Hospital Day # 16 - 12/17/23 - The Vicious Pain Cycle + An Early Christmas Celebration

 

Hospital Day # 16 - 12/17/23 - The Vicious Pain Cycle + An Early Christmas Celebration

Brittney’s day was a bit different with me heading back to Hodgenville for church with the girls.  Her grandfather came up early to sit with her, followed by her parents, and finished with my return with our daughters in tow.  Although Brittney’s brain has stopped bleeding and the swelling isn’t increasing, most of the blood is still in her brain and some swelling remains.  The combination of blood and swelling makes hemorrhagic strokes called, “the worst headache of your life.”  

Brittney’s pain cycle looks like 1-2 hours of sleep (sometimes more) followed by 15-30 minutes of alertness (if she doesn’t wake up with a headache). Once that short “window” is over, the massive headache returns and a medicinal game is played to get the right type and amount of medication in her at the right time.  She often is curled in a ball of pain for at least 30 minutes with vain attempts to comfort her with a wet rag or back rub.  It is hard to watch your bride suffer in so much pain.  I’ve never seen her so miserable - both in degree and duration. It is heartbreaking.

When I went home today, I was able to clean up and go to church with our girls and Brittney’s parents.  It was so wonderful to be with our church family, but it was do difficult to not have Brittney with us.  Every church member must’ve hugged me and asked about Brittney.  The love of Christ flowing in and through them was overwhelming.  We couldn’t do this without them.  Our church has been encouraging me to be constantly by Brittney’s side on this long journey.  They told me to take the next month off of church work and just focus on my wife.  

On top of our church support, Brittney’s school, and our many friends and family have continued to care for us in so many ways.  Brittney and I are so grateful and blessed.  We couldn’t imagine going through this season without the loving support and prayers of our family and friends. Thank you!

After church the girls and I grabbed a delicious lunch before I caught up on a few things at home.  We then decided to do an “early Christmas” with Brittney.  Honestly I think the girls were just manipulating the situation to their advantage so they could score some early Christmas gifts.  Clever girls lol!!!

Brittney was so touched by all the sweet gifts we received.  We haven’t been able to read all of the Facebook comments or cards yet, but y’alls love is energizing her in her toughest season.  She loved the “early Christmas” with the girls and they gave her a mini spa treatment with a shower cap shampoo as well as a hand and foot moisturizing session.  Although most of her day was full of pain and rest, she finished her day with great joy, moments of no pain, and a good appetite too!  God is so good to us!

Ways to Pray:

• No blood clots in her stents and no brain bleeds
• For pain relief and brain healing
• For tangible progress in gaining back the abilities that were lost (disconected) from the stroke
• For an individual room whenever we step down from ICU (Tuesday?) - Brittney can’t tolerate much sound or light and a roommate would be very difficult for her recovery if our hospital stay is extended
• For the doctors to have wisdom for the duration of our stay in order to protect Brittney’s life and health

Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (ESV)

Hospital Day # 15 - 12/16/23 - PM - A Sleepy Day & the Details on Her Stroke Day (12/12/23)

 Hospital Day # 15 - 12/16/23 - PM - A Sleepy Day & the Details on Her Stroke Day (12/12/23)

Brittney was more lethargic and tired today, so there isn’t a whole lot to share of the day other than a few windows of energy and two short visits with friends. 

God did answer your prayers and give her some improvement this afternoon!!  It is so hard to watch her in pain when the headaches often overmatch the pain meds.  We appreciate prayers for a good night’s rest and a better day tomorrow!!

I thought I’d share more about her stroke this past Tuesday.  Maybe it will be a help to someone else to recognize the symptoms of stroke. 

Tuesday morning (12/12/23) Stroke Day - What It Was Like to Watch Your Wife Have a Stroke

Brittney had her best night of sleep since her stent emplacement surgery.  She had a new recliner from her grandmother that was super comfy for her sore neck.  We woke up and got the girls going to school with a fun photo in front of the fireplace.  After the girls went off to school Brittney took a short nap.  Thankfully I was able to stay home close to Brittney that day (due to our generous church family encouraging me to be with Brittney through this health trial).  

