she was in this world, although she was physically strong. There was no comprehension of her surroundings at all and she didn't try to get up, etc., just laid in bed staring at the ceiling. Elery was opposed to a feeding tube but his sister and his father said they couldn't just let her "starve to death". Over his wishes the feeding tube was inserted. His mother lived 7 years after that, never even knowing she was alive. His sister told him after the first couple of years that she wished they had not done it, although his Dad still insists he could not have done anything differently.

Sigh. If Mom is aware of who she is, and can communicate at all, and if the doctors say there is a decent chance that she will recover, I'd say that the feeding tube is temporary help. If not, then that's a decision only the family can make.

I wish I could be more help, but I think it's all dependent on what the doctors say the prognosis is. In the meantime, I'll be praying hard....

Annie

I agree with Annie. Your MIL is not brain dead like Terry Shaivo was. "Help" that might aide in recovery that could come is different than a procedure that keeps a basically brain dead person who is not conscious alive. But this may be a harbinger of more serious decisions so I understand what you're feeling. As you mentioned, a lot depends on what the doctors can tell you about her prognosis. Hang in there and lets all pray hard for Maxine to pull through these setbacks.

Still offering my heartfelt sympathies and prayers. I definitelyl didn't mean Deanna's mom was just like Terri Schiavo.

I'm certain Deanna knows this.

I don't envy your poor DH & his sister. I have to agree with Annie, prolonging her life at this point while she can communicate is probably what will have to be done, but hopefully the doctors can guide you.
Hugs,
E

I'm just seeing this Deanna. I'm so sorry for all that your MIL has been through. Bringing back memories for me. I hope that your DH and SIL remain strong and remember what your MIL wants. For me a feeding tube is not life sustaning measures.

Some great advice from the other posters. Hugs to you and your family! I will be sending good thoughts.

Shaun, certainly no offense taken! No worries!
(I'm pretty sure I'm too tired to be offended even IF I wanted to be.....and I don't. smile)

MIL is definitely communicating. She's pissed.
She does NOT want to pee the bed.
Last night I had to tell her she couldn't get up yet and she said "What the He!! am I supposed to do?" Made me laugh! THAT'S "Mom" in there!! Although, normally she wouldn't use the expletive....ever. We know she's mad and confused.

SIL did OK the tube today. She has Power of Attorney so has the true, final "say-so", but DH has been party to all the decisions and they are supporting each other.

BIL & I are doing our best to prop them up.

Annie, I can relate a little to what you said. My aunt has ALZ and wasn't really 'there' at Christmas time. She is still able to eat and walk around now, but it's not going to get any better. I sure don't envy my cousins (who aren't agreeing about her care right now).

Lpink: Yes, the thought of the decisions that 'might' be in the future are awful. Each step forward or back requires a new set of decisions, just when they're too exhausted to even think.

Thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers!
Just knowing all the prayers being sent up is comforting.

Heading up to see her now.

Deanna

Oh sorry Shaun I didn't mean to imply that you were comparing them either. I only used her name as an example because her case got so much press, which broke my heart for her family going through such a horrific situation. These things are so difficult but hopefully you can find some resolution soon. And hopefully your family can find ways to love and comfort one another, since I know you are all struggling to do what's best for the one you love. No set of responsibilities could be more heartbreaking. Here's hoping she starts to heal and get better.

lpink, it's ok honey. It's all good. Just hoping the power of prayer will help Deannas mom get thru this.

They put a feeding tube through her nose yesterday. She got in about half a bottle of "nutrition", then yanked it out early this morning. Sheesh!
But, the good news is that the therapist came in and she can swallow some soft foods pretty well/safely.
Some pudding and juice earlier and planning for mashed potatoes and gravy this afternoon!
They're not planning to put the tube back in at this point, but will have to see if she can take in enough calories by mouth to maintain her health and healing.

Definitely more coherent today (read....bossy! LOL).
She wants to rearrange the room and asks for ice chips....repeatedly! Those would be normal things if she were at home, so good news!

Keep praying..........we still need lots of intervention.
Thanks,
Deanna