One day shy of 6 months from the date of Mr.’s stroke we met our goal of bringing him back home in time for his birthday and Christmas. I didn’t have time to do any shopping for gifts, but dang, this gal was motivated to get him home, and 🎉🙌🏻🎁 we did just that!
The care team at the nursing home sang their victory and a happy birthday songs, and he did the parade wave in the hallways and fist-bumped his way out the front door as they cheered and played the Rocky theme song. Yes, tears of joy were shed as well.
WE DID IT, he’s home!
We (I) had to learn to transfer him safely from surface to surface. We use the handi-dandy Etac Turner Pro. Despite having left paralysis, there’s enough muscle activation in his left leg and strength in his right arm to pull himself up and stand while I spin him from surface to surface.
His “room for now” is cozy. The whole experience of stroke recovery is a matter of accepting life as it is “for now.”
I said, “To heck with going full-on with Christmas decorations, presents under the tree, or all the ‘stuff’ I normally do year after year. This year is different.”
This year, the holiday season is simple by being over-the-top blessed by determination and perseverance. Mr. arrived back home the same day his hospital bed was delivered (due to insurance, the two have to happen at the same time).
The discharging doctor at the nursing home commented and flashed in my mind, “You won’t know how many people were here doing things for you until it’s just the two of you at home.”
Uh…YEP! Got that right!
Thankfully, our daughters were here to help us acclimate him to the house and the space. It was fun (in a different way) to explore what works and what doesn’t and to be grateful that the bed moves easily around to give him different views! And, we’re adjusting together learning what the NOC shift had done for him that I wasn’t aware of.
He’s grateful that he can look outside and see his yard, bird feeders, and HOME SWEET HOME – “there’s no place like home”. The quietness and smells and noises of home bring him a sense of peace.
Looking at this picture below, I shudder thinking about what the last 6 months have entailed. Whew…baby, it’s been a lot. On the other side of his head is the scar of 57 staples from the craniotomy that saved his life.
The cats missed him so much. And he missed them too.
And…we’re together and ready for the next phase of his recovery process.
We coddiwompled our way to this point. “Coddiwomple” was my word for 2024 and I hated how it seemed to take us on this life-changing path. His hemorrhagic stroke that pushed his brain to one side was a doozy to recover from!
Together we’ve been doing the whole coddiwomple thing. Just a week before coming home, Mr. was sent to the ER for a surprise seizure that scared us all. Great…another thing to worry about. “Does this change your choice of discharge date?”
“Nope…we’re going home, we can do this, he proved it in the trial run!”
Anyhoo…this whole last half of 2024 made us stronger, we love deeper, and we are so grateful beyond words for the miracles we’ve witnessed. The care staff in all the settings, from CCU, Neuro, Swing-Bed, and 4 months in a Nursing/Therapy Home taught us and cared so much. We shed tears as we hugged them all goodbye reminiscing of each stage of the process progress.
It’s a lot to process in retrospect. Looking at the now and going forward what matters now is, Mr. is HOME! Home health services will begin next week and PT/OT/ST therapy will continue.
Merry Christmas dear blogging buddies. Thank you for all your well wishes and words of wisdom and encouragement. May your presence with loved ones be the best present you celebrate!
Despite the difficult journey, one of your best Christmas presents ever. Stay strong, Shelley.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful photos of Mr and your daughters, Shelley, such a beautiful family! Happy Birthday, Mr! Have a wonderful Christmas, guys. 🙏🏻❤️😊
I am so glad to read this news, Shelley! I love how you have worked as a family to make his return possible (in addition to all the work at the hospital/rehab and not to mention how much work he’s done to get to this point). This must be a wonderful Christmas present.
You can rest assured that we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. 2025 will be a better year, and I hope it starts getting better on Day-1.
Merry Christmas!
I’m so glad to see and read your post Shelley! Mr. looks good and your pictures and text convey how much he is loved and cared for. Isn’t it something how much more important our home is when one of us has been absent. This is a great gift for you all at the right time. But you’re well aware of that. I wish for you the most merry Christmas!
I barely have words to describe my happiness reading your post, Shelley. I miss your cheerful posts and our back and forth comments. I’m so happy to see the photos of your home and family. God bless you all as you face this normal together. Mr will continue his recovery quicker I believe by being able to see out that window in his domain! And happy birthday to him. God’s timing is perfect. Your home looks lovely and festive, my friend. Merry Christmas 🎄✨️ and continued blessing in the new year!
I’m so happy for you all that Mr. is home now, looking out at his own yard. I hope you are sleeping better now that he’s back. I’m sure he is without the noise and interruptions of a nursing home environment. It will be a lot of work, but it’s the work of love. Make sure you accept as much of the help that will be offered as you can. You’re going to need support and breaks. He will need that too.