Brittney woke up about 9:15am, saying she felt weird, like “out of her head.”  She couldn’t figure out how to get the feet on her recliner to go down.  She couldn’t verbalize “recliner” or explain easily what she was trying to do.  She was visibly frustrated and didn’t know she needed to hit the recliner button.

I immediately did a stroke test (see BE FAST below) and everything seemed normal.  But the confusion was so evident it was clear she needed to go to the hospital. We had previously spoken with our surgeon about this very scenario playing out and he basically said we could use our best judgement in terms of which hospital to go to and how to get there.

BE FAST

Balance - Brittney was slightly off balance

Eyes - her vision had been regularly blurry, but at the time I didn’t realize that her right eye had lost its peripheral vision

Face - she never suffered facial droop and could still fully smile

Arms - although she would suffer more right arm issues later, at the time her arms were similar in strength and feeling

Speech - Brittney’s speech was not slurred, but the confusion of her words was

Time - we got to the hospital pretty quick, 911 might’ve gotten us there 5-10 minutes faster though (we had talked thru this scenario with our neurosurgeon ahead of time)

I decided on a speedy drive to Baptist Hardin where I knew they’d transfer us to Louisville if needed (In retrospect I should’ve just called 911 and followed the ambulance).  

As we got ready, Brittney strangely bumped into a doorknob on her right side twice .  I didn’t realize this at the time, but her right side vision had started to cut off, so she lost her peripheral vision in that eye (we are praying it comes back soon).

After Brittney went to the restroom, she was confused and couldn’t verbalize things and couldn’t figure out how to flush the toilet. When she washed  her hands, she was fine.  She strangely didn’t know how to dry them, even though a towel was directly in front of her and needed help to remember the process of hand drying.

As I drove her to the hospital, Brittney continued to show her confusion by talking about how she couldn’t drive herself to the doctor.

By the time we arrived at the hospital, Brittney could not stand or walk. I wheeled her in, telling the ER staff that my wife was having a stroke.  The Baptist staff helped take her back immediately.  After Brittney’s CT showed the brain bleed the ER Dr was texting Brittney’s UL surgeon and they made a plan to send her to UL by life flight.  The Baptist ER Dr was amazing in getting Brittney much needed platelets to reverse the blood thinner and slow Brittney’s brain bleed before she was on the helicopter. Once we got to UL they got her into the ER and our previous neurosurgeon Drs were quickly bedside and evaluating her.  We are so grateful to God for the answered prayers of amazing medical care and God’s hand of protection on Brittney’s life.  While she is still working hard with speech, physical, and occupational therapies on her stroke injuries, we are blessed with how Brittney’s brain is healing already.

Although two-thirds of strokes happen to people 65 & older, younger people like Brittney can have them as well.  Although Brittney’s symptoms were maybe more slowly progressing than a stroke due to blood clot (ischemic stroke), the BE FAST acronym still helps.  Brittney’s type of stroke (hemorrhagic stoke or brain bleed) is more rare (10-15% of all strokes) than a blood clot stroke, but the results can often be more devastating and life threatening.  World wide, strokes are the 2nd most common cause of death.

Thank you for those of you who got word and prayed for Brittney on December 12th!  God is so good!  All the time, God is good!

Job 2:6 “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.’” (ESV)

Job 2:10 “But he [Job] said … ‘Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (ESV)

Hospital Day # 15 - 12/16/23 - Fatigued

Hospital Day # 15 - 12/16/23 AM - Fatigued

Just a short update on the past 16 hours or so - Brittney is super fatigued on top of her crazy headaches. Some steps backwards. 

But we keep fighting forward through the low days towards some high days ahead.

It’s probably my fault actually…in our haste to get to the hospital Tuesday I packed a UK sweatshirt and a Thanksgiving t-shirt. 

The U of L nurses and Brittney have both had words with me over my attire lol.

Prayers are appreciated for Brittney’s headaches, strength and energy!

Ali’s life verse is our theme: Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (ESV)