My son called me around noon when loading the truck from Costco and appointments after, Grandma Walker had been admitted to the hospital yesterday for a 'minor' stroke even though her health has been outstanding.
During tests they found both carotid arteries were blocked badly so they tried a femoral entry for a stint - and it went downhill from there. She was so braydcardic they had to shock her, now this totally healthy woman on Wednesday is in CICU and they have been trying to stabilize her since this morning which has been up and down hourly.

Grandma (everyone in five generations calls her "Grandma") never ever wanted this to happen: she always wanted to just pass in her sleep from old age with no fanfare. Granted she is 2 weeks from her 97th birthday but you'd never know it, no hearing or vision or thought process imparement, no aches, limited movement...she still travels all around the world twice a year!

Not sure what is harder - seeing my son hurting watching his beloved Grandma in such pain or not knowing if the phone will ring any minute to let me know we need to make arrangements for flights to NC. My son has been the apple of her and God rest his soul, Grandpa Walker's eye since he was born. Out of 17 great grandkids he was the carrier of the family name; first of five living generations born, male to carry the name and born a tar-heel baby to boot. They never spoiled him too badly though he has very fond memories of him and Grandpa giving Grandma a good teasing while she made her special once a month only Sundae's for the both of them.

I know, I'm rambling. It just hurts and is hard to be home though we are taking shifts so to speak. Its been hard to concentrate on anything since noon and I doubt that will change much over the next few days at least.

While there were a few things we were going to do next week I rather doubt we can make it. Very sorry about that but family is a greater priority at this time.

Thank You,
Amy
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UPDATE 7/4:

After sitting the doctors down on Sunday, we got them to look at the patient, not the chart. No easy task sometimes.

Grandma leveled out just fine once they took her off blood thinners and blood pressure medication - which we knew she would. This morning they felt she was able to tolerate a stint being placed in the right carotid and that went well though my son called about an hour ago, with the increased blood supply she has not been used to her brain is swelling a bit too much
We were really hoping they would just let her go home, as she told them as much almost hourly, when she got stable. Now we aren't sure again so its hourly phone calls and there is no way in hell we will allow for them to do any heart surgery (they want to 'fix' that "next") since she just wants to go home! We are all tired from just knowing she has had to endure all this...seeing her rebound and hope we could get her back to Sequim today, guess we are back to wait and see.

Everyone have a safe day and night, pig out and have fun for us

 

Sorry to hear Amy!!! my prayers are with her..

 

Sorry to hear that Amy! Our Thoughts and Prayers will be with you!

 

Same type of thing happened with my mom. She was the picture of health, did not smoke or drink, then she just got hammered with one thing after another in a VERY short period of time. I understand your concern and confusion over the issue. Know that you and your family will be in my prayers.

 

She sounds like a fighter (spunky/feisty), so ya just never know, she could walk outta there in a day or two back to normal. Stranger things have happened.

Regardless, she and your family are in my prayers hon.

 

Thanks all.

Grandma is of the mindset to get well enough to go home and leave it at that. We are hoping she will but they *still* haven't been able to stablize her and it sounds like her lungs are filling up...grandma Carol (her daughter) demanded an xray about 6AM to make sure she isn't getting pnumonia on top of all this. Haven't heard back what the outcome of that was. It seems like for all the tests they have run getting results is taking forever!

We've been told to wait this morning before going back but I'm heading out now anyway.

 

Very Very sorry to hear!! I watched my great grandmother die when I was 18 and I know how it effected me. Very best wishes for your family and a speedy recover for Grams.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with her and all your family Amy...

 

Truly sorry to hear it. My heartfelt prayers for you and yours, wife says she will add you all as well.


" She sounds like a fighter (spunky/feisty), so ya just never know, she could walk outta there in a day or two back to normal. Stranger things have happened."
+1

 

We are praying for a quick recovery and the fact that shes 97 says a lot about her, you just dont GET to 97 unless you have a lot on the ball. She does sound like a good fighter!

 

How's she doing now Amy, better I hope?

 

I tend to stay sort of quiet when things are helter skelter with family but updated my inital post.

You all have fun today and tonight