Jane’s Stroke Blog

One week after Number 2 injection

August 3rd, 2007

Now we have something to talk about concerning improvements. Still no significant lifting of the arm or legs but we do get reports from the therapists that they feel some strength in them. But only a little. So we are encouraged to see what she will get back with the third injection next week, maybe on Tuesday. The doctors think that her arms moving when yawning indicates that with stem cells moving to the area of the brain for the arm movement, she may see more movement soon. I think thay are going to infuse stem cells to the muscles of the right arm but do not know for sure. They will tell us next week. They think she has more feeling in her right arm and a little in the hand. Jane was sitting in the room chair when they came in and I think they were pleasantly suprised and encouraged. We have been putting her in the WingBack every day this week at the urging of the therapists and the Message doctor. She sits in the chair for about 30 to 45 minutes and then back to bed to rest.

Each day, after therapy in the am and pm, Jane wants to go for a stroll. This is a change for before she may have wanted to but did not indicate it and now she is telling us she wants to. She also has been initiating a little more conversation. and her voice is a little louder. She still has to find the right words but that has not stopped her talking as before.

Jane’s left leg is moving a little from the knee down but only a little and tires fast. But this was not happening before. She has been weakened lately by not eating much during each meal. So her protein level has dropped to very low and may account for the weakness we all see. So we put her on Protein mix two times each day. Started this yesterday so we will not see much improvement in her energy levels for a few more days, but I think she will improve her energy.

Jane and I and our helper spent 3 hours shopping at the Pearl market on Last Sunday. We had to take the hospital wheelchair in order to ride in a taxi to the Pearl market. Her wheelchair from home will not fit into a taki because it does not fold up. A van to rent is too much. The wheelchair did not have enough bottom or back support so she slumpped in it and had a lot of trouble keeping her head up. So we still need to work on her back and neck muscles. I hope to have her stand from the chair before we go home. If she has the energy, they say she will. To go home with that happening will encourage her a lot.

This Sunday we will use a better wheelchair and see how she does with a visit to The Forbidden City for 3 hours. The doctors were encouraged that she did so well at the Pearl Market. So maybe we are making progress. Her sleep is better and her stomach problem has deminished greatly.

All for now, looking for more to come in the next two weeks.

Jake and Jane

Entry Filed under: stroke