Updates - Mark's Mom and My Shoulder

Neita is doing pretty well, considering she had multiple mini strokes. We've been lucky that "the big one" the docs were predicting did not occur. They said the longer between episodes the better her chances of not having another one. Her left side was affected; she couldn't move her left leg, had trouble with the left arm, could speak three or four words after thinking hard about it, but has all her faculties.

The local hospital said she qualified for a swing bed there and they would do the physical therapy twice each day. Next thing we knew she was transferred to the adjoining nursing home for her therapy and was getting PT only once a day. Plus, she was now paying for this out of her own pocket.

Thank goodness for small towns - everyone knows everyone else. We heard from her physical therapist that she, nor the nursing staff, had been consulted, and they didn't agree with it. (BTW, her PT person is adopting a daughter from China.)

I reminded Mark that when my aunt had her stroke and was at Madonna Rehab, the doctor, nursing staff, physical therapy staff, social worker, and family were a team and met weekly to evaluate her progress and discuss options. None of us were happy about this turn of events for Neita. The brothers began seeking alternatives and found a rehab facility in Yankton, SD. This is close to Jack & Linda, plus Steve works in Yankton.

After a meeting with the sons and the doctor, the Creighton medical facility claimed there had been a "miscommunication" and would return her to the hospital side and get her back to twice-a-day therapy. Once the sons mentioned moving her to Yankton, suddenly the hospital couldn't do enough for Neita. By now we were impressed with the Yankton facility and the trust level at Creighton was gone, and Neita herself chose to transfer to Yankton.

And guess what happened at Yankton? The doctor, nursing staff, physical therapy staff, social worker, and family met as a team to evaluate Neita. Just as it should be! And they continue to meet each week. And her PT is at a higher level and really giving her a workout. The sons are very pleased. I'm hoping that the three weeks we lost at the Creighton facility, which was at a lower level, didn't mess with our window of opportunity for getting a stroke victim back in shape.
I'm no longer going to PT twice a week for my shoulder. My therapist felt I could do my exercises at home and should continue to see progress but if not, then I'm to see an orthopaedic specialist. After a month on my own I'm not getting any better and after consulting with the workman's comp people for the City, I will be seeing an orthopaedic surgeon in early October.